I am taking up some new offers

Is this the cutest image of 'help' ever? Sourced from here

Getting the kids looked after by other people hasn't really happened much here. Not for any real reason,  just no family close by, moving around a little, not originally being from the area, lack of funds for baby sitters at times, everyone having their own kids to look after, which when they are babies is hard enough.

But Popps starting school has made some management things tricky in the Huey Household. Mr H can not be relied upon to do a single drop off or pick up.

Prep kids need to be dropped at the class room and picked up outside the building, none of this sitting in the car and letting them walk to you business. No, no dropping them at the corner and making a mad dash to the next destination of work.

So it was that I reluctantly booked in to use the after school care program, there are 80 kids in prep. So far none of the kids in Popps' class are in after school care, the guilt at sending her was sitting there, but with a few meetings coming up we were just going to have to be the first.

But then some other Mums including some I barely know have offered their help.

"You can leave her with me"

"Drop her with us"

"I can do pick up on Friday"


Have all been phrases sent my way over the last month.

I hesitated.

I said I would think about it.

I wasn't sure.

Could I really pass over the responsibility of my child to other Mums, who had their own busy lives already, some whose homes I have never set foot in.

Yes, I could.

I have.

It is working well so far. Popps enjoys the visits at peoples houses. She and one of her new little friends have been bragging about how they are going to have breakfast together.

And the reason this came to be is simple. I am more than happy to help these Mums on my day off, or at Saturday dancing or swimming lessons or weekends when appointments need to be met.

This is Mummy Bartering.  An economic activity that has long thrived and prospered through all the GFCs of times gone by.

Are you a Mummy Bartererererer too (was that too many erers?)

Wordless Wednesday: Cross Promotion

Blatant Cross Promotion of my (paid) work. - Click the image to check out what I have been working on.

How cute is that baby?

My Exclamation.

Image from Pinterest

I know I do it.

It is a really bad habit and sometimes I go back and remove them or try and see if something can be altered to give the words the same effect.

But I love them.

One little sign that gives punch and humour and fun and power.

I overuse exclamation marks all the time.

But I am not really sorry.

I know I will continue to overuse them. But let it be known, I know that I do. I just can't help it. It is like a nail biting or smoking habit, one you know you should give up, but they just give you too much joy.

So my exclamation marks are here to stay!

But I don't do double exclamation marks, that is just wrong.

Is that okay?

I am going to be in the Movies.

I found this image on a blog post about backyard movie nights here.

Not really.

I wanted to play around with a stack of those little video clips that we have on our phones these days.

I wanted to actually try and file them in some way so that I could find them in  a few years time, or even, you know, watch them, have an old style slide night in the backyard (complete with white sheet hanging on the clothes line) with all the 30 second clips that are dumped on the computer. Somewhere.

I have no idea how to use the iMovie feature on the computer.

No idea what program I should use or where to start.

I even considered finding the cords to the real video camera, the one we just had to have apparently, the same one that has barely come out of the box.

It hasn't worked out so I am off to find a solution and to add this task to my things to do in 2012.


How do you arrange your video clips these days? And if you have a backyard like the one above, can I please come over, I shall bring the wine.

Getting organised and the importance of the hairbrush.

If you are after tips on how to organise your life, sadly, you have come to the wrong place.

The House of Huey generally runs on crazy due to complete lack of organisation and the disrespect Mr H and the kids give to any type of roster I even pretend to put in place.

But getting to work and school on time is important. It has to happen. So we do manage that and I was even able to write all about it and share it with the readers over at PLANNING WITH KIDS!

I was rather excited when I got asked to guest post at Nicole's blog. Nicole is an amazing woman, blogger, mother and public speaker (I have been lucky enough to hear her), she even has a book out. So go over, read my post, comment on it (go on, give it a try if you never have) and then take a look at all the other stuff Nicole writes about. If you follow even a few of her ideas you will have your life in order.

Hoooorooooo this is the link, in case you missed it up there.

What is going on at the school Canteen/Tuck shop these days.

What is going on at school Tuck Shops these days.

Over the years since I left school I have read all about the new fangled Canteen/Tuck Shop that schools have.

No Junk food, homemade food only, real food. Open on limited days only.

Not at our school canteen. It is open everyday and is filled with all sorts of treats.

We decided at the start of the year, all three weeks ago, that Tuesday was icypole day, or if it was really hot, it was icypole day.

However Popps has managed to get something from the canteen EVERY DAY.

Such items have included

 - Tiny Teddies
 - Chocolate Mousse
 - Jelly in a Cup
 - Slushies
 - SuperDooper Icy poles x 289000
 - Packets of chips

 She has also been given cupcakes and lolly pops from other friends that have brought them in especially for her.

One Mum came and asked me if it was alright for her daughter to buy mine an icypole that day at school.

I was kind of stumped. We are friends with them. We don't require them to provide our child lunch. I already pack enough in her lunch box each day, and I include a treat item each day already. But is it rude and unnecessary to decline the offer, it is after all only a 50cent icypole? What is the harm? I said ok, but that this was a once off, reminding Popps and them that Tuesday was her Canteen day.

I have no control over this canteen shenanigans that is going on. I don't think I like it. But it is one battle I am just not going to bother with right now.

How is your school canteen? Do you buy other kids treats from the canteen all week (like mine)? Do your kids love the canteen as much as Popps?

Limited head space

This headspace is a little prettier than mine. Image from here.

Does anyone else ever feel as though their head space is just about to burst. That you just don't have space for anymore thoughts to fit in?

Maybe not. Maybe it is just me these past few weeks.

I don't mean the usual

 "Must get milk, petrol light will be on soon, must respond to that email, can't forget to call and cancel that appointment, must make hair appointment, kids sheets need changing this weekend, Immy needs pants as the others are too small, must get to dance shop for Immy's tap shoes, wonder if there is meat in the freezer for dinner..."

Lately there have just been a bit more than normal. Popps isn't settling at school, teacher has asked to see me twice, there are have been melt downs about not wanting to go and her behaviour has at times been nothing like we have seen before. Managing this is taking up my head space.

Mr H is having some health issues, he is not good with illness, one of us needs to remain calm and carry on while test results and appointment times need to be waited upon. He also needs to de-brief about work more than usual,  I have never been a set of good ears for this. Am trying more lately but still more of my limited head space is filling up.

Immy, always so happy, is refusing to get out the door on creche days, screaming when I leave her after we finally get there, her carers are lovely and I am confident that we will get to the reason why, but I hate leaving my kids crying so fiercely while I walk away.

My desire to be fit and healthy and following a strict training and food plan take up even more head space, pre planning meals for everyone, making extra time for six training sessions a week, keeping up with work and learning the ropes of the school system.

I have brain fatigue.

Anyone else? Ever? Please just pretend you do.




But also, while I remember, I do have good news.

The winners of my Careers Mums giveaway have been decided upon, come on down....or over or up...and send me your details please...

 - Natalie - for her great story about the Ostrich Farm

and because @Altait is a big softie she is also awarding one to:

Tam - who is thinking of heading back to the land of physiotherapy.


And if you lucked out here - chances are good in my other giveaway running this week - a personal chef to fill the freezer.

Giveaway: $175 of meals cooked for you!

Pork Belly, chorizo and haricot beans. 

Next time you're putting money in to buy for a new baby, ask yourself if you would prefer a freezer full of home cooked meals or yet more plastic to fill the house for the baby.

If (may god strike me down) I was ever to have another baby I can tell you now what I would want.

As Sarah from Vivenda noticed in my about me page, I hate cooking, and she has the answer for kitchen failures like me.

A service that does the grocery shopping (phew) then arrives at your house and cooks up a very neat and tidy little storm, fills the freezer with the food you picked from the menu, then cleans up and takes off. And I mean really cleans, she cleans so well it was like we paid a professional to do that too.

What is not to like here? Umm well, it was all good for me.

Any spare groceries are left behind for you too, so choose your meals wisely and you could even sneak this into a glass, sit down, relax knowing you don't have to cook and pretend you are living the life of someone with a full time chef. Hey, I am all for pretend play.

Sarah suggests the meal packs serve 2 adults, but we certainly had enough for a family of four, (see image above) and we followed the suggestions written on the top to add some crusty bread too. This was quite essential as it prevented Mr H from licking the plate.

The deal for this is $175 plus the food costs. This actually works out that we have nine nights worth of dinners, which could be considered pricey, but consider that every Friday we have takeaway after I have been working, often it is unhealthy fish and chips or pizza and it usually costs close to $50 once drinks are included. We now have Fridays covered for the next two months.

But this is not just all about me.

This is where you can also experience the fun.

Sarah is also offering one of my readers the chance to win this service for themselves.

You will need to be Melbourne based for this giveaway.

This is her spiel:

Vivenda offers a personalised pre-prepared meal service. They prepare the  meals for you and your family in your kitchen so the food truly is homemade. The meals are  tailor-made to your requirements; whether you have a preference for free range or organic or have specific intolerances; at a price that is not dissimilar to buying takeaway, but is a whole lot more wholesome. 
We are giving a lucky reader the opportunity to dip their toes into the Vivenda experience by partaking in a sample session valued at $175. The winner will be invited to choose 3 dishes from Vivenda's extensive selection and Sarah from Vivenda will prepare 6 serves of each in the lucky person's own kitchen. The session includes packaging, pantry items and grocery collection.

Now please note that part of this deal means you pay for the actual groceries yourself. I was more than happy to do this, as it is a cost that I would be needing to make anyway. The meals I chose meant the food costs came to $98. This would be less if you didn't have three meat dishes or choose cheaper meal options.


To enter just leave a comment telling me your favourite homemade dish that you would like to have cooked for you.

Fine print:
This will be open for the week.
Last comments 9pm Thursday 23 Feb.
Winner will be picked by Sarah, with the meal that fascinates her the most and announced a few days later (like when I get around to it). Judges decision is final.

For more about Vivenda, check out the Facebook page or website.



Edited:::


The winner of this competition, decided by Sarah from Vivenda is Melinda - who wins for being the most persistent and entertaining (and slightly stalkerish!) 


Melinda, Sarah will be contacting you asap, much faster than I was at getting this added up.


Happy eating, my fav is certainly the Pork Belly. (and I may have my porky belly still!)