The Week Of Ten

Do you notice when numbers keep popping up? Well this week it is ten for me. I like the significance of numbers, and tend to marvel when they keep popping up. It is like life is trying to point out important things to me.
This year was my tenth Mother's Day, as a Mum. The 10 years have absolutely flown by, and I am in constant amazement when I look at my children, as I swear it was only yesterday that they were crawling and gibbering baby-talk. Now, my daughter is getting closer to my height and stealing my shoes, which no longer slop around on her feet, but fit perfectly. My son long ago outgrew his baby curls and exceeds my energy levels in all forms of play.
In other TEN news, I was told in the same week at my blood donation appointment, that this was my tenth donation. Not a huge number, yet .... given that each donation potentially helps three people, I am more than ecstatic to have reached out to thirty people in their time of need. I find my appointments at The Red Cross Donation Centre in Hobart every three months to have little impact on my time. In fact, given that it takes about 10 minutes to fill a bag, and that I am treated to a chocolate milk and a snack afterward by the awesome staff, the appointment feels more like a morning tea with friends.
Lastly, I am posting this on the tenth. A little ironic?
I have been struggling lately to put my words down into a post worth reading. Not that I have nothing to say .... that will be the day! I have been busy with work and home life, and found the need to quiet my mind when I get a moment. I tend to go through phases of needing to quiet the inner chatter.
Have you noticed any numbers recurring in your life lately?

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You Should Be Rewarded! Have You Been Naughty Or Nice?

I am a real sweet tooth! Despite my need and want to eat healthy, there is no denying that sweet is definitely my weakness. I am the person who looks at the menu and secretly would like to skip entree and mains and go for three serves of dessert.

Being the festive season, and given that I have made a real effort to be so good through the year, I think it is only fair to reward myself with a little something from the sweet category. I have also been wondering how highly I have rated in Santa's mind, given my dedication to exercise and limiting the sugary stuff.... luckily, there is a survey to answer my questions and reward me at the same time! 

Everyone's favourite dessert shop, The Cheesecake Shop, have a cute little survey, based on Naughty or Nice.  

 Which list do you think you appear on this year? 

From November 18, Australians can take the ultimate test at www.facebook.com/thecheesecakeshop answering those tricky moral questions, like the last piece of cake, cooking the Christmas barbeque and the art of re-gifting. and find out what Santa will be stuffing their stocking with this year.

Being the festive season, The Cheesecake Shop would like to reward everyone who completes the survey, whether naughty or nice, with a $5 thank you voucher to spend at your local outlet.

So why not look at lining up your reward ....NOW by heading over to www.facebook.com/thecheesecakeshop?

But wait!!!!

With all of this festivity, I too am feeling generous and have 2 x $25 vouchers up for grabs for lucky people to spend at their local Cheesecake Shop.

I bet they will come in handy over the holidays!

If you are an Australian resident, simply enter via the handy, dandy Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Scratching your back

In our household, we work with "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine". It has worked well for us ever since hubby and I got together. We used it to renovate our home, build a family and shape our lives. We encourage it with our children to work together to get something done. It works well in the community too, so I wonder .... why some people can't see beyond themselves to support others and build their own support network?

It is common knowledge that despite being very skilled and competent, there are some things you just can't do yourself. And some things are achieved easier and faster with help. I'm sure the pioneers of every community around the world have used this system successfully, otherwise the barter system would never have been used. To share your skills, knowledge and material objects with others, who in turn can offer you something you need is invaluable. Even in this modern day, the barter system is used as much as ever to get things done, to save money and to make life easier.

It saddens me when there are people with skills that have a selfish attitude about helping others. Sure, you might have worked hard to obtain those skills, but what is the point if nobody gets benefit from that hard work? Some people need more help than others, and that's OK too. I'm a huge believer of "what comes around, goes around", in both the good and the bad sense. In the end, even if the only reward you get is seeing somebody happier, then isn't it worth it?

Just as bad as those who find it hard to give, are those who are takers. There seems to be many of these around. They are absent or conveniently too busy if someone needs a hand, but are too happy to ask for help, and many actually expect it on a regular basis. I'm sorry but this can only go on for so long before you put someones nose out of joint.

We have often been in the situation of "it's not what you know, it's who you know". We have some amazing friends and contacts that we have called on over the years to get a good deal on a product, to do a particular job at mates' rates or offer advice. We like to think that these friends will call on us in return, and many of them have.

So have a look around you. What do you have to offer? Do you have the need for some expertise in exchange for something you have to offer? Are you a giver, a taker, or doing a great job at both? Do you work on this system?

Ode to O

Oprah has been a part of my life since first becoming pregnant, eight years ago now. I didn't really have the time for her before then, being a full time employee. But then she entered my life, and she brought out the best in me.

I know she has a lot of critics and I guess she is "just doing her job", but it is the passion and emotion she puts into her work, and the way she shares her views that I admire. She was one of the first to make me sit up and look beyond myself, at myself, and question the way we live life.  Before this point, I had been going along in life in "automatic", plodding along, doing whatever was fun and thinking life would take care of itself. BIG WAKEUP CALL! Preparing for parenthood gave me a kick in the pants and Oprah has grounded me and helped since.

I have spent many episodes either in tears or grinning from ear to ear, depending on the content of Oprah's show. She has made me feel proud by things she has said, even though they weren't about me. She has also "wowed" me with her generosity and love of sharing. I remember her saying on many occassions "if it is worth doing or having, then it's worth sharing".

She has dared to prove many wrong over the years that she could do the job, and infact, was the presenter to try things on television nobody had done before. It has been to her credit that she now has her own magazine, her own production company, she has discovered talents like Dr Phil and Dr Oz, she was the first on day time tv to present her audience with gifts, and she has shared details of her life openly to the world.

I will miss Oprah, but I'm sure we will be seeing re-runs of her show for some time to come. I really can't see Oprah sailing off into the sunset to live "the quiet life". I'm sure she has much more to say, more things to share and much more inspiration to give.

Here are some of my favourite quotes.

As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.
Oprah Winfrey
Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
Oprah Winfrey

Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.
Oprah Winfrey

Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.
Oprah Winfrey

I don't think you ever stop giving. I really don't. I think it's an on-going process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life.
Oprah Winfrey

I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.
Oprah Winfrey