Mine is June.  My best friend, brother, parents and three other close friends are all born within thirty days of each other.  And salting the wound, my parents are actually born on the same day. Unacceptable!  It’s such a major issue for me, that when my hubby and I decided to have kids, there was a three month period where I flat out refused to attempt procreation, just because conception then might lead to a June baby.  Imagine that conversation:  “Sorry honey, not tonight.  How about six weeks from now?”

June is my personal hell, and after many years of living with the dreaded 06, I have noticed a peculiarity about my behaviour towards this time of my year.  My moods always follow the same five emotions as people dealing with grief: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.  Let me explain…

Denial

This normally hits about mid-May and lasts until the first day of June.  My poor tiny mind simply can’t grasp the fact that it’s almost June and shuts down.  This is where I start sounding like my eighty-six year old nana by making senior-style statements like, “How is almost half the year gone again?” and “Each year goes faster than the last…”

Anger

June 1, and with birthdays looming only days away, presents unbought and cards unsent, a tsunami of rage boils within me.  Lord help innocent bystanders if this stage happens to coincide with THAT time of the month.  About now, I’ll normally scream completely redundant proclamations to the sky like, “WHY!!!???  June is STUPID!!!  I HATE birthdays!  What were all your horny parents doing back in September anyway?  This is everybody’s fault but mine!!!”

Bargaining

In desperation, I turn to online shopping and card creation sites, with futile hopes that the delivery promise of three days, doesn’t mean three business days.  I try fooling myself that “There’s still time!” and find myself wandering idealess around Target or Ikea, looking for a gift to jump off the shelf… then end up leaving with a gift card.

Depression

As I arrive for parties and family dinners, sheepishly proffering flowers from Woolies and a $1 card filled out two minutes earlier in the car, the sinking sensation hits.  Inevitably, there’s always some smug show off in attendance with a thoughtful and generous gift that just makes me want to drown myself in the nearest wine glass.  And the excuses I make sound vapid even to me, “Sorry, I’ve been busy, I thought this party was next week, etc…”

Acceptance

At the end of the month, I finally cut myself a break: I am a full-time working mother of two, with a husband who runs his own seven day a week business.  I will NEVER be the kind of person who plots perfect gifts months in advance and I can barely remember my own birthday, let along other people’s, without my calendar.  If my family and friends choose to be offended over late cards and hasty gifts, then they’re not paying attention to the other eleven months of year when I strive to be a loving daughter, supportive friend and tolerant sibling.

Having said all of that, with the advent of so many awesome and creative websites for online buying, an automatic birthday calendar with weekly reminders and a strong self-motivation to do better than before, I am truly hoping this year will be different.

I’ll get onto it next week.  Or the one after.  I’ve got plenty of time…

I am very well.  Have just survived my first Mothers Day on my own with two munchkins and I have to say that it was delightful.

There was no pressure from anyone over what we had to do, how I had to behave or when I had to be dressed by.  It was wonderful.

Master M has been telling me that his Day Care present was going to make me cry for the past few days and he was right.  I bawled like a baby and he hugged me and laughed.  It was truely a beautiful start to a beautiful day.

In true Canberra style it was waaaaay too cold to be outside today so we spent the day wither snuggled on the couch together, or playing together in the toy area or running around down the hall and in and out of the bedrooms.  Master M gave me big hugs and wished me a Happy Mothers Day and different times right throughout the day.  Master S feeling left out kept joining in on the hugs and the occasional kiss. Hubby has gone and hasn’t been able to call today but I know he would be so proud of both his beautiful boys.

I feel very loved.

I ended up getting my much wanted iPad for Mothers Day which I got last weekend.  I LOVE it!  I love the convenience, the quickness (its quicker than my old desk top) and the way it syncs automatically with my iPhone!  Love it!  The boys enjoy using the children’s apps on it too.  Now to work on hubby to get a MacBook Pro and to convert the old PC to a Mac and I will be truely in Apple heaven!

After doing a review for The Australian Women’s Weekly (read it here) I had the brilliant idea of getting my Mum, my Stepmum and my Grandmother a subscription each to The Australian Women’s Weekly which they loved!!

The thing I will remember the most about today and the thing I love the most is the 5 minutes this morning where I was crying at the dodgy looking Mothers Day card that Master M had made just for me and he was hugging me.  The joy in his eyes, the love on his face and the tenderness in his arms.

One day another very, very lucky woman will get to experience the love and tenderness that he has – but for now it’s all mine !

I hope you have had a fantastic Mothers Day and that you also got a moment in time that you get to freeze and enjoy forever as ‘your moment’ from Mothers Day 2012.

RachieRach
xox

In Australia, we mothers agonize over whether or not to work or stay at home, to vaccinate or not, to go private or public with our children’s schooling, how much homework is good for our kids and the list goes on… For my friend Mary in Tanzania the question is first, ‘How can I get enough money to feed my family?’ The next might be, ‘How can I ensure my boys get an education?’

I met Mary when my husband and I and our two children lived in Tanzania in Africa in 2006. Mary was employed by us as a housekeeper as I found that in Tanzania everything we take for granted to run a household took triple the time. Every item of clothing and bedding had to be ironed to kill off the mango-fly eggs that hatch and then burrow into the human body to grow into worms. There was no such thing as a tin of tomatoes so if pasta was on the menu the tomatoes had to be chopped from scratch. The dust was insidious and the floors had to be swept and mopped every day.

Mary earned $25 per month and worked for us six days per week. She walked for one hour each way to work every day through mud in the monsoon and dust in the dry season. She used her wages to pay for her boys to attend school. Mary always wore a gorgeous pair of Ferragamo pumps that she had bought at the second-hand market which she would wipe off when she arrived at our home to help me cook and clean for the day.  Mary was very bright but job opportunities in Moshi for Tanzanians are extremely scarce. She was happy to have a job. Her excellent English skills meant that she could translate for me into Kiswahili whenever a visiting tradesman required direction or to clarify issues with our nightwatchman who spoke no English.

Mary never failed to greet us with a smile and her commonsense advice was invaluable to me, a mzungu or white person from Bondi, Australia who had to learn how to navigate the local markets to get food, how to deal with the constant power outages and how to prepare a meal for four with a one burner gas stove. We spent a lot of time together at home when my husband was away volunteering and one of my children was at the nearby International school.

I grew to admire Mary immensely and after a few months of working for us she invited us all to lunch at her home, including my parents who were visiting from Australia. Her house had dirt floors, no electricity and an outside kitchen but she was bursting with pride as she showed us around. It was immaculate and she had prepared for us what I knew was a feast way beyond what she could afford based on the wages we paid her. The food she provided was food that her own family would rarely eat; chicken, beer for my Dad and soft drinks for the kids.  Her two boys were dressed as they dressed for church on a Sunday in their one ‘best’ outfit.

We both cried buckets when we left to return to Australia and we have stayed in contact by email. She is still working hard for another mzungu family. She has found sponsors for both her boys to attend a better school than the ones provided by the Tanzanian government and they are doing well. Mary’s legacy to her children is that she made sure they got a good education and they were never hungry. She provided them with a role model of a hardworking and cheerful mum who made the absolute best of what she was given.

Whenever I walk past the gleaming Salvatore Ferragamo store in the QVB I think of Mary and how elegant she used to look in those pretty, patent leather pumps. If she knew how much a pair of those shoes cost she would have been amazed. For Mary life was stripped back to family, work and home but she went through life with uncomplaining grace and elegance and for that reason when I need to be inspired I like to think about Mary.

I certainly can’t!!

The beginning of May is a little stressful for me.  My Step-Mum and my Mum both have birthdays in early May and couple that with Mothers Day and the first two weeks of May = having to find waaay too many gifts at once for 2 different and very hard to buy for women!

I am planning on doing a canvas for each of them from the boys using their artistic flair to create a masterpiece.  It will be a great gift from them but Im not sure that will work as a gift from me too.  I am sure I will be rushing around at the last minute trying desperately to find the perfect gift.  Then buying them both chocolates and swearing that I WILL do better next year!!  Why do they both have to have their birthdays so close together?

This year I am personally hoping for a Tech Mothers Day.  I would normally hint at what I would like as a gift – but as that has never worked in the past this year I have decided to take the sledge hammer approach and just tell EVERYONE within ear shot EXACTLY what I would like for Mothers Day.

I want – a 32GB, iPad3, WiFi in White.

That’s right I said a 32GB, iPad3, WiFi in White.

OR

A Thermomix …. yes you read that right A Thermomix.

Thats all I ask for this year, but thats all I really want.  Thankyou.

Either gift is a little extravagant and I admit I have never actually asked or wanted a gift quite this indulgent but seeing as hubby is about to go away for 6months for work.  I think I deserve it !  The iPad would revolutionise my ‘Mummy’ time and would be great for skyping while he is away – the Thermomix would revolutionise the way we eat, what we eat and how much time I spend in my kitchen!!

I am really looking forward to seeing what little projects the boys are doing at Pre-School and Day Care.  I have kept every single Mothers Day gift they have ever made and given me and I am very excited about this years projects.  Hopefully I’ll even be able to take a photo of them with my new iPad or read them while enjoying treats from my new Thermomix!  Maybe do both?  A girl can dream !

Do you have any suggestions on what to buy the Mum that has everything?  What is on your wish list for this Mothers Day?

RachieRach
xox

Hubby goes away soon and I have only just realised how soon it actually is.

Sometimes being an Army wife is liberating, empowering and independence building.

Other days it just sucks.

The sooner he leaves, the sooner he will be back.

My problem is that I just don’t want him to leave.

He has been on holidays from work for the past 4 weeks and he is driving me insane!

But I really want him to be home and driving me insane still in 14 days time.

I don’t want to feel the ache in my heart that is always there when he is away.

I don’t want the boys to cry for their Daddy of a night time.

I don’t want to cry for their Daddy of a night time.

I don’t want him to miss out on the boys activities and achievements.

I don’t want him to ache and miss us of a night time.

He loves his job.

Part of me wishes he was a Project Manager or an IT geek – someone who comes home every night.  But I know he wouldn’t be happy.

I prefer to have a husband who is only home for half the year – but for that half he home he is interactive, happy, helpful and grateful, than a husband who was home every night, hated what he did and took me and the kids for granted.

Still doesn’t mean that I don’t wish he was staying home.

I love my husband and the Army treat us well.

But sometimes being an Army wife just sucks.

RachieRach
xox

P.S. The photo isn’t of me.

To celebrate the launch of MumsDelivery Marketplace each Member WILL receive a Contours Gift Voucher as well as the opportunity to WIN from over $1,100 worth of prizes simply by becoming a MumsDelivery member! Become a member today. See the prizes here.

Marketplace members also have the opportunity to make some extra cash by selling your pre-loved goods to other mums looking for a bargain! If you have items you could sell, find out more here.

We look forward to making your shopping experience more enjoyable!

The Team at MumsDelivery

Here is my Confession:

I currently have a number of projects on the boil, this blog, swim teaching, doing more training at work, my old work has begged me to do a weeks contract (with fabulous pay so who am I to say no), Im organising a major event for the community centre, I am also in the middle of writing a major funding application for the centre which is due by next Friday, it is school holidays and Im planning a holiday to New Zealand.  Did I mention at all that I might be a tad over-committed?

My friends have often said that I say ‘Yes’ too often.  That may be the case but I also say No regularly too.  Just ask my current work who are always wanting me to work more as more and more parents want me to teach their child or the Community Centre who I have had to say No to on many, many occasions.  Saying Yes really isn’t my problem.

My problem is that I see opportunities EVERYWHERE.  They seem to surround me constantly and I can never let a good opportunity go by!  I LOVE grabbing an opportunity and seeing exactly where it will lead me.  It is exciting and thrilling and I really enjoy it.

However, I never have enough hours in the day, days in the week.  But how do you turn out an opportunity that you know is just fabulous!  I know I can’t!!!

I have a set of aims, goals and just general rules that I check through before taking on an opportunity.  They have to fit in around the family and they are supposed to fit into my routine.  Which currently they don’t.  Although I keep reminding myself that once this project or that project is over then I WILL be able to get back to the gym (Yeah right!  I think I am fooling myself).

I am really, really excited about what is happening in my life at the moment.  So many exciting opportunities and I am genuinely loving every single one!  I am a little worried about missing things and forgetting to pay important bills or return an important email.  But at the moment I think I am on top of it all ….. I hope ……

How about you?  Are you Over-Committed or could you do more?  Are you a Yes person or are you like me and just see the opportunities surrounding you that you just HAVE to grab hold of?

Im off to check my emails again – just to make sure I haven’t missed anything!

Have a great day!

RachieRach
xox

The beauty of the show for those interested in any of the Caravans, RVs,  Camper Trailers, Pop Tops and Tents lies in the ability to get a realistic view of how big these accommodation options are, the quality of the features and fittings, some good helpful advice along with some equally impressive show specials. As there are also a range of brands and companies at the show it provides a great point for comparison.

We went to the show for a ‘look’ and left 5 hours later with 2 exhausted yet very well behaved children. In many ways the show is great for you if you have an idea of what you want and are looking for a great price as there were many bargains to take advantage of. Unbeknownst to me, Hubby had been looking at a WAECO fridge/freezer earlier in the week and online and had actually asked for gift vouchers for his upcoming birthday to this particular camping store in order to go and buy one. At the show we found the same product, the 80L WAECO fridge/freezer which was discounted by $150 AND came with a cover, a stand, another fridge thing for the car, a converter to plug a normal power point into the car power, a BBQ tool set and more! Needless to say – we left the show with much lighter pockets!

We also left the show seriously considering buying a camper trailer! In fact we still have 8 days still to decide! This was not something we had not planned on buying anytime soon…yet the specials were very good and it is really nice when you can see and completely understand the quality of the product that you are looking at against its competitors! Which brings me to the reason for my post:

Have you invested in a camper trailer? Was it worth it? What should we look out for and what advice can you give a semi novice?

Honestly ……….

How …. are …… YOU?

I don’t want to hear the standard ‘Good’ or ‘Fine’.  What has happened today or yesterday and how do you really feel about it?  Why do you feel that way?  and what are you going to do about it?

Why do we feel like we can’t tell people that – well actually things aren’t going so great at the moment, or actually I could really do with a hand.

How often do we truely reflect on who we are, what makes us happy, what gets us out of bed with a smile on our face and what would we happily do every day for the rest of our lives.  Whilst being realistic of course.

Why do we waste so much time and energy on the not so great things – the things we can’t even tell people about when they ask us how we are – why do we dwell in the crappy stuff?  Things that make us angry, stressed, worried, sad and frustrated.  So much energy, wasted.

Every day there is something that makes me smile.  Whether it is something the boys say or do, or even just the quiet that comes over the house once they are both in bed, there is always something.

I started a Gratitude Journal at the start of this year and I have to say it is one of the best things I have ever done!  I absolutely love sitting down at the end of the day with a herbal tea thinking back over the day and writing down at least one thing I am grateful for from during that day.  There have been days where all I have been grateful for is that the boys went to bed but by writing that down it brings me back into a happy, relaxed state of mind and it somehow makes me realise that the chaos and craziness from earlier in the day really wasn’t that bad.  We survived.  By reflecting I go back to the moment – bring it back to this moment – and I take the time to recognise the enjoyment I felt.

Anger, Frustration, Hate, Stress, Worry – we seem to surround ourselves with these emotions constantly throughout the day.  We seem to acknowledge these emotional states almost instinctively – but we don’t seem to take the extra time to truely recognise joy.

So why not make the decision to recognise all the good things and the joy in your life.

Turn things around – stop dwelling on the bad, the things you can’t change, the energy wasting things and start dwelling on the things that truely make your heart sing.

You reap what you sow.  If you want to reap Joy, you have to sow Joy.  But to sow Joy you have to find it and nuture it to watch it grow.

Have a fabulous day.

RachieRach
xox

From its gorgeous beaches and coral reefs, amazing natural landscapes, unique wildlife, indigenous culture and fascinating cities, Australia has something for everyone. Best of all, with a little bit of advance planning, even holiday-goers on a tight budget can experience many of Australia’s best pastimes without investing a lot of money in guided tours and fancy hotel rooms.

There are low-cost or even free opportunities for many popular activities. Below are five suggestions for making your Aussie holiday a fantastic experience – without breaking the bank in the process. Do your research ahead of time so you know where to find the cheapest ways to experience the wonderful activities and adventures Australia has to offer.

1) Explore the Outdoors

Many of the best things to do in Australia are outdoors, and this is good news for the budget-minded traveler. National parks dot the Australian landscape, each with its unique flora, fauna and geography. Although many parks have an entrance fee, it is usually nominal, so all visitors have inexpensive access to the beautiful natural surroundings. Walking trails range from easy, hour-long loops, to more challenging overnight hikes accommodating all levels of interest and skill level. Depending on which part of the country you are in, here are some low-cost places to experience the beauty of Australia:

· The Daintree Rainforest, Queensland: Boasts over 400 meters of raised, treetop-height walkways as well as ground-level walking trails that allow visitors to explore the diversity of this unique ecosystem.

· The Blue Mountains, NSW: Beautiful bushwalking trails, waterfalls and natural scenery at National Pass, a World Heritage Area.

· The Bibbulmun Track, Western Austraila: The longest walking trail in Western Australia, has free camping shelters along its path for those adventurers who want to immerse themselves in the beautiful scenery both day and night.

2) Take to the Water

It’s almost impossible to visit Australia without spending some time in or near the water. Almost all of the country’s major cities are located on Australia’s coasts and the country is famous for its surfing, beaches, and of course, the Great Barrier Reef. Once again, it is fairly easy to experience the best water activities of Australia at little or no cost. Consider these options:

· The Great Barrier Reef , which is a “must see” for visitors to Australia. Although it will cost you some money for a boat ride out into the reef, short day trips start as low as $20-30 per person, and the money spent is well worth it.

· Australia’s beaches, located nearly everywhere along the country’s long shoreline, are usually free or inexpensive and offer opportunities to swim, surf, relax and fish.

· Snorkeling, jet-skiing and even learning to scuba dive are possible on a budget by steering clear of the most “touristy” beach areas and finding a quieter locale, where equipment rentals and lessons are likely to be cheaper.

3) Find Free Activities

Even the more expensive cities and regions of Australia can be enjoyed by those on a budget. Many museums have free or reduced-admission days and other attractions have coupons that will cut the price of entry. To find these deals, make sure to contact the visitors’ centers for each city or region you plan to visit before starting your trip. That way you can plan to be in the right place to take advantage of daily specials. In addition, consider these activities around the country that are always free:

Perth:

 4) Consider Geography

Australia is a big country, and trying to see all of it in one trip would take months and involve long days of travel. Flying between far-flung locations can be expensive, so the budget-minded traveler should concentrate on one area of the country to explore, and rely on public transportation, especially busses, to get around. One itinerary to consider when planning a trip in Australia is the eastern coast of the country from Sydney up to Queensland. This region encompasses Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef and gives travelers the opportunity to experience a wide diversity of landscape, nature and activity in the smallest possible area. Go a little farther north and you come to the rainforests around Carins, which combines well with the Gold Coast and Australia’s Northern Territory for another possible trip.

5) Sample the Local Cuisine

Eating on a budget can be difficult when you are on vacation, with no access to a kitchen or familiar markets, but there are ways to eat well and keep your costs down. Research the local farmers’ markets and outdoor festivals – Australia boasts hundreds – to find fresh produce, local cuisine, and other inexpensive food items. If you are staying at a hostel or campsite and have access to cooking facilities, visit the grocery store and try to cook some of your meals yourself. Carry fresh fruit and other healthy snacks with you as you travel so that you are less hungry for big, expensive meals.

Australia has a lot to offer for the cost-conscious traveler. Unlike destinations in other parts of the world, much of Australia can be experienced inexpensively, making it an ideal destination for those who want a wonderful vacation but don’t have a lot to spend.

Guest Post from Kristy Alexander. Kristy is a frugal mum of three and freelance travel writer for HotelClub. When she’s not busy writing she’s looking for the best cheap accommodation option for her and her family.