Fresh is Best! A Mother's Day Hint. #FYBF

*This is a sponsored post.*

For those of you that are mothers you might be really looking forward to Mother's Day next month.  Or for those of you that have mothers (or a mother-in-law) you are either planning the perfect gift or tearing your hair out because you're afraid of getting it very, very wrong.

I think there's way too much pressure on gift giving. Some people go to a lot of trouble and think that the more lavish the gift, the more the giftee thinks you love them.  But guess what? Mothers are different (well most mothers anyway).  They'll most probably just be glad you remembered them.

When my kids were little I loved that they went to the trouble of making a card and picking some flowers from the garden. As they got older I would give them $5 to buy something from the Mother's Day stall at school, which would invariably be some lavender hand cream, a coin purse or a glass figurine you have to hide in a cupboard for about 40 years.

I often used to get a version of this home made treasure:

(from here)

Now that they're older and, I assume, a lot more capable of taking themselves up the shops and spending their own pocket money on a very heartfelt gift they would spend weeks thinking of .... ,  in reality they mostly leave it to their Dad to buy a present on their behalf. Sometimes I let them know what I would like but I secretly wish they could magically know and present me with the perfect gift. 

So I have become that Mother. I've become bored with being a matyr and now demand their love be demonstrated by a gift chosen (and sometimes purchased) by me.

As I do quite a bit of online shopping for gifts for family and friends (OK mostly for myself), I've started to subtly email links of my wish list to my husband and kids when it gets close to special occasions, like Mother's Day!

But it would be wonderful if they were to plan a bit more than a day before that special Sunday and actively go to a website and buy something beautiful delivered in time that they could present to me while I languish queen-like in my bed eating smoked salmon omelette and champagne (or in reality, burnt toast and cold tea).

Which brings me to FreshFlowers - this is a total hint, family! - absolutely beautiful bunches of blooms (and chocolates!) that can be chosen from the privacy of their room, delivered same day or next day, hidden in their closet and sprung upon their wonderful Mum first thing on Mother's Day.

Also it is the perfect solution for that mother-in-law that is impossible to buy for - you can even leave it for the last possible moment!

FreshFlowers also offer a great Reminder Service where you can sign up to receive an email for all those birthdays and anniversaries that get forgotten until the last minute. You'll look like a star! Personally, I think I"ll sign the hubby up to receive the reminders, that way he'll never forget the 101 anniversaries we have (first met, first went out, first started living together, wedding - you've got to celebrate!).

Hint, hint!

Aside from offering Mother's Day flowers, another big plus for me is that they support Daffodil Day and Heart Research Australia. Love it when a company gives back.

On top of all that they have great prices. I know with previous experience in sending flowers through work that many companies charge an arm and a leg for flowers which are pretty ordinary, but FreshFlowers are not only very reasonable every day, they have regular specials like:

Find out here!

Lastly, FreshFlowers know the joy that a surprise bunch of flowers can give someone and after reading 'Flowers and Faith in Humanity', I think I'll be sending a bit of that joy more often.

Or if you'd rather, send yourself a thank you for just being you, signed 'Anonymous Admirer' - think of the attention you'll receive from your partner after receiving that!

**Joining With Some Grace for #FYBF**

A Birthday and tarts from the afterlife

My little Nugget turned 11 last week.  He's not so little anymore but he's still damn cute (coming from a biased Mum, I confess). In fact I have no idea how Mr Moneymaker and I produced such beautiful specimens as our children (we’re not bad, but we're no oil paintings).

I turned 11 this morning!

Nugget had a four day celebration - dinner at his favourite restaurant on his birthday, Friday night he had three mates over to go see Thor 2, more pizza and back for a sleepover (which went until 3.30am!!). Saturday night he went to see Sydney FC play with his Dad and Sunday morning he got to go horse riding with his Mum for two hours out at Campbelltown (just as enjoyable for me as for him – I even remembered how to trot!). Then it was lunch at Mt Annan Hotel with the family.

I don't know who was more exhausted, us or him. At least Nugget got to sleep all Saturday afternoon and in every car trip over the weekend.  We're still trying to catch up!

While we were out at Mt Annan, the sister-in-law, mother-in-law and I sneaked off to visit the Camden Psychic Fair, which was actually a dozen tables and chairs in the Community Centre with some crystal and reiki stalls thrown in.

My MIL was keen to go see if her recently departed Mum had any message for her but unfortunately, she couldn't afford to book the 20 minutes for herself.  So I thought I might wangle one of the mediums to see all three of us at once and see what turned up.  The selected psychic wasn't up for that as she said that it would be too hard to concentrate on all the incoming messages.  So I ended up sitting with her on my own, as I had paid the fee.  But I promised I would ask after Nan for her.

The session turned out to be quite interesting.  I didn't give anything away (I don't think) but she wanted to tell me that they (the spirits around her) knew that I had a good marriage and should feel content there, but she was hearing that I still felt like I hadn't achieved what I needed to.  That I should go and start studying, that I had talked about it for ages, that it may have something to do with counselling teens, probably those with drug addiction.  Well, I won't say I hadn't considered a similar career choice in the last few years, but she virtually told me to pull my finger out and get on with it - the time is now!  We’ll see if it fits in with career plans next year.

She then started to get a cough and gagged a little as she said an elderly woman was trying to get her attention, that wasn’t my Mum or Grandmother, who had some trouble breathing or eating before she passed. The old woman kept saying the name Maria, who seemed to be very close to her. I said it might be my husband’s Nan, that I wasn’t sure about the throat problems, but she was cared for by her granddaughter, Marie. She wanted Marie to know that she was fine now. When I told my MIL this, she let me know that yes, Nan had a lot of trouble swallowing during the last weeks of her life.  I’m not sure how much this was speculation on the psychic’s part, but the news made my MIL happy.

Before my time was up, I asked the psychic if there was anything from my parents.  After she told someone off to her right who was pulling her hair to get her attention (Mum, is that you?), she was getting a word image of Dancing Man. Someone who loved dancing, rhythms, rock and roll. She said he was swinging someone round and twirling them. I guess this was Dad as did love to dance and he and Mum used to perform Rock n Roll dancing when they were young (and well into their sixties too).  He told her that I needed to play music and dance more, which I love to do and just don’t always get the chance to. She made me promise I would at least put music on in the house at every opportunity. 

Her last message from him was very obtuse.  She asked me if his or Mum’s favourite food was pies and custard tarts. Well, they liked them but I don’t remember them saying it was the best meal of their lives.  After I told my sister about it, she wondered if it was anything to do with both her daughters having worked in bakeries. Maybe, but I just hope it was Mum and Dad telling me I need to go down to the pie shop and pig out.  

If I start doing that, I’ll be joining them in the afterlife sooner than I expected!

I didn’t expect too much, nothing shocking or enlightening, the experience left me a little satisfied and also a little perplexed. Wouldn’t you think all those circling, dancing, tugging spirits might have some earth shattering advice or insight? Custard tarts? Someone give me a clue!

Yum! These will send me to my grave.

*Joiningwith Essentially Jess for IBOT*

My little Chicken is unbelievably 13 years old!

Once again I’m "borrowing" from Naomifrom Seven Cherub's tradition of listing the things that I love about my baby on her birthday.  The Chicken is now a (cue dread music) TEENAGER!!!! Aaaaarrrrgh.

I’m writing this (after midnight) in between yelling at her and her three friends to stop squealing and giggling. I could go to bed but I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep with all the teenscream going on.  So what was that again? Oh yes, 13 things I love about my Chicken….. (I know you’re reading this Chicka, so you know I will try not to embarrass you … much).

1.      She’s quiet …. HA! Only joking, she talks non-stop which is actually something to love because she tells me how she feels, what’s been going on with school and friends and books and TV and music and Facebook and Youtube and who she saw at the shops and boys and what kind of shorts she wants and EVERYTHING!!!!  I hope she keeps it up throughout her teens and doesn’t turn into one of those sulking, grunting kids who wouldn’t tell you if she has a boyfriend or not.

2.      She’s absolutely beautiful, but doesn’t think so.  I know it’s not the most important thing in a daughter but it makes it easy to take photos.

3.      She has a wicked sense of humour. We thought she would inherit some of the family wit, but she has surpassed our level and floors us most of the time.

4.      Her empathy for others. She has suffered through the usual childhood bullying episodes and could have easily ended up bitter and withdrawn but instead has an amazing ability to see when others are suffering and tries to help them.

5.      Her amazing fashion sense.  It doesn’t matter what she throws together but it always looks like it’s from the Sunday paper style page.  I really wish she would show me how to do that as I usually can’t walk out the front door before asking her if I pass the test. You know, the “can I be seen out in public” test.

6.      Her voice.  I’m no expert (and I can’t sing a note) but she can sing beautifully and even learns all the words of whatever song she’s into. I love it when we’re in the car singing along with Adele, the Chicken gives her a run for her money while I croak along.

7.      Her Caramel Slice. Enough said.

8.      Her enthusiasm for new projects.  A lot like me, it starts, wanes, then stops in a pile of stuff.

9.      She can now go out shopping with me and we can actually have fun. As she get older its more like having a friend to do stuff with.

10.   She is a great partner when the Moneymaker and the Nugget gang up on me. Our house is perfectly balanced in the boy vs girl challenge.

11.   She’s not a follower.  If everyone likes Justin Beiber she feels compelled to not like him (and then tell me secretly she does).

12.   She puts up with and even expects my attempts to embarrass her because, as I’ve explained to her, that’s my job.

13.   Her love for her Mum and Dad even when we act like the biggest dags and dance in public whenever the mood takes us.

Happy 13th Birthday Chicken!  Love from your big dags! xxx

The Nugget is Nine!

Our little Nugget is turning 9 today. It's ironic that at around 6.30am, 9 years ago, I was feeling some pretty full on pains in the belly and this morning I woke up feeling that same pain but for an ENTIRELY different reason.

Last Wednesday I had my hysterectomy which got rid of all those pesky fibroids that were giving me grief for the last year. Ironically (again) they had me bloating up like a blimp each month and at the moment I'm feeling like that massive airship which blew up ages ago ("Oh, the humanity! the humanity!"). But apparently I've been progressing well and the wonderful nurses at The Sands in Wahroonga were pleased with my recovery talents (did they not see that projectile vomit I did on Day 2? I'm sure I coughed up one of my remaining ovaries!) enough to let me go home on Saturday.

I've never had major surgery before and it's surprising how many things require the use of your stomach muscles (eg. sitting up, lying down, dressing, sneezing, pushing chairs in - OMG, I think I caused a hernia that time...). The rather unnerving observation is that the scar looks as if it is being held together with little strips of sticky tape. The doctor assured me that it wasn't stitched up and these "strips" would hold me together until they dissolve in about 10 days.

Also I'm finding it difficult to walk as slow as I have had to, I'm usually the one striding ahead of my family as I usually find it impossible to walk slower than a sprint. The Moneymaker took me out into the real world today for a real coffee and I felt very strange shuffling slowly around the streets holding his hand whereas he would usually be struggling to keep up.

But enough about me (I'll probably post about my recovery a bit more later, sorry, it's occupying alot of my mind lately!), my little man is growing up!

"I've finally got an iPod Touch"

He woke us up just at the time he was born and 10 minutes later he was sitting with his longed for birthday present - an iPod Touch.

I thought I would "borrow" Naomi from Seven Cherub's tradition of listing the 9 things that I love about my little Nugget (hope you don't mind, Naomi!):

1. His smile - he has had a beautiful smile on his face since being born (even though he plopped out fast asleep!) and when things are getting tense around here he always tries to smooth things over with his baby blues and a big smile.

2. His adaptability - whatever the situation (a new school, a new soccer team, a new house), Nugget just throws himself in there and fits in. He makes friends so easily that I can't keep up with who is who and what their Mum's name is (yeah, blame him, not my aging brain!).

3. His talent at succeeding at almost everything he has a go at - his sporting talent is legendary, any ball sport he tries he excels at. Hopefully all the money spent in fees and petrol driving him to cricket, seasonal soccer, Footsall, summer soccer and specialised training (no we don't push him, he absolutely loves it and begs to go), will return to us when he is an international football star and buys us a villa in Tuscany.....

4. His competency at school – after a rocky start where The Moneymaker spent many, many hours teaching him to read, he’s at the top of the class in spelling and reading. Nugget has always had a knack for Maths. When he was around 6 years old, I remember him impressing a gathering of guest at a BBQ with his amazing multiplication abilities when we were trying to work out a problem (definitely inherited from his father, but I’ll take credit for his English skills thankyou very much, even though I didn’t have the patience to teach them I passed them on in my genes!).

5. His sweet and caring nature – even though he is a typical rough and tumble boy who can now beat up his Dad, sometimes he surprises us by helping out his little cousin or playing with the little kids at a family party. His hugs are even sought after by his cynical big sister. Nugget also has a sensitive side at surprising moments, for example while watching Terminator 2 he got a little teary when the robot was being melted in acid at the end (his Dad said the only movie he cries at is Rocky so I think this may be from his side). The Nugget also has a soft side for animals. I remember once when we discovered a bird that had come to grief on the footpath, he gently picked it up in his hands and placed it under a tree to make it comfortable. I didn’t have the heart to say it was probably already gone.

6. His love of music, in particular, MY type of music!! OK, I did try to influence him from an early age to listen to the legends like the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Doors, David Bowie, ACDC, Jimi Hendrix, Santana (oops, I better stop, I could go on for a while!). We have a little tradition after school when we drive home and I turn it over to Triple M (the Chicken would be horrified!) and I talk to him about the music playing on there. His first CD at age 5 was a collection of number one hits by The Beatles which he has always called The Bugs.

7. His musical talent! He has been taking Rockschool lessons for around 3 years now and is a natural on the drums, can pick a mean bass and lead guitar and has learnt a few popular tunes on the keyboards. Though his enthusiasm for being a drummer in the school band is waning, I hope he keeps it up. Just don’t ask him to sing.

8. His goofiness – as a member of this family you could not survive without wit. I wish I wrote down the things he comes out with sometimes that cracks us all up without him even trying.

9. His enthusiasm for life – everything is exciting and he goes at everything (sports, work, food, etc) with great gusto.

Even though it sounds like he’s the prodigal son (his best mate, his Dad, would admit he is), he still drives me crazy with his noise, kicking the ball in the house, whinging about everything and taking so long to get ready to go out. But he’s pretty close to perfect.

Now I’ve got to go and give him a hug cause I know I could go on with this list.

Happy Birthday Nugget, love you to bits.
xxx