No Junk Mail

As most of you know I am a nazi recycler. I recycle absolutely everything that I can. I even recycle the little tags off the end of teabags. Well, every little bit helps. We have our recycling basket behind the bar as our kitchen is way too small for normal rubbish AND recycling.

In recent times I have had to upgrade to a bigger basket as it gets full quite quickly. And that led me to thinking about all the junk mail that is going in there. Specifically, I am talking about catalogues and store brochures.


Now I love my catalouges as much as the next girl. I love to see what's on special at Target this week and what are the good food specials at Coles and IGA.

But you don't need to fill your letterbox with a tree to look at these catalogues. You can go to http://www.cataloguecentral.com.au/ and read them all on there. They even have some I don't normally get delivered so it was quite exciting all round. Then the next thing you have to do is put a NO JUNK MAIL sticker on your letter box. Of course I have sourced a free one of those for you as well. Just ring the Distribution Standards Board on 1800 676 136 and they will send you a free No JUNK MAIL sticker. There, all sorted.

Here is one lady who desperately needs a free sticker

Happy recycling everybody.

The New Craft Cupboard has Arrived

Well, actually it's not new at all. We had this old sideboard out by the pool. The doors had gotten pretty weathered and would not close properly. So, I took the doors off, moved the cupboard undercover and proceeded to make a craft cupboard for Rhianna and I to play in.

Most of the boxes we already had. The baskets were a cheap purchase from Go-Lo and all the supplies were moved from the laundry to their new home.

We made some pretty new labels using stickers, cardstock and ribbons.

We have a place for everything. And yes, I realise I have spelt stationery wrong.

Fun things to do every day.

Early Bird Crafting

For those of you who have ever wondered how early is too early to craft...I have the answer. It's never to early to paint, glue and cut. Well,... maybe have your first coffee before you start cutting.

Not even out of our PJ's and already elbow deep in recycled craft. Today it's old cardboard and egg cartons. Those are actually my PJ's as I love to sleep in my husbands clothing - much to his annoyance. I love his clothing, its big and roomy and smells just like him.

Here is the flower wreath - probably more appropriate for Spring, but who cares. We had fun.

And where do you put a wreath but on the front door to welcome everybody.

Hope everybody enjoyed their Easter break as much as we did - now to keep the momentum going for the next 2 weeks - that will be the real test of my parenting skills. Stay tuned.

You win some, you lose some....

Week 2 into my crochet class, the teacher thought it might be better if I tried my hand at knitting. Yes, I was a complete failure.

After getting me some knitting needles, she thought I should start on the sort of projects she teaches the dementia patients at the local nursing home. Am I really that tragic????

Luckily, I have a wonderful friend named Michelle who thinks I've just had the wrong teacher and has offered to teach me to crochet herself. Once I get over the embarrassment of failure I will take her up on the offer.

In the meantime I am knitting a blanket - patchwork style for Rhianna's bed. The photo has altered the colours a lot. It is actually a lovely pink square and the next lot on the needles is white. I figure I will have to knit at least 30 squares to make a blanket big enough for her bed so that should keep me busy (and warm) during the winter months.




I am having some success with the vegetarian thing though. My son has not cottoned on to the fact that he hasn't eaten red meat this week and some of the new recipes are turning out very nicely. Last night, I made this - which is a cheeesy mustard turnover. Everyone, even Miss R though this was a keeper.

And finally some recycled craft from Rhianna. Here she has made a texta container from half a cereal box, paddlepop sticks, some old bits of leftover scrapbook ribbon and some apple pictures cut from a magazine. She's so proud of it.

Have a great green weekend everybody.

Old Books for New Books

After the declutter, I have many books to get rid of. Some go to the op shop and some that are fairly new or in good conditon I take to my second hand book store for credit.


My favourite store is Jimmy D's book store in Springwood. The lady who owns the shop is Magda and I am never out of there in under an hour as Magda and I love to talk books and of course everything else (like how a roast chicken used to be able to feed a family of 5 with leftovers for sandwiches the next day).

Anyway....... Magda takes my used books and gives me credit to use within the store on other used books. What a fantastic deal for a bookworm like me.





This time I had Rhianna with me so my book selection time was short. I got one book to take away on holidays with me. "Things I would like my Daughter to Know."



No trip to Springwood is complete without a stop at our favourite coffee shop for morning tea.


So all up a very pleasant morning with my girl and only spent $10 on milkshakes and melting moments.