200th Post....

I love to celebrate milestones.... any excuse is good enough. This here, is my 200th 'post'. I can't believe it! I have written so much stuff! I have listed every 20th 'post' I have written just to give a bit of an idea about the kinds of things that have inspired me... 

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20th Post - The one I wrote/spliced about tips on being a cool person, I really should re-read that one....

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40th Post - The one where I thought it was totally uncool to say that you have nothing to wear and told you all to go shopping in your wardrobes. I didn't use many pictures at the beginning of this journey...

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60th Post - The one where I did a photography challenged and blogged everyday, this is day 10 - I wrote about a childhood memory with a great photo of a porcelain cat on a wardrobe my mum painted....

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80th Post - The one where I reviewed an article about being cool in Frankie magazine.

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100th Post - The one where I gave the recipe for cooking corned meat in ginger ale which was a big hit. I was getting texts and FB messages about this recipe. It is a good one!

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120th Post - The one where I took photos of my friend's shoes, simply because they were cool. The shoes, not the friends. Although, my friends are cool too.... 

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140th Post - The one where I gave my top 10 weight loss tips. I need to read these again... and again.

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160th Post - The one where I wrote a stupid long list of things that I wanted to get done that week - but didn't and then felt stupid for publishing pictures of my messy digs

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180th Post - The one where I used the prompt that started with 'I thought I saw..' where I really had nothing to say, but managed to write for 5 minutes anyway.


When I look at what this blog began as and what it is now, it amazes even me! I now link up with at least 4 link-a-do things a week, I publish a recipe, a list, {usually} an 'Anna Says' and then there are the random posts about things like clothes, people and things like that. I know that probably seems like a lot, but it has been a joy - because I love it. 


Now for the next 200 - I wonder what topics I will cover in those posts?

RemembeRED - Pivotal Conversations

I guess I have been a bit obsessed with my relationship with Mr Cool lately... We are fast approaching our 15th Wedding anniversary and it has me reflecting about all sorts of things. It seemed fitting to use this conversation.... 

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Pre-Proposals....

Mr Cool and I were enjoying living in the same city again, being at the same university was icing on the cake. It was a heady time of seeing each other a lot more and our seeing our relationship growing stronger and stronger.


"Wow, look at that! They have emerald rings on sale at the jeweller!" I really didn't mean to say it out loud, but perhaps I was testing whether Mr Cool was serious about recent talks about getting engaged.


"I think we need to sit down for a bit," Mr Cool seemed serious and quiet. "I need to ask you something. I want to look at rings with you, but I need to know something first."


My head began racing, my heart started thumping. On the one hand, I was so excited that Mr Cool was about to ask me to marry him, but on the other, I didn't want to be asked in a shopping centre!


He took both my hands in his. "Now, listen carefully. I do want to marry you, but I need to know that if I ask you to marry me, which I am NOT, will you say yes?" 


"Oh my goodness, are you asking me to marry you! Oh my goodness!"


"No, you aren't listening. I am not asking you to marry me. I am asking that IF I asked you to marry me, would you say yes?"


I am not sure of my actual response, it may not have even been actual words, but we then made our way back to the jeweller and selected a ring. I really wanted an emerald ring. Emeralds are my birth stone and I just loved that they were not diamonds {in the 1990s being different was important}. 


I look at my ring often. It is not encrusted with diamonds. It is quite simple. It is exactly what I wanted. If I had the choice of all the rings in Tiffany's or the one Mr Cool bought me on that day, I would still choose mine. 



Recreate a pivotal conversation with us this week. Remember, this is memoir.You can only record what was actually said. Save the bon mots and imagined snappy retorts for fiction.  Let’s shoot for 300 words.

I have been getting awards.... Haha!

I am still such a newbie blogger. There is so much I do not know. Nor will I ever claim to know. However, I do know I love to write. I love to be inspired. I love to share. I love to learn new things. My blog gives me an outlet for all of these things. To have 'followers' is a bonus. To have people approach me and mention my blog is truly cool. To know that there are people all over the world clicking on my links and leaving comments, blows my mind. 

Now, I have been awarded some awards! Check. It. Out!

Firstly, I was nominated for a Versatile Blogger Award, by the lovely Rain over at Iredescent Rain. Rain actually nominated me a while ago, but I had no idea what that meant. Thankfully, the very talented Eloise was nominated and wrote a fabulous acceptance post about it - so I was able to email her and get the low down on it...


Here are the rules {which I read, but still didn't get it - I can be quite dense.}

Then the other day, I was nominated for a 'Special Award' by the lovely 'K' over at Special K.... The rules for this award are quite similar to the VBA, so I will kill two birds with one stone and graciously accept these awards simultaneously.... 

So firstly, I must thank Rain. What a sweet heart. Rain and I do some writing link-a-dos together and we comment on each other's writing - geeky to some is fun for others.... Also a big thank you to Special K, very sweet of you to award me this award....

I am going to do the 7 things first... Because I like to shake things up.... 

7 Things You May Not Know About B...

1. I Hate Celery... Really. Truly. If you try to feed it to me, I will not eat it. If you cut up into tiny peices and try to hide it in food, I will not eat it. I will welcome starving to death ahead of eating it. I hope I have conveyed this emotion strongly enough. I hate it.

2. I am blonde. In every sense of the word. I know my hair is currently brown - but that is simply because I few years ago my sister and I made my hair go kahki green. It was easier to go dark than to maintain any shade of blonde. Most people are genuinely surprised when they hear that I am naturally blonde, I take this to mean that I am not your stereotypical blonde.

3. I am a teacher. I wanted to be a teacher since my first day of grade one. I love to work with kids and watch them learn. I get cranky when students don't accept the opportunity to learn. When I was 5 I thought being a teacher meant you had to draw giraffes well, I was wrong.

4. I am a terrible dancer. Terrible. Appalling. I hated school discos and still hate it when I am required to dance. I would love to have dancing lessons so that I can at least do a simple waltz. My two step shuffle is appalling. Shameful.

5. I am the youngest child of four. This can be both good and bad. I will always be the 'baby' which again, is good and bad. My children are older than my sisters' children, so that throws the whole advice giving chain of command out the window.

6. My favourite colour is red. I didn't think I needed a favourite colour at my age, but, I have a three year old. It is now critical that I have one. 

7. I love to cook. I really do. I relax when I cook, I go to a happy place where things are interesting and ever changing. I rarely use recipes, only for baking, and I rarely make anything that isn't pretty darn good. But, don't ask Miss Z whether she thinks I can cook. She asks me all the time why I bother cooking, when all she likes is wraps and cheese. Sigh.

I cannot give you 15 blogs that I love, but I can pass on 10, I hope this is okay... 

Friends Who Blog....

1. CraftyMummy - She is tops. Love her work. Although I am not crafty, I do appreciate the genius behind the blog. CraftyMummy gives me all sorts of tips, advice and encouragement all the time. She is so cool. MWAH!

2. Caitlin's Happy Heart - Caitlin has been my friend for a very long time, we went to uni together.  We will always be friends and one day we may actually be able to sit and talk at length about life. Caitlin has just had triplets, she is bravely documenting this. 

3. A Fruitful Life - I get lots of information about lots of things from being more green, to being more content, to painting up things to look pretty over at Lacey's blog. This is a very happy and uplifting place to visit.

Two Of My Fav Bloggy Friends.... 

4. The True Adventures of Eloise - What a very talented writer/blogger/person Eloise is. I like having someone a bit further down the blogging road to link up with. Eloise is funny, thoughtful and a is a war history buff. I am gonna love watching how far this girl will go. 

5. People Don't Eat Enough Fudge - I would like to meet Sarah Mac one day - I bet she is hilarious and funny and witty. Her post about a cat being stuck in an exhaust is still one of the funniest things I have read in a while... 

Blogs I have just discovered and am liking a lot...

6. Kate Says Stuff - Kate is funny, refreshing and real. I am enjoying reading about life with her family and tips on various things.

7. Lillie McFerrin Writes - nice to find another blog written by a writer. I find these hard to come by. I am enjoying reading about the life of someone who is passionate about getting published. 

Big Name Bloggers {who I think would be really nice in real life}...

8. Beafunmum - Kelly is amazing. She writes about all sorts of helpful, gritty and encouraging things. I have been amazed that Kelly has taken the time to reply to my emails and has given some lovely feedback to some hard to write blogs.

9. A Belle A Bean and A Chicago Dog - Liz blogs about all manner of useful things. She is a bit of a blogging legend and shares a lot about life with her kids too. I link up with Liz for an iPhone photo link up. She is a fun gal.

10. Fox In Flats - Andrea is the girl in the know. I love reading realistic fashion tips and trends. I love reading the style guides and the snapshots she takes of real women 'on the street' are great. Her catch cry is 'Navigating Motherhood in Style' - I like that a lot.

Right, so I hope I have done this right... What a world of linking I have just done!

Thanks for the blog love... This is my 198th post... who would have thought? 

Five Sentence Fiction - Delectable

Delectable....

Given that I ate my way through Europe, I thought it fitting to recall a moment from a trip to Paris. We stayed near the Bastille, there was a beautiful cafe just around the corner from our gorgeous bed and breakfast. Oh my goodness, it was a feast for the eyes! 


The apple tart I had on my first day in Paris will be something I will remember forever. Although, perhaps my memory is fading and I should try to get back there to sample another.... 

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The cafe shelves were full of French delicacies that were a feast to her eyes, the gleaming espresso machine whined and gasped as it produced magnificent cups of coffee filling the air with the heady aromas of ground earthy beans. Apple tarts with fans of glazed apple, pink tinted rose macarons, strawberry tartlets, brioche, croissants, baguettes and frangipane tarts were arranged in perfect splendour in cabinets and on shelves. The store was busy with with locals buying their morning croissants and cafe au lait, dressed in the finest clothes Paris had on offer. She stepped to the side as she watched the people order and chat and greet one another, just hearing them talk to was a symphony. She could not decide what to order, so she asked for one of everything, Paris in a box.

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week’s inspiration word is: DELECTABLE






This post is linked to 5 Sentence Fiction over at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Fashion Reveal: My 'Go To' Outfit for Spring 2011

I have an outfit that I am loving right now. It is cute. It is comfortable. It looks fresh. It is 'in'. AND lots of people tell me how great I look in it. Always a bonus.

Just the other day, a wonderful lady, who I used to teach with and who is the most amazing teacher-librarian, commented on how great I looked. Well... I had to smile. I was chuffed that she thought I looked great, I know she was commenting on my slender shape {which it certainly is NOT}, but I think you can make any shape look better with just the right clothes. Honestly, a bit of care and attention to body shape and clothing cut can make the world of difference.

What also made me smile about the comments from my dear chum, was that although this is my favourite outfit of the year, I paid bargain basement prices for it. Check it out.

That is a total of $61. Amazing don't you think? That is half of what I used to pay just for the JEANS! But this outfit includes the shirt, shoes and necklace as well! 


I really love clothes and fashion, but right now I am making a lifestyle choice. I want to be home with my kids, I also want time to write and embrace being a housewife. This means that there have to be some pretty intensive budgets put into place. In years past, this would have plummeted me into a pity-me mess, but for this season in my life, I shall embrace it. 


I have now started walking more and gardening. How does this save money? Well, it keeps me out of the shops! I don't buy magazines. Why? Well, then I don't see all the things that 'they' say I MUST have. I love St Vinnies and Life-line, the prices are great and I get things that are unique to me. That is cool.


Thank you to my lovely teacher-librarian dear friend. I loved that you said I looked good. I certainly don't FEEL as if I look good - but I am faking it until I make it! Mwah!

11:11:11:11 - What were YOU doing?

So... once in a hundred years, this happens... the 11:11:11:11. 

Set your alarm for 11:11 on 11.11.11 from ABC Open Southern Queensland on Vimeo.

What was B doing? BabyCool was asleep - so I was doing the ironing. Should have planned that a bit better B! But... it has to be done. 

Guest Posting - Train Birthday Party - Over at CraftyMummy

Well... would you believe I have done something crafty enough to be on CraftyMummy's fabulous blog? I am so chuffed! You should check it out. 

To read more about the train party we put together for BabyCool - click HERE