The last couple of days...........

i've kept Australia Post in business!  i've had 2 parcels from Louise from Nip Naps (amazing lady, BTW), both things i've won (a swim nappy and a Mother-Ease starter pack-4 nappies, 2 boosters and a cover), a schmoopie i won off TV1 on facebook, Inika makeup i won from Bride Magazine on facebook (from their freebie fridays), and Enjoy Lighting eco candle for being one of their first 1000 likers (again on facebook, this smells amazing though), a Vibe Village tetley tea pack (they're bringing out a new tea for soy milk, and it actually tastes really good.  there was so much tea in this pack, though), a Nestle cerelac sample and spoon, a Maxibon manchew (for training your jaws, the kids think it's great), Hubby's birthday present (which i can't show here yet :)), and a new Kidspot trial (more to come in coming days). 

Jackson's Monsters trial

another exciting trial from kidspot.  jackson's monsters is a new kids T shirt brand, with designs that are unique with transfers that are fade proof. 
http://www.jacksonsmonsters.com.au/
anyway, little miss has been wearing her shirt out and about today, and i must say i love it.  the design is seriously cute, and so is the T.

and, while out, we stumbled across an angus and robertson that was closing down.  every hardback in store was $2 and every paperback was $1.  pick up a copy of the short life of bree tanner (hardback, no price on it), and anne mccaffery (was $24.99), a cook book (was $27.99) and a mummy diet book (was $34.99) for the grand total of $5.  just what this house needed, more books :)

Little miss in her new shirt.  it states 'girls like monsters too'

My A&R bargains

Tomica toy trial

We have been lucky enough to be chosen as part of the Kidspot Tomica toy trial.  a huge box arrived this morning, with 4 wrapped 'presents' inside.  the kids thought it was christmas!  so far so good, everything is set up, and we (read, mummy) was very excited to find that the track is the same as the road Tomy Motor road and rail thomas sets (what was taken over by Trackmaster).  we have 3 50L starmaid boxes full of blue track, plus plenty of road (the road in the new sets is card board, so not as durable as the old plastic track, something i'll have to point out in my review).  otherwise, though, the sets are gorgeous.  we have a train (a very modern train, so different to all the thomas)and a train station, a mechanic shop, a pizza shop, 2 vehicles (one car and one scooter), and 3 people (a stationmaster, a pizza delivery guy and a mechanic), and an extra 4 pack of straight track.  i can't wait to have the time and the room to put this modern city into our thomas tracks.

The box, i had no idea what it was



the sets still in their boxes



everything all set up

our original collection of track

First Day

Pj had his first day at preschool today!  he had a half day last week, but today is the first full day.  ever since wednesday, though, i've heard 'mummy, i going to school today??' even over the weekend.  so off he went today.  One very upset little miss later (abby doesn't like her brother leaving, even though she enjoys having mummy to herself) and there's only an hour left until i pick him up!!  i can't wait to hear how his day went.

The big preschool boy

my little fairy princess

My new found favourite pattern!

Baby shoes!!!  they are soooooooo cute, and are quick and easy (plus they use up big-ish scraps).  i have no-one to make them for, but i had to try the pattern out.  i still have a few patterns to try, but this one http://www.greatturtle.com/stardustshoes/clothshoe.pdf  is the one i've been making.

Oh, and just a quick shot of my night flowering cacti.  even in the heat recently they're thriving

It's hot...................

so we went out today!  salvos in Queanbeyan got hit (a cd, a video for PJ, some bangles for abby, and a baby bouncer, for a grand total of $7), as did spotlight (but there was nothing of interest there), plus Riverside plaza (found some cute teddies at target for 5c each, so i have 2 happy kids).

today's haul!

well, we went off to the op-shops today (phillip and weston salvos), and came out with a CD, a top for myself and a top for abby (weston) and a patchwork magazine (from phillip) for the grand total of $5.  then i headed off to Curtin to pick up some clothes and shoes off a lady (freecycle), and OMG, these clothes are amazing!!!  there were 4 aldi bags worth (and they were stuffed), and all bar one dress fits like a glove.  mostly great brands, there are items from sass and bide, witchery, david laurence, and i think the cheapest item is from crossroads.  mainly winter, there are dresses, a suit, tops, skirts, cardis, jackets, plus some gorgeous shoes.  i'm in heaven!!!

Then the kidlets and i met the other half in civic for lunch, with a quick call in to Lincraft for some fabric (1/2 fabric today, so 4 metres of quilting cotton for $14).  all up a lovely day, and if the heat would just go away it would be perfect