The Winmalee Fires Up Close

As many of you will know, my mother in law lost her house on Thursday to the fires in Winmalee. Her house was one of 45 houses that were lost in her street (that's about a third of the houses in the street). She went  to work that morning and didn't have a chance to return to collect valuables. My sister in law and her family were also living with my mother in law at the time. She took the kids to her brother's house earlier in the day concerned that the smoke would  affect the kid's asthma. The fires hit so quickly that there was no chance to return to the house to attempt to save it or save any precious items. A neighbour who was evacuating his own house happened to hear my sister in law's dog in the backyard and was able to save the dog before heading to safety.

Yesterday we drove up to see what was left of the house my husband grew up in. As you can see there isn't much left. What surprised me the most was the spirit of the people in the community. People were sharing stories and helping each other out and smiling. We spoke to some family friends that live in the street and they were showing us what they had managed to salvage from the fire. You can see in the photos the war medals that this man's son had dug up. They said it was fun, like "an archaeological dig". Their whole house was gone, but they were seeing all the things they could be thankful for (like the carport to stand under and the caravan which was untouched by the fire and was space that was their own).

There have been so many people generously offering to donate all sort of items to those affected by the fires. We spoke to people running a collection center in the area yesterday and they are full to capacity with donated items. However, those affected by the fires are currently unable to accept more than a few items of clothes. Many of them are staying with friends and relatives and the priority is to sort out insurance claims and find longer term housing. If you have offered  or collected items the best thing is to hold onto them yourself until people have places to store them (and the head space to know what they need). At the moment they need our prayers and some financial donations. Another great suggestion is giving Coles, Woolies, Bunnings, Myer etc vouchers so they can use them to get what they need, when they need it.

We are so thankful that these fires have not claimed any lives and as my brother in law said "They are just things". Everything can and will be replaced in time. Thankfully our families are fully insured so we are looking forward to seeing a beautiful new home built where the old house was. It will be filled with wonderful new memories, but the old memories will live on in our mind and hearts.

I have added lots of photos below for those who are interested in seeing what the fire has done.

The drive in to Winmalee

A helicopter taking water to another fire

The items they managed to salvage

Trying to figure out what is what

champagne glass

My sister in law looking over the garage where her belonging were stored 

We found the door handle!

The pantry

I turned my black converse white by stepping in burnt books

Neighbours to the right

Neighbours to the left

The war medals that were found

Thankful for a car port and a caravan

Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT

The Blessing of Time

Last week I decided to take the kids on a road trip to visit where my parents live and stay with my Dad and his partner at their new house. It was a bit of a last minute decision to go and a little bit scary having to drive the kids 12 hours up the coast by myself. Before I went, I put the question to you all on Facebook and got some helpful tips for travelling with small children which I shared yesterday. What I didn't tell you was how amazing it was to take my girls away by myself.  I love my girls so much, but I find that in the busyness of life I don't give them as much of me as I would like when I am at home. There is always cleaning to do, or a blog post to write, or an outing head out to.

I began this blog as an encouragement to other mums (and to myself) to appreciate the blessings that children are. Sometimes I feel like I fail at that so often when we are at home. Being a natural introvert it is so much easier for me to retreat into my own thoughts even when I am playing with my kids. This past week was a great way to put all the stress of life out of my mind and just be present with my girls.

Of course the drive up wasn't all that easy to have time with them, but we still had fun counting, singing, chatting and playing eye spy. However, the little stops we had along with way were part of our fun adventure and it was a good chance to play and chat and cuddle.

A picnic with my little ladies

I have written before about how my kids prefer their dad over me so getting away with them alone was a nice chance to see that they do enjoy spending time with me. I love that they love their Daddy, but it is also lovely when all the cuddles and kisses are for me.

Our holiday was mainly for the girls to spend time with their grandparents (and me to see them too), but I made sure to take the girls out in the afternoons to have some time alone with them. It also gave my Dad and his partner some kid free time. The days I took them out, we went to get an ice cream and have a play by the beach. It was so special because they had me all to themselves and they were doing things they LOVE.

I introduced them to Bubble O Bill

I let them get messy

I let them run free on the beach

We went shopping for new swimmers & sunnies

Even though it was mostly all up to me to get them up and dressed and bathed and to sleep, I just loved being able to do all those things for them and give them my whole attention. It was also lovely not having to make dinner or thoroughly clean the house (Thanks Linda for her hospitality).

I know my hubby missed us terribly but for me it was such a blessing to really connect with my girls. I would love to do it again next year -if my hubby can bare it :)

Do you ever get away with your kids and really connect with them?

Tips for Long Distance Travel with Small Children

I'm one of those people who likes a challenge. I am also a bit rebellious and so when someone says travelling 12 hours on my own with my kids will be a bad idea.....it suddenly becomes very appealing. I knew it was crazy but it was school holidays, my hubby couldn't get the time off work and I really wanted to visit my parents in Coffs Harbour.
Freaking out just a little bit before I set off on my single parent road trip, I asked for your tips on my Facebook page. They were so great I decided to dedicate a whole post to the do's and don't of travelling with small children. Some of them are your tips, others are mine and the rest are from lessons I learned the hard way :(

DO take a potty for emergency toilet stops by the side of the road.

DON'T get tripped over by your children and spill it over your pants before you get to tip it out.

DO have DVDs/Audiobooks/ ready for them to watch in car

DON'T allow the 4 year old to be responsible for the remote control because if she loses it another 15 mins will be added to your trip trying to find it.

DO provide your children with colouring in books and pencils.

DON'T give your 18 month old a whole pack of pencils or you will be finding them throughout the car for weeks.


DO bring lots healthy snacks such as muesli bars, fruit, dried fruit and add in a couple of treats. Giving them their own "special" bag at each stop reduces the constant demand for more food and the danger of handing it too them.

Lolly bags that we used as special snack bags

DON'T choose popcorn as one of those snacks. It is messy and you may be constantly freaking out about kids choking while you are driving.

DO take your own healthy lunch such as sandwiches and have a little picnic for your lunch stop. It makes such a big difference to your energy levels if you eat healthy snacks and it saves heaps of money.

Our little lunch picnic (and the evil port-a-loos in the background)

DON'T eat a big McDonald's lunch (I made sure not to eat Maccas at all this time). It just makes you sleepy and it is dangerous when you are the only driver.

DO take advantage of McDonalds facilities (even if you don't buy anything at all). They are clean and they have a disabled toilet that you can ALL go in. The playgrounds are great for the kids too!

Macca's playground

DON'T stop somewhere with only Port-a-loos. They are dirty, smelly and only two children can fit in there with you leaving the other child out in the car park.

DO download an audiobook or two for yourself before you leave (it won't download over mobile networks). The books are a nice way to pass the time and it drowns out the kids movies (and fighting) in the background.

DON'T download a book with a sex scene in it. I am not opposed to sex in books but let me tell you, it is much sleazier when someone reads it aloud. Eww!

DO remember to thoroughly check the rooms you have been staying in before you leave to go home.

DON'T don't forget your make up bag at your Dad's place especially when you have committed to not buying new make up for the next 12 months.

My Dad who drove my make up bag to me because I couldn't turn around in the roadworks

Even with the little hiccups it was such a fun road trip and I would certainly do it again (if Dad will have us back). My little ladies are such good travellers and it was a blessing to be able to have the time to take them on this adventure.

IBOTing with Essentially Jess  click over for some great blog reading today. 

Global Hand Washing Day {Product Review}

Did you know that next Tuesday the 15th of October is Global Hand Washing Day? If you don't believe me Google it (after you read this post of course). 

It seems crazy to have a whole day dedicated to Hand Washing but when you begin to understand the benefits of the simple act of washing your hands, you can see the importance of promoting it.

I was heartbroken to learn that each year diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections are the cause of the deaths of more than 3.5 million children under five. Washing hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before touching food helps reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal disease by more than 40 per cent -but sadly, simply washing hands is not regularly practiced by everyone around the world. 

I don't know about your kids, but my kids always "forget" to wash their hands. I hear them in the toilet, then suddenly they appear in the room. Knowing I haven't heard a toilet flush, or the taps running, I ask them "Did you flush? Did you wash your hands?". These questions are met with a rolling of the eyes (or a look of sudden realisation) as they run back into the bathroom. Thankfully I was recently sent some products from Dettol to trial for our home to create healthier home. We received a bottle of Dettol's  Sensitive anti-bacterial hand wash which is great for cleaning up grubby little hands. When they have finally gotten around to washing their hands, at least I know they are germ free and won't be spreading disease. 

I don't use a lot of chemicals in our home, but there are times (especially with kids) that a germ killing product is required. I was also sent the Power & Pure multi purpose spray which I really like. So far I have used it on the benches, on the floors and in the bathroom to kill off any nasty germs. It has a nice smell and I know that the surfaces I have used it on are 99.9% germ free.

I also love that Dettol's Mission for health is committed to not only the health of my family, but the health of children around the world. Save the children and Mission for Health have joined forces to bring a child health and hygiene project to Indonesia. I'm hoping and praying that these programs can save lives simply by teaching people to wash their hands.

Do you struggle to get your kids to remember to wash their hands?

This is a sponsored post and I was sent these product to review. All opinions are entirely my own as are my random stories.

A Blogging Event in Canberra!!!! (& a Special Deal for my Readers)

I had BIG plans to attend a blogging conference this year, but the busyness of life and the effort required to travel interstate meant it wasn't to be. I have often thought to myself, "If only there could be a blogging event in Canberra" but really....as if that would ever happen.

Well my friends, it IS happening!!! If you have a blog (or hope to start a blog) and live in Canberra (or can get to Canberra -it's only 3 hours drive from Sydney) then keep reading because I have something VERY exciting to share with you.

On the 2nd of November two of my gorgeous bloggy friends, Vanisha Mishra -Vakaoti and Masha Zaric. will be hosting a one day blogging and photography workshop right here in the ACT. The workshop is called "Blogging with Soul" and I had the opportunity to chat with Vanisha recently to hear what the workshop will be all about and why they have decided to run it.

The idea to create this workshop came after Vanisha started a blogging series on her personal blog, Vanisha's Life in Australia. She had attended numerous conferences and workshops and had a passion to share her expertise to help other bloggers. The blogging series became her most popular posts and as a result she has started a separate blog dedicated to blogging called, The Purposeful Blogger. After lots of encouragement from her blogging readers and friends, the idea of a blogging  and photography workshop was born. For the photography part of the workshop Vanisha approached a photographer whose work she admired. Masha Zaric of Masha Zaric Photography, is a Canberra based photographer who is passionate about sharing her photography skills to help others create beautiful images.

The content of the blogging component of the workshop will include developing a blogging philosophy, growing your blog organically, working with brands and the importance of creating connections to enhance your blog. As well as the topics listed, the workshop will allow time to discuss issues specific to your blog.

Masha Zaric will be helping us to develop our photography skills to produce images that will enhance the words we write.  She will also show us how to present products we review in professional looking images rather than relying on the brand's own images. The focus will be on making best use of our DSLR cameras and smart phones using the resources and lighting available to us at home. She will also give us tips on editing, uploading our photos and presenting them beautifully on our blogs.  Also as a special treat, everyone will be leaving with a gorgeous head shot that Masha will photograph and you can use as a profile image on your blog.

Blogging with Soul is also intended to be an ongoing support network for those who attend. Following the workshop, a virtual space will be created where participants can discuss/share/collaborate with other bloggers and encourage each other to achieve their goals.

Blogging with Soul will be held on Saturday 2nd October at the Strathnairn Woolshed which is the perfect venue for practicing your newly learnt photography skills.

The cost is $280 for the workshop....BUT if you tell the girls I sent you they will give you a discount of $80. Places are limited but there is still time to book.

If you are interested email the girls at workshop@bloggingwithsoul.com to confirm your place. 

I have booked my spot and I hope to see you there.

 

You Should Talk to Strangers!

Have you ever been in a crowd of people and not known a single person? Or sat next to a stranger on a plane or bus for hours and hours and not said a word to them? We do it every day but recently I have been thinking about how strange it really is.

Whether you believe in a creator or not, it is obvious that we are made to be in relationship with other people. I guess it is different in country towns than it is in cities, but it really does feel like our communities are disappearing with people avoiding each other more and more.

image credit

When I was first married, I lived in a townhouse with three other townhouses on the block. For the 18 months that we lived there we never talked to our neighbours. It was only the week before we moved out that one of the neighbours started talking to us (they were pretty new to the block) and had us over for a cup of tea. For 18 months we just drove in and out of our automatic garages, barely even acknowledging each other.

Thankfully, it is a little different where I currently live. My next door neighbours are a lovely family who I love spending time with and there is another young mum a few doors down who I have met a couple of times. I feel really blessed to be building relationships with those who live near me.

Even though I think it is weird, there is some comfort in being anonymous sometimes. There are days when I prefer not to chat to anyone and I prefer a trip out to the shops without seeing anyone I know. 

There are other times though, when it just feels wrong to be so close to another person and not relate to them in any way.  Recently I sat in the front seat of a taxi (because it felt rude to sit in the back) and apart from a couple of comments we sat in silence, another time I was in a swimming class and there were 6-7 of us in the pool with our kids and no one said a word to each other. These situations are quite intimate, we are so close but not connecting at all.

I'm not sure if you have ever felt this way (maybe you have never really noticed), but I guess I just wanted to get people thinking about it. Sometimes people do want to be anonymous, but there are also lots of lonely people out there who are longing to connect with people. There are people who feel disconnected from people, unloved and alone. For those people a smile, or some acknowledgement that they actually exist would mean the world to them.

Next time you are at the shops, in a taxi, at the pool, maybe take the time to say hi, or smile or strike up a conversation. You might make someone's day or even make a new friend. 


Have you ever thought about this?  

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Why Pumpkin is Evil and How to Fight it (in the Laundry)

It's raining here at the moment and that means my washing pile is growing by the minute. Sometimes I honestly wish that we lived a simpler life with only one outfit that we washed every night (ok that would only be good for washing and not great for anything else really).

Call me crazy but I quite like washing clothes. We have a massive old reconditioned washing machine that we picked up from some guy whose front yard to filled with old appliances. I absolutely LOVE it! We had two front loaders prior and they both died after 4-5 years. I wasn't sad to see them go because they made way for my massive washer. I can fit at least double the amount of clothes in this one.

The only thing that makes washing a burden for me is when I can't get stains out of my clothes. So I was excited when I was asked to review Vanish Napisan Oxi Action Powder. In my clumsiness, I spilled my glass of wine on our throw rug (I think it was while watching Offspring and laughing at Billie) and ended up with a red wine stain which looked a little like blood. The good news for me is that Vanish Napisan Powder gets it out no problem. It is also good for Coffee stains and my personal favourite puree pumpkin. When my girls were younger, all their little clothes had orange stains on them that just wouldn't budge. 

See, pumpkin IS EVIL

They only thing that would work is Napisan. I'd soak them as per the instructions on the box and they'd be gone. I also had a very special trick I used for the very stubborn stains. After following the normal soaking with Napisan, place the clothing in full sun. After the clothes were dry the stains disappeared like magic! 

I love this product and always have it on hand in my laundry. If you don't use it, I think it is worth a try.

Do you have a great tip for removing stains?

This is a sponsored post and I was given the product to try, but all opinions are my own.