The Happiness Project!

I am going to be participating in Naomi’s (from Seven Cherubs) Happiness Project. 

Click here or on the picture to learn all about it!  anyone else want to join in?

It’s not hard.  Naomi says:

Starting today, April 10th, and finishing on May 10th we will take time each day to record and write one sentence on what has made us feel happy during that day or things that we are grateful for on that day.

I encourage you to use lots of these ,,,,,, and lots of these ~~~~ to fit in as much happiness as you can!

At the end of the month after May 10th (I will let you know what date), we each publish as a blog post our one sentence monthly list and link up together here at Seven Cherubs so that we can each read what touched our hearts and made us happy. If you do not feel comfortable sharing all of your daily sentences then just share with us those that you do feel comfortable sharing.

Enjoy!

Sweet Sunday Blog Hop 21 Nov 2010

Tonight I am back on the bandwagon.  I’m joining back into Jaded Vixen’s Blog Hop.  Today’s theme is Literature.

1. What is your favourite picture story book? Bilby Moon by Margaret Spurling and illustrated by Danny Snell
   
2. What is the first novel you remember being really engrossed in? I think it was probably The Hobbit
   
3. The book you read, but hated every minute of? Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra.  I read in pretty much in one sitting because I needed to know how it ended.
   
4. Favourite Young Adult/Teenage/Adolescent novel? The Changeover by Margaret Mahy.  I really loved it when I first read it and often re-read it when I’m feeling nostalgic.
   
5. Top three novel recommendations? My favourite novels really depend on my mood.  So while I l really enjoy Lord of the Rings, The Cider House Rules, The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub I’ve really been on a Romance / Romantic Suspense kick for quite a while so I’ve also enjoyed Tami Hoag, Beverly Barton, Iris Johansen, Linda Howard etc.  So tonight I’d probably recommend Linda Howard: Kiss Me While I Sleep, maybe a Nora Roberts Paranormal Trilogy, and I guess I’d add of the ones above.
   
6. What are you currently reading and what is it about? I’m currently reading Ruby Beach Mindnight at Ruby Bayou (oops) by Elizabeth Lowell. It’s about a jewellery designer who is tasked with making a necklace for her friends wedding gift but the rubies she was given to use are very valuable and it appears everyone is trying to get them.  It’s one of a series but they also can stand alone.

So what is your favourite novel?  Or why don’t you play along with Jaded Vixen?

Op Self Actualisation Day 7

Today’s assignment is to share a picture of someone that has the biggest impact on you.

So I’m going to be quite maternalistic here and say these two:

 

Boy Child and Girl Child have changed my life.  Yes, I know it’s a stereotypical thing to say but it’s true.  The arrival of Boy child had a huge impact on us.  Going from a carefree couple to being responsible for another human being is a massive change even when it is anticipated.  And going from one to two children is another significant change. So Girl Child also made a huge impact in my life.

I think this quote says it best:

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.
It is to decide forever to have your heart
go walking around outside your body.

~Elizabeth Stone

My children have both taught me things. I hope when they are adults they will think that I taught them things too.  I really, really hope that they remember these things positively.

Who has had the biggest impact on your life?

I was tagged

CardiffScot from Confessions of a Somewhat Confused Scot has tagged me in this 8 meme.  She has given me 8 questions to answer after which I get to tag 8 other people and ask them 8 questions as well.

The questions I have to answer are:

1) Have you ever had any part of your body surgically removed? Yes.  My gallbladder.

2) What is your favourite quote? I don’t have a favourite one most of the time but today I really like Pooh Bear’s You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.

3) Where in the world would you most like to visit? Wales, Cornwall etc. Places from the Arthurian Legends.

4) Where in the world would you most like to live? I really don’t mind the city where I currently live.  I can’t really see myself living elsewhere.

5) What's the best book you've ever read? I guess it depends how you define best. I really enjoyed the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  I read it at least once a year for about 10 years.

6) What's your favourite tipple? As this post shows I don't drink much alcohol.  But when I do indulge I would choose Strongbow Sweet. It’s cider.

7) What's your pet peeve? Judgemental people.  Especially people who seem to think that they need to share their views with the world when it’s not relevant or necessary.

8) Where were you born? Sydney, Australia.

I am going to tag some of my newer blog finds.

Kimberly from All Work And No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something

Diane from Be Still a Minute

Heidi from Heaven is a Bookstore

Debby from Just Breathe

Allison from Life in A Pink Fibro

Jammie from The Neat Things in Life

The Bag Lady from Confessions from a Paper Bag

Deb from Diminishing Deb

Here are the questions I want you to answer:

1. How do you / will you know when you are all grown up?
2. As a child what did you wnat to be when your grew up and are you doing it?
3. You could have an entire day 24 hours to do whatever you wanted (no expense spared).  So what would you do?
4. Someone invents a new cocktail and they want to name it after you.  What are the main ingredients?
5. How many blogs are you currently following or subscribed to?
6. Why did you start blogging and is the reason you started still relevant?
7. What is your favourite item of clothing?
8. If you had to give up blogging or chocolate what would you chose? Is it a hard choice?

Enjoy!

50 questions that will free your mind

This is post number 150.  So to celebrate this momentous occasion I thought I should answer the 50 questions that will free your mind from Marc And Angel Hack Life.

Now before I do this I think I should celebrate.  So here is some cake, balloons and your choice of red or white wine.

Images from Dreamstime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to you who have hung around with me for the last 150 posts.  Your support and comments have been greatly appreciated.

Now onto the questions.

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?  I’d like to be 23. Just married, life ahead of me, exciting times. But I’m probably more like 40!
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying? Not trying at all.
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? Because humans are very strange creatures.
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? Probably.  Actions do speak louder than words but there always seems to be way more talking than doing in life.
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? Wow, it’s hard to pick only one.  I think I would have to choose injustice. If we could rid the world of injustice, then hopefully the flow on effect would be zero wars, enough food for everyone and everyone would be treated equally (regardless of race, religion, physical appearance or ability).
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Something that makes a difference to people.
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? Currently settling and trying to work out how do to what I believe in.  That sounds very sad.
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? Learn to worry less? My kids won’t be grown by the time I die so I would focus on making the time we had together fun and prepare them for life.
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? Someday sit feels that I haven’t at all.  I’m trying to change that.
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? I’m not sure one outweighs the other. 
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do? Try to change the subject.  Depending on what the role the people have in my life I may possibly defend my friend.  I would really hope that if I respected and admired these people they may respect me, listen to me  and stop the criticism.
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Trust your intuition.
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one? I don’t know.
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? No.
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people? Trust people.  I find it very difficult to do.
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? Because everyone is different, with their own unique thoughts, history and dreams.
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? Tried to write for a living. What’s holding you back? Fear of inadequacy, fear of rejection, really just fear in general.
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? Yes. Fear.
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? Probably a different city in Australia because I’ve never really felt the need to travel overseas.  Plus I think we have a good life in Australia.
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? Yes, not all the time but sometimes.  And No I don’t think it makes the elevator come faster but it helps to fill in time while I’m waiting.
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? Definitely joyful.
22. Why are you, you? Genetics, history, all sorts of things.
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?  Maybe less sociable but otherwise yes.
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you? Losing touch.  Because there are always phone calls, emails, face book etc to keep in touch when people move away.
25. What are you most grateful for? Living.
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones? Probably lose the old ones.  There are some that aren't that great.
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first? I don't know.
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true? Not my current greatest fear.
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now? I don’t remember so it really didn't matter.
30. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special? I’m not sure I could pinpoint it.  But I bet it was special because I felt loved.
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? I seriously don’t remember.  Wow another very sad answer.
32. If not now, then when? As above, I don’t know.
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? Nothing, really.
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? Oh yes.  I love that feeling.
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? Because they think their are the only ones that are right and can’t accept people / religions can believe different things
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? Not without a doubt in most cases.
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? No.  Scale it back maybe but not quit.
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? More work I enjoy doing as long as it replaced the stuff I didn’t enjoy not just supplemented it.
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? Not today but some days, definitely feel like groundhog day.
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? I’m not sure I ever have.
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? The person or people that meant the most to me.
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? No.
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living? A lot.  Passion, thought, acceptance, all sorts of things.
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? When you can feel it. Or when you are prepared to wear the consequences.
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? Because people don’t want to be considered foolish or stupid.  Making a mistake could mean other people think we are failures and we could lose the respect of those we care about.
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? Be braver, take more chances, have less regret and perhaps dye my hair an unnatural colour.
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? Last night in bed.
48. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? My family.  Yes, I believe so
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that? No, actually I don’t.  Not unless something important or major (either positive or negative) has happened.
50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you? A bit of both.  Mostly letting others make them and then feeling resentful about that. I think I will start to change that tomorrow.

So, are you going to answer these questions?  Or have you done it already? Let me know.

The ABCs of Me

Um…. I have nothing really this evening so I thought this would work.  I borrowed it from Tina Gray{dot} Me.

Enjoy!

A – ACCENT: Australian

B – BREAST SIZE: Bigger than I want.

C – CHORE YOU HATE: All of them.

D – DAD’S NAME: Is that a trick question?  I called him….. Dad. :)

E – ESSENTIAL MAKE-UP ITEM: I use Lip gloss sometimes, does that count?

F – FAVOURITE PERFUME: I’m so not a perfume person,

G – GOLD OR SILVER: Gold

H – HOME TOWN: I was Born in Sydney but now live in a different capital city.

I – INSOMNIA: Oh yes.

J – JOB TITLE: Business Manager

K – KIDS: 2 human, no goats.

L – LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: Home with Mr E., Boy Child, Girl Child and the pets.

M – MUM’S BIRTHPLACE: Sydney

N – NUMBER OF APPLES YOU’VE EATEN: In my life? Wow, I have no idea.

O – OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAYS: A few.

P – PHOBIA: Not phobic but don’t enjoy being too close to big (more than a 20 piece) spiders, snakes and don’t plan to ever get too close to a shark.

Q – QUEST: To get out of life alive?  I guess that’s not doable.  Maybe to live well and be happy.

R – RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian.

S – SIBLINGS: It’s complicated.

T – TIME YOU WAKE UP: As late as possible.

U – UNNATURAL HAIR COLOURS YOU’VE WORN: Spray on red, purple, green, and  blue.

V – VEGETABLE YOU REFUSE TO EAT: None that I remember.

W – WORST HABIT: Chocolate, I mean stress, no wait caffeine, umm can I get back to you?

X – X-RAYS YOU’VE HAD: Arm, ankle and foot (1 once and both once), chest.  I think that’s it.

Y – YUMMY FOODS YOU MAKE: Cakes and biscuits.  At Christmas time shortbread. 

Z – ZANY QUIRK: I’m not sure I’m zany or quirky.  Now if you had asked about annoying then I’m your girl.

Sunday Sweets Courtesy of Jaded Vixen

I have decided to join Jaded Vixen in her Sunday Sweets.  So here we go:

Six Sunday Sweets

1. What was your favourite childhood toy or comfort object? Where is it now?
2. What was your weirdest dating experience?
3. Which television or movie character would you love to play house with?
4. What was the most exciting thing that happened to you this week?
5. Can you remember the strangest dream you've ever had?
6. What's the signature drink that you order on a night out?

So here are my answers:

1. My Teddy Bear. I was given him for my first Christmas and I still have him.  He is currently on the floor beside my bed.
2. It would have to be the guy from work I went out with (thank goodness only the once) who kept telling me about things his ex girlfriend used to do to him, while we were eating dinner. I was young, naive and completely grossed out.
3. I wouldn't mind shacking up with…. um can I get back to you on that?
4. The most exciting thing that happened to me this week was: School going Back! 
5. I can remember the strangest dream I ever had.  It was awful and recurring.  Thankfully, I haven’t had it in a very long time.
6. I don’t get out much (if ever! LOL) but I would order a Strongbow Sweet.

3. Which television or movie character would you love to play house with?

Not sure, choices are currently:

Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer’s character) on House, M.D. He is good looking, loyal, intelligent, and a Toy Boy for me. But only now he is divorcing Cameron.

Angel (played David Boreanaz) from Angel.  Tall, dark, sexy. What more can I say?

But I think I will have to go with:

Aragorn aka Strider (Viggo Mortensen) from the Lord of the Rings Movies.

Do you want to play?  Come on, join the fun. 

The rules are over at Confessions of a Jaded Gym Junkie.

The Seven Deadly Sins Meme

I was tagged by Kakka over at menopausal mumma.

This meme was started by Lori @ Ramblings of a Stay At Home Mum.

Sloth - how do you relax?

Sleep, a nice long bath without interruption and reading. Not all at the same time!

Gluttony - What can't you get enough of, even though it's bad for you?

Most of the time it is chocolate. Or cheese and crackers.  But actually food that someone else has cooked / made is always lovely. 

Greed - What do you get greedy for?

Grown up time with Mr E. I just want some time to be us and relate as husband and wife instead of as parents or business partners.  Some times I think I would sell my soul for it!

Envy - What makes you green?

Lots of things.  These include but are not limited to:

• Those with extended families who live nearby and care so the children can have a relationship with the aunts, uncles, grandparents,
• people who know what they want out of life (I’m still clueless), but mostly:
• People who appear to have it all together!

Lust - What does it for you?

Nice blue eyes – not that cold icy blue. Men who smell nice.  But if we are talking pure animal lust, aka Man I could so do him (sorry to any family members who ever read this), then: Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr (that Iron Man body is nice) ….. I think I should stop there.

Pride - What are you inordinately proud of?

Mr E. for loving us and looking after us. The Children for being such non judgemental and accepting people.

Wrath (Anger) - What makes you cranky?

Injustice, judgemental people, not getting enough sleep, someone eating the last bit of chocolate something without sharing…..all sorts of things.

I need to tag 7 people.  I’m sorry if you have already been tagged or you don’t do memes:

Lisa from A Different Brainspace

Joanie who is Raising an Army

Ratz who posts at What Can I Say!

Mrs P. from A Study in Contradictions

Alliecat in a Beautiful Pea Green Boat

Clarissa from Limpets and Penguins

Melissa who likes to Suger Coat It

Enjoy!

First Post - Another Meme

Lulu has tagged me (again! – LOL).  This one was started by Sarah at Just Me and the challenge / idea was to repost your first ever blog post.  Sarah wrote:

What I want you to do is repost your very first blog post. I want to see how things are different now, if you write differently, if you write about the same topic, if you did a “hi this is why I’m blogging” sort of post or if you just got straight into it.

Then I want you to tag five people to do the same.

Now as I haven’t been blogging long my first post wasn’t very long ago.  And for what it’s worth it wasn't very long either.

Here you go:

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Wow I'm finally blogging!

I have been following a few people's blogs and have finally decided to start my own. I'm a little bit of a technophobe and Boy Child has had a blog for much longer than me (probably by about 2 years) and he is only 11.
Mr E. has a few blogs. Pretty much IT stuff or random stuff and I think he might be impressed that I have decided to blog myself. Of course I'm not really sure what I want to do with this blog yet.
Anyway this is a start so I might leave it here for the moment.

So I basically did a Hi this is me and why I’m blogging although some days I’m still not sure.  I’m not sure my writing style is different but it was only 6 months ago and thankfully I have not had any life changing experiences in these last 6 months.

I’m going to tag:

Melissa – Things I’d Tell You who is finally blogging again and I’m sure the blogoverse is happy about that.

MadMother.  Now as she has 4 or maybe even 5 blogs now I think she should post her first ever post from whichever blog she had running.

Ratz  from What Can I Say a new blog I started following last week from FlogYoBlog Friday.  Which I have forgotten to do today….. better see if it’s not to late.

Wanderlust – another find last FlogYoBlog.

And Jacinta From Live Life Now.  She has obviously gone and got a life and hasn’t blogged in ages.

Now I’m going to go and see if I can still flog my blog today or whether I have missed it until next Friday.