GEORGIA

I absolutely LOVE it when people have no idea what they are giving away.

I love it even more when people have no idea what they are selling.

Yes, I'm an opportunist.

I did a quick circuit of a local op-shop on Wednesday while I was there dropping off some stuff, and there, lying out in the open on a table, was a rag doll.

A Kate Finn rag-doll.

In fact, one very similar to this Kate Finn Rag doll.

Please note the price.

I love these dolls. So beautifully and well made. We purchased a doll for Bethany when she went into hospital to have surgery, and we have another on layby for Amy for Christmas. I'll be ordering one to put aside for Cora when she's older.

I don't think I have ever moved so fast, or litterally snatched something off a table at an op-shop before.

I went to the counter, and heard angels sing.

I had another, good quality dolly (who's dress is easily washed) to give to my girls...

For a dollar.

Thanks and a Reward... kind of.

Thankyou all for your lovely comments about my chapter review :) I was so nervous! And, of course, after it had been up most of the day, I remembered something I really wanted to put in and had forgotten it. Isn't that just the way?

I sort of have a reward for you.

It's completely selfish though, because I hope it helps me. ;)

Centsational Girl has one of the most awesome DIY blogs out there in cyberspace. I el-oh-vee-ee it. And guess what?! She's giving away...

....

A ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR gift voucher to Lisa Leonard!

SQUEE!!

I adore Lisa's designs. I've wanted one for ages. Particularly the "Fly Free" one... when I first saw it, I caught my breath... it works beautifully for a prophesy I was given once. It would be such a sweet reminder.

But I think, if I win, I'll use the voucher for something for my mother... I've been trying to work out a way to get her 4 kids, 2 sons in law and nearly 8 grandchildren onto one pendant. So I emailed Lisa to ask a question... and she wrote back the sweetest email :) She assured me it wasn't a dumb question, but unfortunately, what I had asked for wasn't possible after all. But she did give me some lovely ideas to use instead. I'm thinking she needs to come up with a "Grandmother" range.

What do you think?

So, anyway... this is just ONE of my entries :)

That's right, Centsational Girl is giving you FOUR chances of wining this awesome prize.


..............


Why are you still here?!

Don't Judge Me

I went Christmas shopping yesterday. Every year, Target has this humongous toy sale, where most things are half price, and you only pay 3 dollars to put it all on layby no matter how much you buy and they will store it there until Christmas eve.

Winner.

As I compiled my list of things for the kids the night before, I am reminded again just how expensive everything is getting over here. Most items at half price were still around $20. We had to quickly revise the $100 per child thing we've had going. At most, they'd get 5 things. I'm a gift giver. That just don't cut it in my book.

Or Santa's, for that matter.

Of course, the smallies could get away with less. As my brother would say, they barely know they're alive.

I understand that having 5 kids will always bring up these issues, so I wasn't too fussed about it. I have about 18 weeks to pay it all off (I like to have it all in the bag by the end of November. Then I don't stress out.)

Last year, Adam was able to come with me, and we filled two trolleys. Granted, we had some big stuff in there, skateboards, and Tonka trucks and doll prams and the like. No one really looked at us, because, well, we could just be two people who didn't know each other with a full trolley each. No biggie. There were lots of people like that.

This year, Adam couldn't get off work. So, I had the smallies sat, and after the three older ones were at school, armed with my list, the catalogue and a pen, I braved it on my own.

I had to stop three times to repack my cart. I also managed to stick a blackboard under it and use it as an extension to pile more stuff on. I did well, I got all but a few items on our list. This year, we also got the kids bikes and I had to get a staff member to carry them to the layby counter for me. I was prepared for all this. It comes with the territory.

What I wasn't prepared for, were the condescending looks that people kept giving me, obviously thinking I was completely over indulging my kids. 10 presents each, they had in my cart. That's 50 items people. With boxes bigger than necessary for the small thing inside it. I had also bought gifts for my niece, my mother, and a couple of things for Adam.

I decided, by the end of my 2 hour trip, that next year, I'm wearing a sign that says I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN... DO NOT JUDGE ME. I was sick and tired of explaining myself to people, either because of they way they looked at me, or because they actually felt it was their place to comment. And then of course, I had to cope with the "Oh my God, you're crazy" comments.

So, peoples, next time you're shopping at Christmas time and you see a parent with their trolley piled impossibly high, please realise that they may not just be shopping for 1 spoilt child. There may be another 4, 5, 6 kids that you don't see.

Also, read this. You might get where I'm coming from.