Tune Tuesdays- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper is one of a handful of songs that I remember from my primary school years. From the 1983 album Shes So Unusual, and probably only the second album that I was bought by my parents. Hey I was only 7 at the time.

And if you must know the first album was by Elvis Presley.

Its Crunch Time- Literally!!

When I met my husband, 8 years ago, I was 66kgs and really fit. I ran 3+ times a week as well as working out at the gym doing cardio and weights. Fast forward 8 years and one pregnancy later and I currently weigh
80kgs. Not that I can blame the pregnancy, I hit 80 before I got pregnant and lost it all plus some during the pregnancy. I was so sick I couldn't even walk from one room of our house to another, I went on maternity leave early due to it.

Two years ago I had hit my heaviest, 85kgs, and hated it. I managed to loose 5 kilos and have kept it off but I really need to loose more. I am really not comfortably, I have asthma and skin problems and I have noticed this year that all I do is sweat, constantly. Its driving me nuts! And to be honest I don't remember sweating so much when I was thinner.

Of course the other major reasons for me to go back to the gym are my job (I am a nurse with lots of lifting) and I have a bad knee. I didn't work out at all last year and ended up having to go back to an orthopeadic surgeon as I was loosing mobility, luckily I don't need surgery yet. (he's going to wait until I completely destroy my knee cap!).  But one of the things he recommened was exercise.

So I have rejoined a gym. I have taken it easy for the last 2 months (I did a celebrity body aerobic class and couldnt walk for a week thanks to my knee). But now I am ready to start getting serious. I want to loose another 5 kgs and am hoping to do so by the end of the year. I am not pushing it though.

Hopefully by the end of the year I will be lighter and fitter and have the added bonus of having less trouble to breath. My asthma has been really bad lately.

The Tripods

About a week ago my husband and I were buying some DVDs when the salesperson and I started talking about old science fiction series. During this conversation this series came up.

Based on the Tripod Trilogy by John Christopher, the first series was aired in 1984. The second series was released in 1985. I loved it! No surprise really, I was reading Arthur C Clarke and E. E. Doc Smith by the time I was in high school.

About a week later I came across this DVD at my local library and just had to borrow it. Coincidence or what? As I type this I am watching the start of the second series, and 28 years later still loving it.

One of the other DVDs I got was The Greatest American Hero. Do you remember that?

Ripple-along with One Crafty Mumma

One of the many things on my to do list is to make a ripple blanket. I have always wanted one but finding the time is often difficult. So up until now i have just secretly admired them from afar. But no longer.

One of the blogs I follow, Melissa from One Crafty Mumma, is organising a ripple- along. This is just a group of people who are going to be making ripple blanket's together, at their own pace, and sharing their progress on Melissa's blog and their own, if they have one.

I decided that this is the perfect opportunity for me to get started on mine. However due to the fact that am also attempting to make a knitted jumper I am not sure how fast my progress will be. But I am hoping to do a few rows a week.

I have picked the above colours as this is going to be for my son, and his favourite colour is blue. Though he did say not to use a light blue, so I have to wait for final approval for him on the colours. Otherwise I would be busily hooking away right now.

Instead I am off to do a few rows the jumper that I am attempting. (I just pulled it apart and started over, luckily I was only about 40 rows in).

Tune Tuesday- Things That Make You Go Hmm

C+C Music Factory is an American dance-pop and hip hop group formed in 1989 by David Cole and Robert Clivillés that stopped recording in 1996, following Cole's death. In 2010 C+C Music Factory reformed with Eric Kupper replacing Cole. (source Wikipedia).

In 1990 C + C Music Factory released Things That Make You Go Hmm, and I drove my family nuts. I can still remember going away for the week to Iluka and I took my 'boombox' and this single. Im pretty sure that it was the only thing I listened to all week. Looking back at it now I wonder how my mother coped with it.

But this is still on my ipod and I have to say I still sing just as loudly to it wether it comes up on that or the radio.

To Knit or Not

                                           
                                           


One of the things that I wanted to do this year was spend more time crafting. I have this huge list of projects that I want to do and never enough time in which to do them. You all know what I mean.

So now that my son is at school I am trying to get more organised, and let me tell you it has a been helping. In some ways. I have steadily started working through all of the household tasks, that I swear, are never ending.

You know the ones I mean, defrost the fridges/ freezer, sort out the pantry and linen closet. All those really annoying things that need to be done but are mind numbingly boring.And are taking up time I would be much rather crafting in.

One of the ways that I have been incorporating more crafting is by going to a craft group once a month. Yes it's only once a month but its seriously a good start. It's called Brown Owls and so far I have been to two of the Sutherland group meetings. (I started last year but did not make all the gets togethers, hopefully this year.)

Anyway one of the things that I have been wanting to do is knit a jumper for my husband. I have often heard people say you are either a knitter or crocheter and let me tell you this is so true. I am much better at crochet.

So last Sunday I took my (44 rows) of black jumper that took me two months to do last year, and I month to start, as my craft project. Well it really didn't go so well. I did two rows, realised I had majorly stuffed it and and had a minor meltdown.

I pulled it apart and restarted. At the time I was just frustrated but now I realise that it was the best idea I have had so far. My knitting is better, better tension, and so far no mistakes unlike the first attempt.

So now I will be turning this into my group project for the year. But I have also promised myself to try and do a few rows everyday so I don't forget what I was up to. And maybe just maybe I will finish it in a few years.

Now I just have to organise some of the other things that I want to do!

Do you knit or crochet.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy Valentines Day!

                    


Happy Valentines Day! Valentines Day originates from the Feast of St Valentines and is a feast day kept by the Anglican and Lutheran churches. The day was first associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages. By the 15th century lovers were sending each other flowers, cards and chocolates, this tradition continues today. In the 19th century the traditional hand made cards gave way to mass produced cards.

Now for all those people out there that love Valentines Day and what it presents you had better stop reading now and go and do something else. I am not a fan of Valentines Day.

In the lead up to today you are bombarded with TV ads and radio ads telling you that you should be buying this or that for your Valentines. That you should be going out and having a special meal with your Valentine. You all know exactly what I am talking about. Its become so commercialised that it has lost touch with its true meaning. (Just like Christmas and Easter.)

I can see when you are first starting to date and get to know someone how it can be great, everything is more romantic when you first get together. But then after a while, especially in a long term relationship, it really is just another day. At least thats how I see it.

Now I do not know about the rest of you but I would much rather my husband bought me flowers etc on other days of the year, not when he is being told by the media that he has to do it. It doesn't feel quiet as special when hes being told to do it. And lets be honest, the surprise of the moment is gone.

When Valentines Day comes now we do not buy each other anything, most of the time we just have a nice meal at home with a bottle of wine. And for us that is just perfect.

How are you spendiing your Valentines Day?

Argh Stupid Laptop

For the last hour I have been trying to access my email on my laptop. Apparently it has done too much work already today and refuses to participate. (My hubby has been on it for a few hours).
I could cheerfully throw it through something at the moment. It's not like I have no access as I can read them through my phone and iPad, but I am trying to delete them.
So I will just have to try again tomorrow as I have had enough of it tonight. I really think I am going to have to take it to someone to have it looked at. Plus I have a program on it that's not working, nor can I remove it. It just won't let me, I have a feeling that that is probably not normal.
Anyway I have better things to do at the moment. Lots of reading to do.

Okay I may have to take that back. I currently can't access my email from any of my devices. Must be a hotmail thing.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tune Tuesday- Thrift Shop

My son starts prep school today so for this Tune Tuesday I thought I would post about his favourite song: Thrift Shop by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

When we drive places in the car I don't play kids music. I listen to the normal radio, generally on low. My iPod had a big selection of kids songs but unfortunately it's died and my husbands iPod doesn't fit our entire music library. (It's full of metal and rock music.)

When we went away at Christmas J started asking for some song to be played and kept repeating lines to us. Mostly the line "I have $20 in my pocket". It took almost 3 weeks before I heard the line on the radio and shazammed the song. (I love Shazam!). Every time we get in the car he asks if the song will play, doesn't quite get the concept of tv or radio.

So now that I have played it on my phone for him every time we get in the car he asks me to put it on my phone for him. I can't believe that he loves it so much, he is only 4. His last favourite song was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Cars

Well this has been a very interesting few weeks where one of our cars has been concerned.
In December our 1998 Toyota corolla hatch overheated, and from then on it was constant. Drive for more than 15 and it did it.
My husband and I have had a few "discussions" about the car an last week a friend of his 'fixed' it for him.
He drove it home, drove it to work and then when he drove it to his parents it overheated again. Supposedly due to the new thermostat not opening when it should have.
So again his friend went to fix it. And this time the news was not good. The head block had cracked this time.
So it was bye bye Toyota.
He sold it to a mechanic yesterday who plans on fixing it up for his son to drive.
And I have to say that it feels a little weird not having it anymore.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone