oh and that petrol price

Is on the rise again...............................

This week another 67c or is that 68c. That means within in a very short period petrol has gone up over R1.00

Just fetching the kids from school and doing the odd errands means a R50.00 cost in petrol a day. Home Schooling is starting to sound like a much better option but then I might just need that padded cell.

Anyway back to smiling, laughing.......and getting ready for those shows.

Happenings and my rant for the day

Life is extremely busy this end of the world. I have two shows/exhibitions coming up back to back almost and I'm feeling very overwhelmed.

The state of our economy and how I feel about the country offer no peace of mind, at all. I told hubby that it feels like we're heading in the same direction as Zimbabwe just at a much slower pace.

I have promised myself that I will have finished pieces at these shows. Why?? Because most South African's cannot appreciate a handmake lampwork bead even if it hit them in the face. Do people realise how much work goes into making these little pieces of art??? I don't think so. Yet, they will constantly rave over imported junk that is made by cheap labour who are treated so badly. So it comes down to cost - well, I guess you get what you pay for. And I love this afrikaans saying "Goed koop, is deurkoop" hope I spelt that right. Basically it means buying cheaply can be expensive.

And at the end of the day, yes it may only be glass but it is made with love and care and is unique!!

So this is my rant for the day.

Monday's Thought for the Day

Find Laughter

"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

- Bill Cosby -

Pay It Forward cont.................

Okay, we have 3.

Deeva, Maggie and Kare - your pendants will be on there way soon. Except Deevva's which will be ornamently. LOL

Back for a Sunday report later.

Starfish Pendants

Friday's Thought for the Day

Essentials Of Happiness

"The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."

- Allan K. Chalmers -

It's an exciting day filled with possibilities..........

Thanks to a fellow artist who gave me the heads up. It looks like I will now be able to sell on Ebay and Etsy. Astrid you're a STAR!!!

And I have something else up my sleeve. But not saying a word now until it is done. But it is a project I am very excited about.

No pictures today unless something jumps in front of the camera and says photograph me. Due to a lot of admin and a 3 year old with a whopper of a temperature yesterday I was not able to torch, but definitely have plans for today.

Oh and if you still want something for free - read the Pay it Forward post. There is still one place left.

Here's to a Tigger day and may it stay that way.

Starfish Buttons

Thought for the day

All Things Are Possible

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe."

- Gail Devers -

and some old ones revisited

Here we go again....

Photographing marbles.....

I spent some quite a bit of time this morning trying to photograph these buggers. I'm about to try plan X, Y and Z - or somewhere in between. I have not accomplished much except to get myself extemely frustrated.

Off to give it one more try.

Vexatiously

Now there is a new word for your vocabulary.............................

Meaning:

vexatiously
adverb

In a vexatious manner; so as to give annoyance.

Or

Vexatious \Vex*a"tious\, a. [See Vexation.]

1. Causing vexation; agitating; afflictive; annoying; as, a
vexatious controversy; a vexatious neighbor. ``Continual
vexatious wars.'' --South.

2. Full or vexation, trouble, or disquiet; disturbed.
He leads a vexatious life. --Sir K.
Digby.

Vexatious suit (Law), a suit commenced for the purpose of
giving trouble, or without cause. -- Vex*a"tious*ly,
adv. -- Vex*a"tious*ness, n.


From this I assume my emails to the Trustees annoy them. If you cannot stand the heat get out of the kitchen, is my answer to them.

They seem more concerned with 'beautification' than they are with security. The fence is still ticking and spends more time in alarm mode than anything else but as long as we have pretty hibiscus to look at then all is well.

I think that somebody forgot to check that we live in a black frost/frost zone. Somehow I don't think the 'beautification' will look beautiful in the middle of winter.

I'm off to do some research. I wonder if the hibiscus is indigenous or not.

Now for the letting go moment:

We will be out of this complex within a few months. Not soon enough for me but hey procedures need to be followed.

Will the trustees every hear from me again. Hell no!!! The last communication they will be getting is that NO we will not be attending the AGM and that our proxy will be given to a fellow Home Owner and not the Chairlady.

This is a part of my life that as from today I will be letting go. These 5 woman have caused enough stress in my life for the past 7 or so years. It is time to be free of them. So with a breath of fresh air I say "I'm finally free!!!"

Later

Don't forget the Pay it Forward post

There is still one more place. Maybe it's you.

Later

Still playing with marbles

Trying to photograph these is proving to be a learning curve for me. I know with perseverance I'll find the sweet spot. Till later

Pay It Forward

My friend Samma posted this in her blog. You can find her blog under my favourite links. So I'd thought I'd join in too.

The first 3 to comment will get a large lampwork focal piece. You must Pay It Foward too. How fun is this? Your focal will be mailed within 30 days, possibly sooner!
Hoo Hooo...Who's out there?

Michelle

Here's the rules:
Pay It Forward rules: I will send a handmade gift (something beaded) to the first 3 people who leave a Comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange (and email me their mailing address), and who make the same pledge on their own blogs. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward meaning you will do the same for three people who comment on your blog. Chances are very good you will receive the gift within a few weeks :)Ok, so here you go. Now it's up to you to formally participate in a Pay It Forward project. I look forward to hearing from you.

Marbles

Easter ramble

It was getting pretty late. We'd just watched Premonition with Sandra Bullock which I thoroughly enjoyed and still had one final task to do, the map.

Thank goodness I was still wide awake as I still had to put the map together. It didn't take to long and then gave the Easter bunny strict instructions as to where everything had to be placed.

Needless to say I was successfully woken up so that the hunt could begin. Apparently my map drawing skills are not so great. LOL But with dad's direction they finally cottoned on. I'm dreading the sugar rush.

Easter Egg Hunt

I forgot, how could I

Well I did and I feel terrible for it. I forgot hubby's birthday. I woke up and flew into a 'got to get the house tidy for the new Estate Agent' mode. Eeeeeek!!! When it did finally click, I felt like a real horrible person!!!

There is just so much going on in this crazy brain of mine which is no excuse really. The worst is low and behold he forgets mine, he'd be sliced and diced and fed to the sharks. But he'd never forget......I feel terrible for forgetting.

As far as plans go and torching yesterday. Uhmmmm, never got there. We spent most of the day just chilling. But the kiln is on and there is hope for today.

We went to the renovated shopping centre in Sunninghill to get ribs that are the best in the world for a braai tonight. Got hubby some Malva pudding. Can you see I'm trying to make-up. Yes, yes....it will take more than delicious ribs and malva pudding. I know, okay!!! Well, the kiddies ended up jumping on a jumping castle and hunting for eggs. The new Thai Spa was doing a promotion and offering 10 minute massages for a great deal. I gave it a try and WOW!!! Then hubby went. We both thoroughly enjoyed it and I cannot wait till they officially open to give the reflexololgy a try.

We're back home again. The weather has taken a turn to the chilly side again. I think winter is going to knock on our doors early this year.

We like the new Estate Agency that is taking over the sale of our house. They seem far more eager and keen to sell our property. So crossing fingers once again.

Hope you're all having a super long weekend so far. We are....

Back soon.

So what is the plan, he asks....

I dunno I say. Can't we just for once chill and relax. Does there have to be a plan :)) It's Easter weekend. Hopefully all the Joburgers have cleared out and are harassing everyone else in the other provinces. LOL I'm evil, I know.

It's a chilly day. Good excuse to sit in front of the torch and play.

Although, having to watch the Teletubbies over and over again is enough to drive any mother looney!!!

And my favourite forum is down. Very sad!!! Life is just not the same without it.

Have a good one guys and girls. I'll check back later.

Nearly forgot those Easter hats...

Did I forget to tell you about these. Not the greatest photo but had to do a quick job of it otherwise I didn't see the hats surviving much longer. Brad had an Easter hat parade at school and I had a project to do. These were the results. LOL At the end of the day it would have been cheaper to buy a normal hat I'm sure. Next time paper mache and balloons.....LOL

Just for laughs.....

hmmmm....thought I should add that this is not my art. LOL A friend sent it to me - unfortunately it is not signed. But hope you enjoy it anyway.

The day before Friday

It's been a busy one. Rushing here and there and I think I did pretty well.

Finally collected my clear borosilicate glass from my supplier in Randburg, popped in at the Lifestyle Nursery - found some cool items to display finished jewellery. Made the mad dash home but first stopped off at Checkers and Woolies to complete the Easter Bunnies shopping list.

Now just to put together the treasure map and I'm sorted. Shoooooooo.

Also got a new bottle of oxygen today so I'm planning a full long weekend of torching. Woohoo!!

Need to make some marbles and I wonder what a bunny might look like on a heart. Bunny love!! We'll see.

Have a super and safe Easter Weekend. Hope the Easter Bunny spoils you. I know I've hinted for some Champagne truffles but I think my bunny is dirt broke and naturally I have expensive tastes. LOL

Back soon.

You have to check this out

I heard about it on the radio and naturally I went searching on the internet.

http://www.alife4sale.com/

Lunatic mom turns roaming reporter...

Yes, I promised today I would take my Nikon along on my travels and I did. The state of some of our roads in our area. I have to travel this road practically everyday.

The laugh of the day has to be of course seeing the roads department out and about fixing potholes. A truck loaded with sand - a guy hops out, shovels in some dirt, stomps on it, smiles and voila the pothole is fixed. Yeh right!!!

More Love Frogs........and something different

Rain and potholes

Amazing how well those two go together.

Apparently ranting and raving and behaving like a lunatic don't work. Duh!!! The alternative is to laugh and it makes you feel good to.

We're having a couple of cold fronts pass over us. Means a very cold Easter - no disaster there as I'm sure the Easter Bunny will still visit. Reminds me, I better get working on the treasure hunt. But 9 months from now - hmmmmm. I'm pretty sure the maternity section will be a tad bit fuller. Don't panic we're protected.

Back to the title of this post. After our last rains; you should have seen the potholes. At one stage there were more potholes than road. They finally fixed it recently; about two weeks ago. Now for a good couple of days we've had a good lot of rain. Hmmmmm = loads more potholes on the same road just a different area....it's fun playing dodge-ems. The boys and I make a game out of it. Of course I lose points if I end up going through one. I really must take my Nikon with me so that you can see the potholes for the road. LOL

Another good laugh was my car and the contents of the petrol tank. Rather low as you can imagine. Well R50 was going to have to do it for today. Uhmmm 6 litres later. Only 6. Many moons ago when I had a beetle I am pretty sure I would have filled my tank and taken home change. All I could do was laugh and told the petrol attendant that I would be seeing him shortly. Naturally, I only try and put in petrol at my favourit station in Sunninghill; and the service is brilliant. I think they make a fortune out of me especially if the boys and I head into the shop. LOL Now do I not only have to plan to make sure I can make it to my favourite petrol station before I run out of petrol but I have to plan it so the boys are at school too. A mom's job is never done.

Got some more Love Frogs to show you tomorrow and a little something different; that is if it turned out okay. Until then....bye

My latest frog on a heart

Come on, you know you want one..............

Gloomy cold day.....

I cannot say I am entirely miserable about the weather. Tonight is definitely soup or stew night. Hmmm....need to go shopping without the kiddies. LOL Decisions as both sound good!!!

Rolling blackouts....

Or whatever you want to call it. Goes by Load Shedding, No power, Blackouts in other words frankly just NO POWER!!!!

Supposedly 4 generators tripped this weekend or something. To top it all off we're experiencing a true winters day and naturally everyone is doing everything they can to keep warm. That means heaters I guess and more cups of coffee so that kettle gets used more often. Some soup - hence the stove gets used and well electricity usage rises. No brainer right!! So the load shedding that was not going to happen until the end of the month is in full swing. 4 hours on a most likely daily basis of no power. Frustration!!!!!!

They spin their stories. They're trying to save for winter. They can't even save for a hiccup!!! So 4 generators tripped - isn't that a maintenance issue. Oh yes lest we forget, everybody who knew how to maintain the equipment was retired, retrenched and whatever in the name of Affirmative Action. This is the only company where the top dudes get lovely big bonuses for screwing up. I want to work for this company. I want to live in the lap of luxury, not do my job, screw up and get a bonus for doing it. Any other company would have fired their asses by now. But hang on with BEE and affirmative action you cannot do that. How many chances do these guys need. You've screwed up!!! Now it is up to us - we must cut our usuage so you can continue to supply countries such as Zimbabwe with power. Do they pay for it - I doubt it!!! But should I not pay, should I be late you will cut me off promptly - no questions asked.

So today I will likely only get one load of washing done, it won't get dry.....and oh well, life goes on.

But I get to rant and rave and behave like lunatic and feel better for it.

Now I need to find a means to keep warm without using power, hmmm should I buy some nice winter clothes to keep me warm. That just provides the government with more excuses to raise interest rates cause I'm able to buy something whether with cash or credit. Hey because if everyone can spend money then it's a good excuse to screw them over more!!!!

Can you tell I had fun!!

Something new.....

I hate, Hate, HAte, HATe, HATE this Country

I'm a terrible mom because I often tell Bradley not to use the word HATE. It is an ugly and harsh word and it's hard to take back once said. But I'm the mommy right!!

So the average man on the street will be facing more interest rate hikes, another rise in petrol costs, rises in rates and taxes (and if you live in a white suburban area you see nothing for the money you pay) BUT you can count the potholes.

This morning on the way to take Josh to school, there is the Metro police with one of there illustrious road blocks. The ones with orange cones, little yellow metal speed bump and fancy trailer with camera and all. Yep, all those that haven't paid there traffic fines - guess where they are spending there weekend!! So I make my way through bumper to bumper, get to the right turn I need to make for Josh's school further up the road. Next thing sirens and metro cops jumping out all around me. Here is me right behind a Taxi - the most disliked car on the South African roads. Metro cops grab the driver, poor passengers are jumping out of the taxi in fear I take it. And here is me holding my breath. I have Josh in the car in his car seat which makes him sit higher than if he was just sitting down on the back seat and me praying to the heavens above that the taxi driver is not brandishing a gun - stupid fear but a reality. Taxi driver gets packed into the metro police bus and a metro police officer drives off in the offending taxi. Life goes on..........

I hate the fear............I hate living in a country where fear is an everyday part of life. I am tired of having to be observant at every blooming intersection, stop street and my own driveway in fear of been a smash and grab victim or hi-jack victim. The tension gets to you eventually. TODAY is a breakdown day. The tears are going to flow in the hopelessness of it all!!!! Not enough money to escape this hell hole and not enough money to stay in this hell hole!!!

I envision myself selling my glass beads at an intersection with a sign. STUPID MOTHER WHO WANTED TO STAY AT HOME WITH HER KIDS AND TRY AND MAKE A LIVING BY DOING SOMETHING SHE LOVES INSTEAD OF WORKING FOR SOME ASSHOLE OF A BOSS WHO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS A FAMILY AND THAT YOU DON'T!!!!

My rant for the day. Told you I was a lunatic........................................................now to have that happy pill that clearly is not doing it's job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's amazing what you can achieve

After my little rant earlier, I sat down and worked at the torch and Voila.....I played with something new and had FUN!!!!

I even have everything ready for my book club this evening. Or is that Wine and Gossip club. I'm not really sure. LOL

I have cooked the most amazing Bobotie and the kids think so too. The smells coming out of the oven are too DIE for!!! Hope it tastes as good.

I was hoping for us to be dining outside on the patio but it looks like a later afternoon thundershower might put an end to that idea. So we'll see.

Can't focus

I wish I could but I can't. I sit down at my torch then I get up. There is just way too much going on in my brain right now. I have a zillion things I need to work on but I just can't seem to do it.

Selling our house would be a big step in the right direction. But no nibbles yet!!! I want to scream in frustration!!!

I have 64 days until BeadEx and I cannot get my A$$ in gear. Nevermind the show two weeks prior to that. Right now I cannot even make a decision about which stand I will take at the Your Family Craft Expo. Something that should be easy enough.

Playing with my blog is probably not what should be at the top of my priority list but at least I can get my thoughts out into the cyber world.

A list of what is going on in my brain:

1. Making that frog
2. Posting those overseas parcels
3. Selling the house
4. What if we don't sell the house
5. Which street corner would be the best to go begging on
6. Selling the house
7. Book Club
8. Making dinner for book club
9. Making pendants - hearts etc.
10. Selling the house
11. Wishing my hair would grow back quicker or are people just staring at me because I'm fat or is it because I'm fat and I shaved me hair off
12. Making the right decisions
13. Is Brad happy school
14. Would home schooling be better
15. Back to selling the house
16. Where we go will our multitude of pets be accepted
17. Where will we go

I could go on and on and on. No wonder I do not feel grounded currently.

I guess doing just one thing is a start................................................

I'm fighting a lost cause

If you remember my post from last week about the temper tantrum in a local Woolworths food store; well I've decided to try and take it further. But I am getting no where fast!!! Guess I shouldn't have really expected anything else.

I have contacted Woolworths about the 'temptation aisle' that leads to the tills. I want it gone or at least an alternative for parents shopping with kids. Needless to say I have heard diddly squat, nadda, nothing.

Of course in reality I know they won't do it. There revenue would drop and that for them that would not be good and fellow shoppers (those who are just so much better at parenting whether they have kids or not) would not have anything to talk about, especially the lastest temper tantrum they just witnessed. So what to do, what to do???

There is always shopping without the kids but what do you do in school holidays etc. Not shop, not eat..........

Some finished pieces.....

It has been along time goal of mine to actually use my glass beads and pendants in finished pieces of wearable items. I'm one step closer!!!

Last year in May sometime; yep, along time ago. I took some classes with Manie Kriel to learn these weaving techniques. All that I learnt ended up on the back burner I guess and I forgot most of what I was taught. Eek!!! After much swearing and creating a much needed new vocabularly for the world I finally got it right. Oh, and only 144 + Swarovski crystals later. Those are all in the bracelet.

Memories

The other day when I was in the one supermarket I ended up in the kids toys and stationery aisle. The smell and the memories came flooding back. As a family we always used to go on our annual holiday to the coast. These were something to look forward to. The beach, the sea and the river. Hours and hours of fun!!!

There on the shelves were buckets and spades. Very far away from any seaside holiday. For a moment there I was sitting on a beach building sand castles.

A Puffin made by Knowledge

Knowledge is a local South African Lampwork Artist. He makes the most adorable creatures. He is also very new to the artform and has only been melting glass since October last year. I cannot wait to see what else he comes up with.

I'm Invisible (and you might be too)

I found this on one of the forums I read. It is beautiful. Unfortunately I do not know who the author of it is.

I'm Invisible

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible; "The Invisible Mom."

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, and she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of- style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanutbutter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have norecord of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are youspending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a diseasethat is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went sofar as to say that no cathedrals could ev er be built in our lifetime becausethere are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens fo r the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Praying Mantis

Thomas the cat

Temper tantrum and trolley rage

Tomorrow will definitely be a TGIF day!!!!

I guess the day started off bad when I really didn't feel like getting out of bed. Somebody definitely knew alot more than I did at that time. I should have listened.

Getting Josh dressed and ready for nursery school was a challenge and I thought I had the traffic beat but I guess I didn't quite time it right. By the time I got back home I thought to hell with it and drove out to Hobby-X, a craft show that happens annually. I'm not quite sure why I go. It is probably more for the social aspect than anything else as there was definitely no WOW factor!! Well, I did come home with a quilt kit....I'll squeeze it in between midnight and 6am in the morning. Or is it doomed to be come another 'thought' packed away in the cupboard. Headed home with some pearls, some cool spacer beads and a quilt kit. But hopefully hubby need never find out about the quilt kit. I'll keep that one hush, hush!!!!

We've just had an astronomical petrol price increase and everytime I'm driving my car I'm reminded of this fact. It is a fact of life and no matter what it is something I cannot change. Now every kilometre ticks over in my brain and I start assessing whether the trip is necessary. It just happens to be necessary most of the time as the children need to be fetched from school. I just feel like this week so far has been spent in the car. There was the trip to Pretoria for some glass stock and then the Randburg trip for Hobby-X and most likely another trip to Randburg to see someone who stocks my work. I'm starting to not like my car. Which leads me to another story for the day. My one and only ticket bought from Guide Dogs and I can win a car. One with 4 doors - 5 if you include the boot. Currently I have 2 doors and the boot. I really would like 4.

We have to get to the temper tantrum and trolley rage. Don't worry we'll get there!!!

After collecting Josh and eventually Bradley from School and with some needed chill out time at home before I knew it, it was out the door to meet my sister and her kiddies for dinner. It is something I really enjoy and that is spending time with my sister. It is fun catching up and just chatting even if the kids do drive us nuts. Somehow I know I can cope because she is there.

I then had to brave it at the local Woolies. Stupid me had told hubby that I would get the milk for the next day. My brain must have been fried!!! I put an already whiny Josh into a trolley, a trolley he has decided is not quite to his liking. We're already at logger heads. I make a brave dash for the milk, then a mad dash for jelly and custard and then a rush for the tills. It must be PMS because the Organic Milk chocolate slab is screaming at me, I make a sudden stop and grab the slab. I apologise to the cranky gentleman behind me.

Next I know Josh is making his mind known about everything esle he wants. We're now in the famous 'temptation aisle' the only way to the tills. The one aisle where I am surprised the child protection unit are not at the end of. Cause how mothers and children survive that aisle is a miracle. I hold my ground, I will not give in. Of course now everyone is starting to stare. Clearly I am this evenings entertainment and they will go home to discuss the wonderful world of modern parenting.

Uggggg!!!!! I see a gap, I don't even wait for the 'next customer please', I charge for the sanctity of a till thinking the quicker I can get through this the better. Here I am trying to tell Josh "NO" and me and the trolley extending out a bit because as pushy as I am trying to be I didn't want to try and be out right rude to the couple who were collecting their parcels. Mr Cranky behind me says something about me blocking the way. I've got a screaming 3 year and me trying to be nice to Mr Cranky I say, please go on past and he got all damned 'snooty' on me. Now the urge of killing a 3 year old gets passed onto Mr Cranky. I eventually yell 'Does everybody have to stare at me and my 3 year old throwing the temper tanturm. The store gets quiet and it is me who is now throwing the temper tantrum but hey nobody is staring anymore. The poor teller thinks I'm yelling at him!!! I then want to throttle the teller because something organic has just rung up at some astronomical amount. Turns out it was that organic slab of chocolate. Oh heck, in the throws of PMS - I decide the very expensive slab of chocolate will be well worth it.

So I am going to enjoy every tiny morsel of that chocolate - I am going to truly indulge!!! And you know what world - I DESERVE IT!!!!

You try being a mom in today's world.....................................where everyone thinks they have better parenting skills than you do!!! The fact that I am still somewhat sane means a whole lot to me. So there!!!!!!!!!

More beads made with Borosilicate Glass