I’ve had a great week. I’m not even sure why. Sitting on my front verandah having a laugh with a couple of friends on Wednesday morning was near perfect. Happy children exploring the rocks to the side of our house, happy mums enjoying a cuppa, happy chocolate chip cookies munching themselves (seemingly!), happy weather smiling at it all. Yes, that’s why I had such a great week.
Plus, I learned / was reminded of a fair bit of really important stuff. Mostly about the human character.
1. For all my talk last week of rarely wearing makeup, I frocked up for an awards dinner on Friday night and it was great fun (the frocking up, not the actual dinner, that was Dullsville). I learned that dressing up and looking your best is just as much fun as I remembered. Still wouldn’t want to have to do it everyday, but everything has its place.
2. There’s a fantastic search cheat sheet for Google out there. It really helps to refine your search terms and find what you need more quickly
3. The grass really isn’t greener on the other side of the fence. I knew this, of course, but my Working Mother Guilt post really brought it home to me. And it reminded me that when I first went back to working life after having my first baby I felt guilty because I didn’t feel guilty… is there no end!? The only solution is to stop focusing on the negative and start loving the beautiful positives. And always be grateful, grateful, grateful.
4. Sometimes what you’re looking for is right in front of you all along. Gifts of Serendipity posted up favourite poem of mine from long ago, Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata and I was reminded to slow down, reflect and appreciate.
5. Typedrawing is just about the most fascinating thing I’ve found in weeks. You create pictures with words. If you love typography – as I do – you will love this to pieces.*
6. Fabric bags are my new must have. Look what Piou Piou is up to … such a fantastic way to store kids’ stuff (or any stuff for that matter!)
7. An unexpected, thoughtful gift ‘just because’ is a wonderful thing indeed.
8. I learned that we really are just born either sunny-side up or down. Imagine a junior burger trying to figure out the motivations for a friend suddenly wanting to play with someone else. Some kids just shrug their shoulders and say ‘he’s got better toys’ (this was Maxi-Taxi’s response), other kids worry all day that there is ‘something wrong with me’ (this was his bestie’s response). Are your kids sunny-side up or down?
9. You’ve got to have band-aids in your first aid kit. They are the world’s great placebo treatment. If you run out, buy some more immediately lest you be caught short with a stubbed toe belonging to a child not your own requiring said placebo… and ‘what do you mean you don’t have a band-aid’ ringing in your ears.
10. LOML is quite possibly the kindest, most supportive and handsomemost man in the world.**
Are you flogging? I’m flogging at Lori’s… Oh, and while we’re on the subject of linkys, don’t forget to link up to the August Chronicles. I wanna see your fridge!
Being Me says
Band-Aids are SO the best placebo, you’re right. I have a sunny-side up kid. Except when there’s the possibility of getting a Band-Aid. And then, she’s the most troubled, hard-up, pained little soul…. until the plaster’s on the sore. Funnily enough 😉
MMBB says
I learned that even though I put the cocktail frankfurts under the grill, I should have boiled them first anyway..:$
x0xJ says
Great post!
I agree, sometimes we need to stop and actively look for the good stuff. There is so much around us, and it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed with the not so great.
Anna Walker says
type drawing is awesome! 🙂
& I am glad that you had fun dressing up because it’s always fun to look your best 🙂
& Thanks for finding my blog! I love yours!
Ash says
A post full to the brim of happiness! What a wonderful start to the weekend! My little man is sunny side up – because he’s only 2 is probably part of it, but hopefully I can help keep it that way!
PS That cheat sheet is very cool!
clare's craftroom says
What a lovely , lovely post , thanks so much !
Little Ted Canvas says
That’s a great post! I think I learned to have a little faith in myself & my work this week..happy days!
Mommy Lisa says
I learned the only way to be happy is to decide to be happy…again!
Jasmine says
In a moment of genius a while back, I kissed my son’s head after he bumped it (quite hard). Ever since then, if he hurts himself, he asks for a kiss better. He can bump his head, graze his knees, scratch a mozzie bite – and as long as I kiss it better, he calms down and everything is fine. No bandaids needed! He even does the same back when I hurt myself now, so precious!
Chymecindy says
This is very inspirational. Stay happy.
Tenille says
This week I’ve learnt that I should listen to my husband when he tells me to ‘chuck a sickie’ and stay home with he and Lil. I really should have (but never would, I feel too guilty).
Chelsey - The Paper Mama says
Thanks for visiting. I’m going to have fun exploring your cute blog!
Melbourne Mumma says
Great blog! Will have to check out Typedrawing, sounds interesting.
Hmmm what have I learnt this week? Well maybe I didn’t learn it, but was reminded of the fact we can’t ever take things for granted, and to value what you do have 🙂
MommaPebz says
LOVE the sunny side up idea! ♥
•´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Trish.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´• says
Thanks for sharing the Desiderata I have it rpinted out somewhere …I needed this today !
Bandaids are totally a cure for everything here too with 2 x 4yrs olds …the box is alwasy empty.
Thanks for visiting me and I love the google cheat sheet.
FYBF xx
Nomie says
This week I learnt (once again) that life is full of surprises!
The type drawing sounds interesting, I’m off to have a look!
Ms Cinti - my poppet says
I {heart} U too. xx cinti
oh and i learnt that i have superpowers, True!
http://made-of-cloth.blogspot.com/2010/08/super-powers.html
BabyMac says
I learned a few things…
: that the wind still makes me as crazy as it did in the infants primary playground.
: that mid week open house inspections are the work of Satan
: that thai takeaway delivered in a neat brown paper bag gives me MUCH satisfaction
: that explaining death and funerals to a 3 year old can be REALLY exhausting
: that hard poos are a thing to NEVER take for granted (after 6 days straight with a toddler with the trots!)
Rachel says
I learnt this week ..that it doesn’t matter how early you go to ed your still tired when you get up in the morning…. why is that?
ok off to play with typedrawing…. 🙂
Then gonna enter my fridge…. finally
Seraphim says
This week I learned that being brave pays off. And also that I really, really love visiting your blog. x
Aspiring Millionaire says
I did the make up thing too this week! I hardly wear it, then this week I got all dressed up and was like wow, that looks so different!
Wanderlust says
I learned (all over again) what truly beautiful friends I have.
Cinda says
Oh you’re so right about the bandaids! I go through so many but it’s help clear up so many tears.
Life in Rehab says
I learned that cleaning hairball out of a white starfish is not all that easy. Thank you for popping by my blog yesterday. Yours seems so peaceful, like a relaxing weekend escape.
Gill@OurParklife says
I LOVE your little comment about your husband…so nice to hear and of course, very sweet!