Garage Sale Days

I love garage sales! We put on an awesome garage sale over the weekend and made some good money, as well as meeting a lot of new neighbours and having fun. However, it wasn't fun getting up at five in the morning, although I should be used to that with my breastfeeding routine (or lack of routine). I think the most important thing for a garage sale is to advertise. I advertised in two local papers, which cost me around $30, but it was worth it as we had a large number of customers coming through. Then at the end of the day, anything that didn't sell is packed up and taken to the local charity shop. We mostly had books and clothes left over to take to charity.

Because it's Tuesday

Here is what I'm loving this week:

Chocolate Chip Cookies 

I have a very bad sweet tooth so I have been trying a few different types of choc chip cookies lately. These cookies have so many choc chips in them, they are almost evil. I bought these today and have already eaten four. Delicious but very very naughty!

Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series

I bought these books ten years ago and started reading the first three in the series. For some reason, I didn't finish reading them. Now I have reignited my passion for this series and started re-reading them. I am up to the fourth book in the series, 'Cruel and Unusual', and I am absolutely loving them. I wonder if these books were the inspiration for all of those crime shows that we have plastered on our TVs today?

Garnier Night Cream

Now that I am no longer 'in my 20s', I realise how important it is to look after my skin. While I have always used moisturiser as I have fairly dry skin, now I am also using a night cream to keep up my 'youthful appearance'. I have tried a few different brands and this one is one of my favourites. Perhaps because it's called 'Youthful Radiance', it makes me feel younger? I am a sucker for advertising!

Spring!

Spring has sprung and the weather is certainly keeping true to the season. I love spring, with budding flowers, warm days and crisp nights. I love going to the nearby park where I can walk amongst the blooming cherry blossom trees. Spring is a time for renewal and growth and also a time to re-charge my brain and body to feel happy and healthy in time for Summer.

I love leaving on a good note, so I will sign off for today with a smile.

Lana  xxx

... Then comes the baby in the carriage

Marriage. Is it a religious celebration or can it be a secular celebration? 

It's a touchy issue with some people, especially when you bring kids into the picture. That is, having babies before you tie the knot. As a young girl growing up in the 80s, I saw marriage as the next logical step after finding the 'man of my dreams'. Although I'm not a 'girly-girl', I did have visions of me dutifully walking down a church aisle in a pretty white dress.

Of course, life doesn't always turn out as you plan it in your 12-year old mind. Perhaps I'm sounding quite cynical here, as I am not disappointed that I didn't 'do it the right way' and get married before popping out a baby. Life throws you unexpected surprises and you need to bee positive and take it in your stride.

As it is Tuesday, here are the things I am absolutely loving at the moment:

That's Life Magazine

I can't get enough of this little gem. I am hooked to this magazine because of the puzzles. Although they are a bit too easy to complete, that's the whole point, or else no one would be winning the prizes. While I've never actually won a prize, I still keep entering the competitions. The 'real-life' stories aren't too bad either.

Water

As I am breastfeeding, I honestly can't get enough of this pure gold. OK, so it's a necessity of life, but I had to add this one as I am constantly thirsty (and probably dehydrated half the time) but I love my water. I know you are not supposed to re-use plastic water bottles, but it's so handy to refill them throughout the day. Love it.

Vaporiser

My poor little son has a runny nose! He could barely breathe at night until my partner's sister demanded I borrow her Taav Vaporaire and leave it on all night. Result? First time since bub was born that I have had six hours of non-broken sleep. Enough said!

Isa Brown Hens

We recently bought two hens so that we could have our own 'free-range' eggs. They are two beautiful Isa Browns called Rosie (aka Whole Lotta Rosie) and Martha (my sister named her in homage to Martha Stewart). We were told they would start laying eggs in 3-4 weeks time, and would you believe it, today they started laying! One tiny little egg. I'm egg-static.

Caramel Crowns

These are my downfall. I ate four of them today with my cuppa tea. When I looked on the back of the packet at the recommended serving portion, it said one biscuit. Should I feel bad?

Now I am feeling very happy! I am a bit of a list-Nazi, but I like to be organised.