ShowOff ShowCase: Favourite Photo-Post

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ShowOff ShowCase has had an amazing response; over twenty link-ups in each of the three weeks that it initially ran. I had hoped and prayed for ten, knowing that would have been enough to know it wasn't a failure. I never dreamt of that many and am so grateful for each. What was even more fantastic was the wide-range of posts linked; recipes, funnies, emotional tales, craft ideas, etc. I discovered new blogs and found it a really good read.

As I stated in the last SOSC, it was only ever intended to be a 3-week run, but last Thursday and Friday I had people asking me what the theme was for the forthcoming weekend! I tested the waters and discovered that people enjoyed linking up and, here's the important part, reading each others' blogs. The whole point of SOSC is to flaunt the posts that people might have missed.

And so to that end, I intend to run it fortnightly, alternating between a theme, and The One That Should Have Done Better.

Therefore, this week's theme is:

 

Favourite Photo-Post.

 

 


We all like to take part in The Gallery and Silent Sunday. Many of us are completing a 365 photo-journey, me included. This is your chance to ShowOff ShowCase a photo-post from your blog that is your personal favourite. No restrictions of theme or words; that would be infringing upon Tara's and Jay's domains. If you want to repost a Silent Sunday with an explanation about the photo you can; my only restriction is that you must have previously posted it.

I also ask that you add the button to the post using the html which hubby has lovingly created.

Pwese, tar?! (As The Boy would say)

I'll open the linky on Saturday morning, sometime between 8am and 9am.

Inbox Delights

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Since entering into the twilight zone of twitter and blogging, I have been amazed by the warmth and support that is shown in the community. I've encountered people that I am pretty sure I would consider friends in real-life, and have come to regard one or two of these with real affection (you know who you are Missy!).

Every day when I wake up, I spend my initial waking moments checking my phone (like a mad woman whilst hubby is cursing me for not getting a move on. He should know by now that it takes me at least ten minutes to come 'to'); twitter first, then my e-mail. Amongst the detritus of marketing and offers are always nestled some little treasures; two-minute snapshots into people's lives. It is such a pleasure to read about their highs and lows, the adventures that their little ones have been up to, to share in their pain or joy, to be able to comment and offer support.

With that thought, I have decided to share with you my Inbox Delights; those blogs that I will always read every post of, and make a concerted effort to comment as often as I can.

MissLexyWoo

This blog makes me roar with laughter, yet cry with compassion for Lexy's plight in experiencing PND. I have the utmost admiration that she has the guts to share her feelings when she is suffering; the more publicity that any form of depression gets is a positive step in helping non-sufferers to understand it. Aside from that Lexy, is absolutely hilarious, and her post on trying to buy nappies in Spain is a must!

GhostWriterMummy

I adore @Susurem's style of writing, and her frankness about many a subject. As a fellow teacher, I find some of the posts extremely relevant and interesting. Susanne has turned her stories about the birth of her children into a positive thing by creating Maternity Matters with Jayne from Mum's the Word. Both inspirational women are working hard to insure that no-one else has a 'birth trauma' story to tell.

The Crazy Kitchen

Helen is such a dedicated mum to her three children and I love reading about the trials and tribulations of life with her 2 year old little boy, who is very similar to my own bundle of cheekiness. Always full of craft ideas, I love reading about her light-hearted life.

The Moiderer

Now I know, you're reading that in a thick Glaswegian accent like Taggart aren't you? No, she's not a serial killer; to moider is to chat randomly or incessantly. Life with the Little One is quite entertaining and her Saturday Snapshots prove her to be a wonderwoman; how on Earth she fits that much in, I'll never know!

Now, I'd love it if those four lovely ladies above were to complete the same thing as I have just done; which blogs do they look forward to? Doesn't have to be four, can just be one. You also don't have to wait to be tagged to take part. Pinch the html for the funky button and join in the blog-celebration.


'What I did on Saturday', or 'Why my feet are still killing me'.

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About a year and a half ago, I joined my local baby and toddler group. I truly believe that it was my saving grace at a time when I think I may have been heading into the slippery slope of PND. Having a group of mummies who hosted coffee sessions three times a week, who told you that it was ok to bottle-feed and not use controlled-crying, and who were there for a laugh and a joke, was invaluable.

Our group is dual-purpose: a social and support community, but we also raise money for local playgroups, etc. Our major fundraisers are the Nearly New Sales that we have twice a year. In my enthusiasm and newbie wisdom, I volunteered for the role of co-ordinator at last year's AGM. Little did I realise what a daunting task it was!

However, through a team of brilliant helpers we had an amazing response from all the people who came to the sale. We had 331 people through the doors in the hour and a half we were open, which broke the record from the previous sale by 90! The queue trailed down the block and around the corner. And I'd been worried about publicity. I've yet to work out if we've broken the record for the amount we've raised, but we weren't left with much to sort out at the end of the day.

I personally managed to bag quite a few bargains: the Happyland space rocket for £4 being the one that I was really pleased with, as a few weeks before I had thought about buying it for £30.

Here is my stash from the sale, total cost? £31.

For me, Nearly New Sales are essential for several reasons:

  • it recycles unwanted toys, meaning there is not more unnecessary plastic in the landfill sites.
  • it acts as a toy-swap shop. Just because the toys are a year old and little Johnny doesn't play with it anymore, it does not mean that it won't be someone else's best loved toy.
  • it helps parents make money out of unwanted toys, clothes and equipment.
  • it raises money for local children's play facilities.

The next time you see a Nearly New Sale being advertised please think about either selling there or popping along and buying, you could be saving yourself a small fortune!

Listography – Laminated List

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The clever and witty Kate from KateTakes5 has come up with a corker this week. Think of Friends and the episode when Ross meets Isabella Rosselini and declares that she is on his 'list'. As Kate describes it:

'Basically he's allowed to make one list of five famous women that he would be allowed to have a one night stand with if the unlikely opportunity arose.'

And so despite being absolutely exhausted, I have just got to share my Top Five Blokes.

  • Orlando Bloom

  • Johnny Depp

  • Spike from Buffy

  • Keanu Reeves

  • Noah Wyle

I have two things to say:

a) They are all just so phwoargh-some, theirbeauty speaks for itself, I need no words.

b) I appear to have a type: dark hair and dark eyes (with the exception of Spike whose hair is dark naturally).

—

Now pop over to Kate's Listography using the linky on the left-hand side to check out the other links.

Fun in the sun!

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Work this week has been a bit here and there, I've done a fair few half days due to a meeting and a hospital appointment. I'm normally due to work all day on a Thursday but I had the afternoon off which was brilliant because it has been gloriously sunny and hot here all day with a stunning blue sky. I'd say I sauntered out of school, but that would be the biggest lie ever; I near-enough ran (aside from the fact that I don't run!) and pegged it home as fast as I could.

Lunch consumed for both of us, we trotted off to meet a friend across town in a lovely Victoria park. I was running late and my feet were killing me already (never a good sign), so we ended up catching the bus.

The Boy has never been on a bus before and thought it hilarious. A little perplexed at first, but he soon started chatting to all the old fellas and dears, making lots of new friends.

Once we'd got to the park, The Boy and his friend, Little Miss Cheeky, had great fun racing around amongst the daisies. Little Miss Cheeky is 6 months older than him, but they adore each other; she refers to him as 'My (name)' and he just points and grins at her. She's also the youngest child of my oldest, recently reacquainted, friend which is great that we have more of an excuse to spend time together gossiping.

As you can see, Little Miss Cheeky is going to lead my boy astray in the future, but it's ok because we've already agreed that they're allowed to marry each other. I can think of worse in-laws than your best mate!

Following the hijinks in the hedgerows, The Boy and I went down to the beach where he had his first ever ice-lolly all of his own! He likes ice-cream, but everytime he's had it in the past he's squirmed and complained because of the cold. This time I bought him a mini-milk which he did manager to hold quite well, but I wolfed my cone down and popped his rapidly melting lolly into the cone which was a massive success!

We then had great fun playing 'stop, go!' on the pier making all the little old ladies coo in delight. He even investigated his shadow a little bit more.

Oh, and I got sunburn! It's April for goodness sake!

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