To journal or not to journal

I hauled out all my old diaries the other night...a huge pile of them! I have kept a diary since I was 12! In a way i have documented most of my life. I still keep a journal although I don't start off with "dear diary" anymore...lol!

It is fun to page through them, read back on what I thought and felt at 13, 15, 18..Memories otherwise I think I would forget were it not recorded for me to read. Sometimes reading these journals have brought back a memory I hadn't thought about in years. For me, keeping a
journal has been about recording my life, my thoughts, my feelings, my memories. It has been a form of escape, a creative outlet, a vent, a need. I feel fulfilled after making a journal entry. I am sure if someone had to find them years from now, when I am long since kicking up daisies, they will think, "Heck, poor woman, to live in such times!" ha ha! My journals are pretty boring I reckon. Nothing incriminating or overly embarrassing in them! I stick a lot of photos in, pictures, quotes, I draw, doodle, whatever inspires and grabs me at the time. I've told my husband that if I die, he must keep them and pass them onto my children for them to read so that they can really "know" who there mom was, thier lives are recorded in there too, my memories of
them, the funny things they did and said, their growth from pregnancy to now. It would be selfish of me not to share it with them. I wouldn't want eveyone reading them, but my hubby and kids would certainly be allowed to!

So do you keep a journal? how many years have you kept one? What sort of things do you write about/keep in it? I don't write every day, probably once a week or twice a week and then I do a recap of the week. Or sometimes I print out my blog entries and stick those in, espicially if it has been about my day.

I found this top the other day-isn't it lovely? I just love the Japanese feel to it!

Something disgusting: I heard on the news today that over 20 million liters of raw sewage leaked out into three large rivers up country from me, due to the load shedage that Eskom (our main electricity provider) has been doing lately. Every day they cut off the power to certain areas at a time to save power and re-direct it to places that need it more. We've had them here too. In fact the other night I noticed when we were on the way to our dinner, all the lights were out and the street lamps and I was freaking out thinking the restaurant would also be out, but luckily when we got there they had power! My poor sister, Jen has had power cuts up where she is living like the whole day almost now for the past week! (go check out her blog by the way, she has an awesome Freebie on it!)

Make time for youself

One thing that Rhonna's challenge really stressed is how important it is to make the time for yourself. This has always been something quite important to me and something I really strive to do. I feel that as a mom you are torn in so many different directions: your children, your husband, your friends, your hobbies, your home, your responsibilities and duties, that chocolate in the cupboard...Sometimes you feel like a piece of meat amongst a pack of lions-everyone yanking you in different directions!

You meet someone, you fall in love and for a while it is just the two of you. Wasn't it great? Remember the lie-ins, the sleep-ins, breakfast in bed? The "what-shall-we-do-today" whim on a Saturday morning? Remember the times you didn't feel like cooking and suddenly decided to go out for dinner? There was no last minute dash to arrange for a baby-sitter, run around grabbing nappies, bottles {Although thank goodness that is all over with now!} so that by the time you two were ready to leave, you were so past hunger and were on the verge of eating each other!

Now days...being a mom..everything runs according to a schedule {*shiver-I hate that word*}
Planning is required, routines are needed. Budget is a word now in your vocab. In fact, as moms we are so organized we could be the sectary for a small country! Imagine: We can find it, we can plan it, we can make it from scratch (especially if it involves anything to do with cardboard, cello tape and paint) We know how to turn peanut butter, noodles and cocoa pops into a meal, we have eyes at the back of our heads, we can sense impending danger, can foresee spillages and falls, forecast lies and catch out the smartest of cheats.

Yes it is hard work being a mom, it is a challenge, but also a blessing and privilege . Underneath that title though is still a person, a woman. Not someone who sorts colors from whites, unpacks the dishwasher, scrubs play-dough off shoes, holds out her hand when her toddler wants to spit out some disgusting gob-filled green mush. There is the person your husband fell in love with-she is still there, you just have to look past the broom and mop.

What your marriage is, is like the best {or worst} example to your children. How they will grow up and enter into it depends on what they learn from you. So they also need to see mom and dad as two individuals who like to go out and have fun.

I always see these couples at restaurants in their say, 50's or 60's, eating a meal. Even when their forks are down and their mouths are empty, there is no conversation at all. They stare blankly past each other, lost in a world of their own.. Not even attempting to talk about the weather. That scares me the most. I would hate to be like them. I don't want to look at my spouse one day , when my kids have left home and say "So...what do you like? " staying in touch with them is about making the time for yourself to do what you enjoy, what makes you happy so that you have something to talk about.

I guess I am writing about this cos It is something I think all of us should do, more so being a mom when your time is so torn between everyone and everything. and It is my 9th anniversary on Wednesday and we are going out to eat and I love that special time! I am having my hair cut and styled and we have a baby-sitter and I can't wait to drink a glass of wine and hear music in the background not "Mommy, can you come wipe my bum?" echoing from the distance! I don't have to stare into the depths of the freezer and wonder what the heck I am going to make out of a lamp chop and what looks like either a packet of frozen peas or some worms my kids have frozen....bliss!!

Link removed


Enjoy and see you tomorrow and if you read this..tell me how you make time for yourself-whether it is 15 min a day or 2 hours a week?

Days like this...

I love them! It's Saturday, I don't normally post on the weekend (and theres no link today) but I gotta post my LAST page of the 21 challenge! Cos I made it!! Yay!

Thanks Rhonna!!!!
I loved this challenge. It IS true that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit! I proved it! yeah!! Some of the habits were too personal to share but the ones I didn't mind sharing were:
-to work in my garden everyday -which I did unless it rained!
-To create everyday-which I did! This was important to me and something I try to do anyway because I am a firm believer that if you make time for yourself each day to do things you as a PERSON not as a mom, wife or friend, but just YOU like, (and 15 min a day is fine too, it doesn't have to be like an hour or two!) then you will happier for it, you will be more fulfilled as a person, which in turn will make you calmer and more productive in other areas. Less crabby or irritable cos you are getting the things you want to get done-done and in turn those around you will be happier too! Everyone wins! I know from personal experience that if I go for long periods without doing anything for myself, I get moody and take it out on everyone around me ! I become Bonnie the Beast-a fire breathing dragon! ha ha.
-To do something positive and fun with my children everyday-which I tried to do.
(the last one at times for me was the hardest cos I am not really the type of mom that likes to sit down and play Polly pockets or go sliding around on my knees pushing a car around the house making ridiculous brrroooommmm sounds! I love doing crafty things with my kids or playing with them outside or doing puzzles. And I let them bake and make a huge mess cos I know it is teaching them good things.

Thanks to you all who shared your hilarious and embarrassing stories yesterday-oh man I had such a chuckle! You should read some of the comments!
I could write a whole book on the things I did as a child or the things my kids get up to!
{couldn't we all?}

WARNING: LONG STORY
Take this scenario for instance: Going back in time to when I was about 8. ...
I remember it was school holidays- summer holidays which was about two months long.
At the end of the holidays it was time to get all my school stuff together and get my bag ready for school for the next day. I remember I had one of those leather satchels with the buckles in front. I thought it was cool! {could barf now thinking about it!}

Anyway there I was happily hunting for my cool little brown satchel, finding it, opening it....
That's when things go blurry for a moment, the lights go out, utter darkness! {the smell must of been so bad it blocked that bit from my memory}.

I am not sure if I was the inventor of some type of new gas but the smells eeking out of that bag were lethal!! I'm surprised I lived to tell the tale! Now, if you think the SMELL was bad, oh my word, you should of SEEN what was inside the bag!!

Some time of bomb had gone off inside of it-there was green/brown fungi growing all over the inside and my lunch box was bobbing up and down in some type of fermenting liquid.
"WHAT DID I HAVE FOR LUNCH TWO MONTH AGO?" I wonder to myself.
Terrified of the "thing" growing in my cute little brown satchel I wondered what to do!
I had two options:

1) Tell dad about the "thing" in my bag and risk a long lecture and possible punishment-cos really the bag was totally WRITTEN OFF! There was no way on earth I was ever using it again!
2) Dispose of the evidence-claiming the bag was eaten by the dog in a moment of sheer starvation or possible case of rabies.

I went with option 2. I waited until no one was around..put on my shoes, gingerly picked up the bag and dumped it into a plastic bag {whilst holding a sock over my nose} and set off to destroy all incriminating evidence. I went down to the little forest across the road from us and there in the bush, I dumped the bag. I said goodbye to my cute little brown satchel, skipping off happily -already thinking about the cool little pink Barbie bag my daddy would buy me...

By some unknown , amazing and awful chance the bag came back to haunt me!
I still don't know to this day how it happened! But later that evening my bag was there-staring up at me with those scathing satchel eyes "Why??? why did you leave me to rot in the field?!" I couldn't believe it.! What kind of sick joke was this?? Who would do such a sick thing??!!

I don't know what happened after that...I seriously have no memory of it..{must of been pretty bad!} cos I don't remember ever getting that cute little pink Barbie bag!!

more tales to follow another day!

I love Fridays...

Why:
-Cos I don't cook
-I get the kids Mac-Donalds normally on a Friday after school (the only day we get take-outs, that is my rule, the rest of the week we eat healthily, so once a week we can binge! although I wouldn't call a happy meal binging! ha ha)
-It's movie night with Hubby
-Saturdays I can sleep in! yay!

So I'm standing in the kitchen yesterday, minding my own business-actually I was preparing dinner, when I feel what is like an earthquake start to happen! But it wasn't..it was my daughter standing behind me, thinking it would be hilarious to place both her hands on my butt and shake it with all the strength in her 4 year old hands! I didn't know whether to laugh, or grab the custard out the fridge and pour it over my jelly bum! ha ha!!!! Anyway after a few minutes it stopped wobbling (okay so I am exaggerating a bit, but man, I really need to do more butt exercises at gym! ) Isn't it lovely the things our kids do? Or remind us about?
It reminds me of all the times I have been out with them as much smaller toddlers and them saying things like (normally at a busy, packed shopping mall)
"Mommy, look at that man, he has no hair...like daddy" (lol!) DH is a tad bald! He shaves it really short though so you can't really tell! ha ha.
Or in the change room (which I haven't done since then with either of them,-I refuse!!) Once my daughter (she was much younger about 2 and a half) knelt down and peeped into the next doors change room and popped her head back in and said really loudly,"Mommy lady has big bum!!!"
*earth you may now swallow me up!*
Actually speaking of embarrassing moments the other day I took my daughter to a public bathroom at the mall and it is one of those where the stalls walls go all the way to the bottom, but is open at the top and under the door. So we are in there and the bathroom is really quiet, I thought we were the only ones in there. Then I hear this loud splash like a cargo box falling out a airplane and landing in a river. My daughter shouts at the top of her voice "SIS! SOMEONE IS MAKING A POO!!" I nearly fell over trying hard not to laugh out loud. I had to really control myself and say, "Shhh, you mustn't be rude! "I had a choice : either get out of there as quickly as possible or wait until cargo lady had left and then leave, saving us both the embarresment. Thank goodness cargo lady left first!

Okay I am caught up with Rhonna's 21 day challenge! one more day! Just waiting for her to post day 21 today.

Day 14 "It's not that some people have willpower and some don't.It's that some people are ready to change and others are not" James Gordan.Day 15: Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. "
Day 16 "Human beings by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives. "William James
Day 17: "You have to have the confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through." Rosalyn Carter
Day 18: "It seems to me that people have vast potential. Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence to take the risks. Yet most people don't." Philip Adams

Day 19: "The secrets of greatness is simple: do better work...and keep on doing it. " Wilfred A PetersonDay 20 " "We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are." Tobias Woll
I can't believe I have {almost} made it!

HERE Is link 4 { THE REST ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE- will leave link 4 up until Monday}
Enjoy! And have a great weekend! Remember no links over the weekend, see you on Monday for link 5!

Question if you have the time before you go: What is the most embarrassing thing your kids have done {or lately} to you?

awards.

Jen, my sister nominated me for a Thanks Jen!
In turn I am nominating...
Betty from She sew pretty
Twinkle Pink
Sandy from Dream, Create and Inspire
Kat from Secrets of a Butterfly
Amy from Rubymoonart

I love reading each of their blogs, they each inspire me with their different talents and creativity and all are lovely women!
I have made my own award! ha ha, why not right?
But it is a hard award to give! I am starting if off my nominating the following fav blogs of mine:
Kari-Artsymama
Gina from Weeds and Wildflowers
Posie -Posie gets cozy
Kim-KimB's digi-scraps and designs
Natasha -Artistic Creations by Natasha Burns

I read this blogs whenever they post. Cant help myself. I'm addicted! You are welcome to use my blinkie. pass it on, spread the word! ha ha.

Swaps, giveaway and lots more

Lot's to say today! (ha ha,makes a change!)
First my quote...{Yes you are welcome to download and use these, please give credit when using them}.Click on it to view full size.

I love this quote...It has a lot to do with the 21 challenge I am doing at the moment too. Sometimes it is harder changing and being the person that makes you the happiest, than carrying on in your normal way of living because it is easier that way. I have been breaking a habit and making a new one the past 2 weeks. Some days are harder than others, but for the most I have been pretty good with it. I have a few pages of Rhonna's challenge to catch up on which I am going to do tonight, so hopefully I can post those tomorrow.

Okay so first of all some recent pics of my flowers growing so nicely...


This morning I got out a dress of my daughters and wanted to try and see if I could copy it. Note: I can sew-I have a diploma in Interior Decorating, I make all my own cushion covers, bed covers, quilts, blinds and curtains but as far as clothes go-I have no clue! I don't know how to read a pattern and I have never made anything with RE to clothes before. Well I tried today and it came out quite sweet! Here she is wearing it! It has a lace collar and lace sleeves with a small ruffle to them. I still have to sew the hem and iron it.
Giveaway!!!!

And now for a giveaway. I feel like being generous! This is a little hamper I have put together.
It is South African goodies : Rooibos tea, milo( a nice chocolate energy drink), 2 sauce packets for two traditional South African recipes - Tomato Breedie and Babotie (both yummy and you have them with rice.) Alice's appricot sweets (I used to eat these as a child all the time-they are the orange sweets/candy)
A PS chocolate made by Cadbury's. It says "Never give up" on the wrapper. A packet of Eet-sum-more biscuits (shortbread) Jambo's (blackcurrant jam centers) A pack of on-the-go energy crunch (low GI) A Cd made by me of a few of my fav songs; 2 pink tea light candles; a couple of pretty decoupage serviettes; 9 ATC's made by me; Some love quotes on velum.

All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog (PLEASE STATE that you would like to go into the drawing) between now and the 19th October. One comment is enough to enter. I need your name, your contact email address or blog address. Without this you will not be entered into the drawing. I will announce the winner on the 20th October and mail it out anywhere in the world after the 25th October.SWAPS

I am also in urgent need of new art supplies. By that I mean scrap booking embellishments,(NO PAPERS) stickers, rub-ons, transfers, images, tags, etc. I have figured out the best way to do this is to do a swap. I have done so many and I always receive the nicest things. Since I don't have a supply of these kind of things myself, I am offering to swap two packages with two people for a trade for what I need.
The first package consists of fabric samples, decoupaged serviettes, cord, ribbon, a meter each of vintage wallpaper (for crafting not wallpapering!)a hand made card. I can and am willing to add more, depending on the person.The second package is for someone looking for something to do with an anverssary or a gift for a loved one. It consists of two cards I made (both with quotes in velum in the inside) heart packing, two tea light candles, a "I love you" PS chocolate , red rose serviette. Again, I can add to this too.
I am looking for the following to trade:
>Birds,butterflies and wings (any kind-paper, fabric etc) Like on tags, stickers, rub-ons. etc
> Vintage stuff : frames, postcards, fabric
> Roses- anything with roses on.
> (yellow and pink though, not red).
> Paper scrapbook things-anything scrapping related to transfers, stickers
> (love peel and stick embellishments like tags, anything related to nature,
> flowers, roses) quotes.
> Flower embellishments
> Rubber Stamps (really need some of those!)family, children, nature, friendship or pictures.
> small Metal embellishments
>Anything that can be used for art journaling.

If you are intrested in either swap/trade, please leave me a comment or email me at bouncingbonbonatgmaildotcom. and I will get back to you and we can discuss further.

PLEASE only respond if you are serious about the trade and won't change your mind as I have had a few bad experinces in which I have sent parcels out to others and they in turn did not send me theirs as promised and avoided all email /blog contact after that too. Very rude and dishonest. I would never do that to someone.


I also wanted to tell you that at the site where I sell my designs we have 7 challenges (monthly) running. They are great. I host three of them. The prize is a whole kit- the kit is divided up into 7 links-one link per challenge completed. so if you want the whole kit you need to all 7 challenges. Each month is a new kit to grab. This month's one co-ordinates with the free daily download from the blog.

So go on join up and join in the challenges! They are fun!
Thanks and have a good day!

Tutta Bella

I am posting early today-it is about 11:25 am my time here. I have to leave a bit early today to nip in at the shop before fetching the kiddies from school and then we have to bake this afternoon! I have a tea and cake evening at a friends house tonight and the kids have to take something with that they made themselves to "bakers day" on Thursday to school. Each child brings 50c and purchases whatever the baker (or this case bakers!) made. Each child has a turn to be the baker, since I have two kids in the same school, they have to share the honor for this week! lol!

This morning I found a cute little store I didn't even know existed until yesterday. I drove past it and thought I must pop in today! It is delightful. I love these kind of quint, vintage, treasure-trove type shops that make you feel like you are in a wonderland of dainty treasures. I left feeling so inspired!
It is called Tutta Bella and is in Somerset West, South Africa.Take a look:
You see the branchs hanging from the ceiling? It is simply a bunch of branchs tied together that have been spray painted silver. With ribboned hearts hanging off them! I can do that! I am going to try it!


She makes any word out of wrought iron! These are quite big and so pretty.



So that was my fun morning.
DOWNLOAD NO LONGER AVAILABLE
I will leave link 1 and 2 up until I post tomorrow. That is a good 24 hours.
See you tomorrow!
Ps you are welcome to download the quotes too. Just click on them to get the full size and then right click, save as. They are png's.

October the 1st!

I love that quote -ha ha. That is SO me! On a Monday afternoon I zip off to gym as it is the only day that hip-hop dance class is on. You will catch me shaking my booty to Umbrella by Rihanna and " the way I are: by Timberland! The rest of the week..If I am going to go to gym, I have to do in the morning before my body realizes what is going on! ha ha!!
Hello by the way! I am late...even for me! It's about 10pm here. I wasn't going to post today, I have such a migraine... but felt too bad to leave, I did promised the downloads would start today!

It's October! -In case you didn't know! ha ha. Wow, this year seems to have whizzed by at a phenomenal speed!

While you are here, I have a little question for you: What are you looking forward to for October? What was the best thing about September? I love to remember the good things in the past month and also think about the good things coming.
For me, September was the start of Spring, warmer weather has come! We got to spend some time outdoors. I planted seeds that actaully grew! yip-they are doing well! I crushed some egg shells to sprinkle around them-yay,no more snails!
Did you know that plating lavender around plants/flowers that snails normally go for also helps to combat them? That and egg shells....
I got some home things done: repainted my son's room, re-decorated my room and bathroom, made a new bathroom blind and new kitchen blinds. It was a good month!
October the 10th is our 9th wedding anniversary, so that is always something I look forward to!
And I am seeing my sister-Jenni (my only sister! ) again after a long 8 months this month!

Today is the first day of my new daily download here on my blog. 21 links in total. No links on weekends. Starting today. Grab them quick, each link will only be up for a day.

Would love to hear your thoughts! Please don't share the kit in any form or part. It is FREE, but it still comes with copy right laws and rules. If you are not sure, please read the TOU that accompanies it. Thank you.

DOWNLOAD NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Have a good day and see you tomorrow!

Day 12 and 13 challenge...

Just posting my day 12 and day 13 of the challenge.
Day12" Be your own best friend. lift yourself up, and be happy that you are you. Never give up."
Day 13: "Men are born to succeed not fail."
see you Monday!

True colors

I have done day 10 and 11 Rhonna's 21-day challenge.


I have do been enjoying the comments left on 4shared! For leap into Spring from day 1 until day 18 I have had a whopping 4664 downloads. The comments weren't anywhere near the same, but you know what? I am glad! LOL! can you imagine sifting through 4664 comments??? Oh my heck! I would be old and gray, bent over and senile by the time I ever got through all of them!
I so appreciate those though who show your true colors and are leaving me little tidbits of your time and self! Some make me laugh -CHER you always crack me up with your crazy comments! Elaine-so glad you are enjoying my blog. Colleen -are you caught up yet on the downloads? lol!

HERE is link 19.
Tomorrow is the last link for Leap into Spring! I will be removing all the links on the 30th, so please download what you haven't before then. This kit (except for the pieces with the swift bird as that is a free image I got off the net-but not for me to sell) will go on into my shop. I will probably be adding other elements to it to make up for the ones I had to take out the ones with the bird in them.

Thanks again!! Have a great day! See you tomorrow!

Day 18 of download-two to go.

Today we went to the nature reserve again. Beautiful place. Had a picnic and enjoyed nature.
SHERRY this is for you...that bird we were talking about IS the Cape Weaver -I found this on their board there.
Isn't is so peaceful?
Saw this funny guy sitting in a tree, he is kinda furry and has this furry top knot! ha ha. (and a very long tail which you can't see in this pic)
Love all the purple reflected in the water.
Gorgeous bright flower.

One of South Africa's most precious and protected flowers-the Protea. It is huge. This flower is about the size of a normal dinner plate!HERE is Link 18.
Enjoy!

catching up {21}day 3-9

Here in South Africa, today is a public Holiday. The family is all home and more are coming over soon for a "braai"-the typical South African term for a "barbecue" or "cook out". Today in South Africa is also national braai day! ha ha, any excuse for us South African's to bring out the braai thongs, start a fire, and smack some chops on the grid!
It's been a good weekend so far. I have caught up on my 21 day journal challenge Rhonna Farrer is hosting. Check her out, it is amazing! Everyone is doing so well in it.
Never heard of it? It is basically about breaking or making a habit in 21 days. Everyday Rhonna gives us a quote to get us going. Each person will have a different goal, different outlook, different habit to make and break. But we can all gain inspiration and encouragement from each other.
Here are my pages...You can click on them if you wish to view them full size.

Day 3


Day4


Day5


Day6


Day7


Day8



Day9

HERE is link number 16 for Leap into Spring. Each part is still available until the end of September. Please do not share the links or files in yahoo groups or any other method. Rather send them to my blog where they can come download for themselves. For those faithful commentor's-thank you, your comments and kind words and thanks mean a lot to me! You know who you are!

{21 days.....}

I cannot believe it! About a week or so ago I planted some seeds. I always think "They aren't gonna grow" but anyway I persisted, watered them everyday loyally. I went to go and check today (as I have been doing everyday!) and guess what I saw??? Some shoots!!! I couldn't believe it, I was so excited! It looks like they are either the snapdragons or fox gloves I planted!


Aren't they the sweetest ?? They are about 2 cm at the moment-my babies!! The packets say flowering should occur in around 2 months, so I reckon by December-the heat of our summer, they will be quite tall and hopefully I will be cutting them to put in a vase!


I am playing catch up with Rhonna Farrer's 21 Day challenge. I have another 4 days to catch up. I started today with my cover and the first two days.
So this is my cover...kinda the feeling of reaching or flying high and achieving your dreams.... My day 1. It has a door to reveal the quote and journaling.
Inside the door.
Day 2 .
HERE is link 15 for Leap into Spring. Enjoy! Remember ALL links for this kit are still available until the end of September!