and whilst on the mould…

to make your own Damp Rid is easy..

all you need is kitty litter with silica gel in it (about $5 a bag from Coles) its a clear stone like thing with blue stone like stuff through it, put some in a tray and put in the bottom of your cupboard, be careful not to let the cat in hahahahaa..

you can put this in like a yoghurt container eat the yoghurt first ha-ha pierce holes in the lid, that way if your clothes fall off the hangers, they wont land in the litter!what?? that only happens at my house??

the blue stones will turn pink that means the moisture has been absorbed, when all blue is pink, throw it out and replace OR you can be real cheap and heat on very low heat in oven and dry the mix until it all turns blue again..no one will know your an absolute cheapskate, it’ll be our secret personally, i couldn’t be bothered with all that fuss!

NOTE: you must use silica gel, if you don’t then your just wasting your time..another cheap way is to just save all those little bags of silica gel you get when you buy shoes etc, after you’ve bought about ohhhhh 100 pairs of shoes, you should have enough to mix through with normal kitty litter hahaha

BEGONE MOULD…….

Well, how horrid is this weather"? Rain, then heat, then humidity, making it the most perfect environment to grow MOULD..ugh, i hate it, actually, I’ve never met anyone who says “oh mould, how I love you!”.

Having a cleaning business, we are always asking people how do we do this and that, one thing i’m not allowed to divulge is how we clean windows so sparkling haha but i do..anyway, onto mould…

Usually, i recommend to people that they use bleach or lemons to rid themselves of bleach..THIS however is very untrue…bleach, while making the mould disappear, doesn’t KILL that little sucker, oh no, it happily hides under the bleach and regrows..same with the lemon..BUT never fear..on my quest to get rid of this alien life form, i have finally discovered the secret, thanks to a very old man and his ringing me to book in a cleaning job!

CLOVE OIL..i kid you not, clove oil will kill mould spores and it will die!

so here’s what you do, it’s a long process but hell you all have time on your hands don’t you???? It’ll mean turning off the computer though hahhahaha…

1 teaspoon of clove oil in 1 litre of very hot water!

Spray the oil of cloves solution on the effected area until saturated. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes and wipe it down with a paper towel or rag. , all traces of the visible mould should be gone. if not, don’t worry, i’ll get to that..

Lightly spray the area again with the oil of cloves solution. Do not wipe it away. Oil of cloves inhibits the growth of mould and  kills any remaining spores, so leaving a layer of the solution on areas prone to mould prevents regrowth.

respray every 4 – 6 weeks to keep preventing regrowth, it’s like having the house sprayed for insects, you have to do it regularly to get rid of it!

NOW if the mould has stained all you do is lightly wipe it over with bleach as bleach will take the colour out of the mould!

if its a big area like walls, ceilings etc, i find using a rag dipped in the solution works better than spraying be sure to use rubber gloves though!!!

same procedure for bathrooms and grouting…just clean the grout, apply clove oil, etc, then bleach!

If you find this helpful, please comment, so I know whether to keep going with these hints…if anyone has anything cleaning related they need help with (NO I”M NOT COMING TO DO YOUR HOUSEWORK…haha) leave a comment and I shall see if the husband or I know a remedy..

Happy Birthday Gorgeous Lady!

Happy 70th Birthday to the most loveliest, happiest, beautiful, women I have ever had the privilege to know. My friend, confidante, adopted mother Heather..Hope your partying hard up there in Heaven, I know how much you were looking forward to celebrating this birthday…

love you and miss you so much

xxx

for heaven’s sake…

where has the time gone? I have no excuse for not updating my blog except for pure laziness..

OK, no, i’ve found an excuse..well many…..planning my birthday party…downloading music for my birthday party…designing invites for my birthday party…making a guest list for my birthday party…oh, not to mention, facebook page..for my birthday party…ummm choosing costumes..for yes, you guess it..my birthday party..selecting menu..etc…and then..actually going to my birthday party..so as you can see, i’ve actually been very busy during the months i haven’t blogged..not to mention I also had to work, clean, cook, work, clean some more, buy christmas presents, and also 3 of my children's birthdays are within 10 days of Christmas, so had to buy for that too..SO all in all, yup, just been really lazy….

Well…the birthday party was a resounding success, everyone at work, is still talking about it and the fun time they had, I shall share pics later, for now, I'm just updating to let people know I'm still alive!

to celebrate my re-finding my blog and to get the new year off to a great start!!..and really see if it’s worth keeping it going as I’m sure no one reads it..

i’m going to Pay it Forward…I’m doing this on facebook and then thought hmmmm some of my friends don't have  facebook BUT they may just still read this poor neglected blog..so..lets see hey!

What I’m going to do is make a little something for EVERY person who comments on this post!! can’t get much fairer than that hey!

you can email me your snail mail address so i can stalk post your gift to you when it’s made at tess.youd@gmail.com

So, get those comments happening and I shall endeavour to update this poor neglected, unloved child  blog every day ok every few days then haha!

Stay happy!

Tess

HELP~

ok people, i need your help! I’m downloading songs from the 70’s in readiness for the big birthday bash…what i need are song names, from the 70’s, i’ve got the usual ones, abba, suzi, ac/dc, kiss, skyhooks,meatloaf etc..but what about the others like one hit wonders??

please leave songs in comments..thanks muchly!

OH MY GOODNESS….

I forgot to update last week…..

Happy Birthday on the 6th to Master Brayden, who is now a BIG 5yr old prep boy! Nanna and Poppy bought him his ‘must have’ Ironman self propelled car, which was naturally, his most favourite toy for 10 minutes!..

All the babies are growing up…Harry’s birthday today and the adorabubble, Miss Syenna will be one in 4 short weeks, oh dear, I need a pill, i’m feeling rather old today!

where has that year gone?

Harry is ONE today…one whole year old…whe re has that time gone??

I’m off to his house now, to give him just a couple of his pressies, he’ll have to wait until Sunday at his party for the rest, can’t have nanna walking in empty handed now can we LOL…,

So, before work, no doubt I shall be entertained withthe  Yo-Gabba-Gabba dvd, whatever that is, but I’m assured it will be a hit as it’s his favourite and we all know that nanna always buys ‘the favourite’ toy LOL…will post photo’s on Monday as Tina is borrowing my camera for the weekend to get pics of the lads together…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN

A little tribute …..

To the most loveliest woman I was ever privileged to know!

2 years ago today, you left this world for (in your words) a better place. No more pain or suffering, to be with ‘your sweet Jesus’ as you always called him. I hope he’s treating you well!!!

I’ve a lot of friends, heaps, but only a few I let real close, that’s the way I am, friendly, outgoing, but I just like to keep a respectable distance! Heather, was one of the friends (the other’s know who they are, there are 3!!) who I let in, but with her it was different. She was more than a friend, she was my (adopted) mother, confidante and also my protector in a way. She looked after me and never a day went by without a little text message, email or phone call to see if I was ok and for her to tell me she loved me dearly. She not only adopted me, but Gary and the kids too, they loved their ‘Grandma’ dearly, she never forgot a birthday or any important things going on in their lives. She loved them unconditionally as though they were her own. So much so, that I think we often forgot that she was a friend not mother/grandma..To us, she was our world, because we’d never had it before.

I may not have had her in my life for ever, but the time we had together was precious and as (another) friend said to me just a few weeks ago…BUT at least you had that time!

Whoever said, Time heals all pain…to be honest..is a liar, it doesn’t, nor does it make it easier, in fact its harder, trying to remember your voice, your smell, the touch of your hand patting my arm, I know your still around though, I sometimes ‘feel’ your presence, or you send little reminders, like the butterfly that has been fluttering against the dining room window all day, while i’ve been sitting here at the table, (wasting time) on the computer and also like the butterfly that kept fluttering around my head at the cemetary earlier, when I went to visit you and put a Lily on your resting place…(chosen because your middle name was Lily and they make me think of you). The pot plant that dies off, then when i’m least expecting it, flourishes and flowers, your last gift to me, one i treasure, and call Heather and heaven forbid anyone who touches it, even tho the pot is just full of dirt at the moment, I know it will come back to life soon, it always does..(it’s a gloxinia). Many, many things remind me of you, everyday, in different ways.

NEVER will you be forgotten, there is always a place set for you when we scrap, silly but true, your always bought up in conversation, and we know, sometimes your there, shaking your head and laughing at us!

Heather, your no longer here, but your spirit lives on in us all, I hope we are doing you proud. I miss you, we all miss you, You may be gone, but our love for you isn’t it gets stronger every passing day…

Sleep well, dear, dear friend and always know we are thinking of you xx

Simple Things…

make for a happy life! We’ve been out and about having fun in the sun!

During the holidays, i packed up a picnic and we went to Maroochydore beach (but not before going to the library first!). The boys played for hours and not once did I hear, can we go home yet?? I managed to read a whole book, something I’ve not done for a very long time!

we haven’t been to Maroochydore Beach for I honestly don’t know how many years, have promised myself we shall return!

The following day we decided to head up the range to Gardiner’s Falls, I’d never been there, so it was a bit of an adventure! Would have been better had I not had an allergy to something in flower, I spent the 2 hours we were there, sneezing my head off..needless to say, we did have a good time though. There is something strangely weird about taking photo’s of your children jumping off a small cliff sort of rock into a deep body of water..Aaryn was very nervous at first, but after the first jump, I couldn’t keep him grounded. He had a ball! Naturally, Cam, the adventurous, having been there before, had a great time ordering everyone around showing us the correct way to jump etc. Aaryn found a rope swing and was in his element as he’s part monkey, he climbed that tree and tarzan swung into the water..

When we were walking to the falls, Cam screamed out Snake…i thought he was joking until i saw the look on his face. He was then mortified when i put my bag down, got out the camera and took a photo..after taking the photo, I realized the snake was indeed a Red Bellied Black..so, hightailed it out of there!

I did inform some Pakistani tourists, to be careful with their small children as there were snakes on the track (we saw 2 in all). After finally managing to get through to him that yes, they were real snakes..it was hilarious to see him tie towels around his legs, just incase the snake decided to bite him! He didn’t show the same concern for his pregnant wife and small children…How I wish I’d taken photo’s of him!

SNAKE!!!

Sunday saw us spending the day helping… supervising  watching Gary and Jason, as they used the Cherry picker to clean the Private hospital at Kawana Lake. I was wondering what to do with the boys for the whole day, but as luck would have it, one empty car park, 2 scooters, and one lake not 1 minute walk other end of carpark away, led to a fun filled day and lots of photo’s. There was a regatta on the Lake,so we went down and watched that for a while, then the boys got hot, stripped off and went in for a swim for a while. I was exhausted when we got home!

 

the boys wanted me to take photo’s for ‘their portfolio’ who knew they even had one..apparently they would like to be male models..please keep your eye out for the new calendar Aaryn will be mr July!!! LOL they look more like an ad for norsca deodorant LOL..had to laugh at the splash one..Aaryn told Cam to slowly splash to get a ‘sexy’ scene, i tee’d it up with Cam that when i nod, he splash totally..Aaryn was NOT amused LOL. Cam gets too self conscious..so only a couple of pics of him!

Easter Sunday 2010…

 

found us having a family get together at as the mother in law says..the perfect home for a get together, it doesn’t matter how many people there are here, there always seems to be room for 1 more and so much space!!,

All up, we had 1 mother in law isn’t one enough? 1 sister in law, 2 nieces, 1 nephew in law, 2 daughters, 2 son in laws, 3 son’s, 1 daughter in law,

4 grandson’s 2 granddaughter’s, 1 grandniece and 2 frazzled parents (us!). We decided against a bbq and just did a super spread of soup, salad and cold meats, which ended up being perfect as the weather turned out quite hot and everyone was feeling rather lazy! Harry decided to show us that he could indeed WALK! after a few hesitant steps, he found he liked this new skill and was near running by the time they went Home. Not to be outdone by her cousin, Syenna decided she would get her first tooth! So naturally, she had to have her first chocolate to celebrate!! We met little miss Darci, who is 7 weeks old and oh ever so cute! Just a lovely day, even if Miss Emily, did inform me that I am NOT a princess, in fact, I’m actually, too old to be a princess, I’ll never be a princess because..SHE IS!! she did say i could be an elf if i wanted to be one as i look a bit like an elf if you squint your eyes and look sideways at me! She’s out of the will now, i informed her and her sister will get all my rings and bracelets. She then said, I could be a Princess if I wanted to be, so all is right with the world again and I can carry on in my princess like fashion! Considering the amount of chocolate those kids ate today, they weren’t too bad! Although after having Pavlova, Syenna was funny as she had a bit of sugar overload and was just a little hyperactive..Here are a few pics from today, YAY, i actually remembered to get the camera out!! don’t faint

Syenna’s first taste of chocolate!Harry and Syenna! With Great nan Betty! Syenna

Harry!Darci

Emily and Kieran Emily and Brayden Harry walking!!!

Apologies ..an amendment to the HUGE post!!

to a very mortified Aaryn and also to Jackie who pointed out I hadn’t been here!! When in fact we’d stopped here for lunch!

THE BIG PRAWN..BALLINA!!

Luna Park

Or should that be Lunatic Park???? lol

We caught the ferry from Darling Harbour, over to Luna Park, the boys were beside themselves with excitement..Ok, Cam, (THE BRAVE), was beside himself, Aaryn, (THE MEEK)  was trembling in his boots! He takes after his mother you see, not liking anything that is too fast, too high, too scary, you get the picture OBVIOUSLY one shouldn’t go to theme parks with this fear LOL.

Firstly i must say, for those of you who have never been here, if in Sydney, You must go! it’s such a good cheap day out, much cheaper than Dreamworld and dare I say more fun! Free entry and if parents are chicken  recovering from operations LOL, all you have to do is pay for the pass for the kids, all up we spent less than $100 which included food, rides and sideshow alley! OK…my sales pitch is over!

First things first..Cam, The Brave, scoped the area, which ride to go on, he didn’t know what to do, where to start LOL, He was mortified that Aaryn The Meek, wouldn’t go on any rides, that was until The Brave one had tested them first, if he came out alive and not vomiting! The Meek became the semi-Brave and went on them LOL not a bad move I’m thinking..that boy will go far!

All in all, the boys had a great day, and we had to drag them back to the ferry so we wouldn’t miss our bus….which..we missed anyway LOL…

Aaryn The Meek….oh yes, you can see the OMG look on his face LOL

Cam, The Brave…no fear whatsoever!

The Meek being just a little bit brave!!

Ahh YES!! this is more The Meek’s style, Dodgem Cars..he loves them..what boy doesn’t?? may I say I have never in my life been on a dodgem car and have no intentions of ever doing so!

You don’t need to be told who is inside of this!

UMM yes, it’s stopped! upside down..WITH MY CHILD INSIDE!!!

And Back down again…can you see the Brave one, sticking his head out for his photo to be taken! this thing was going around and around so fast, i was nearly sick watching it! The brave one, got off, ran around the the gate and got back on, 7, yes 7 times in a row…then went back on it again a few times before we left!

 

The Meek, doesn’t look so brave  hey LOL..check the physics of this ride..note where the Meek is sitting…..

ANY closer he’d be on his knee, apparently gravity pulls you to one side…or so they say LOL…

OK so we aren’t so gunho brave when we don’t realize mum’s watching LOL looks more like OH HELP i’m going to vomit!

The boys had a huge giggle in Coney Island, every time they looked at us, they would burst out laughing, so Cam took  our photo….

I have lerverly legs..and check out the husbands skirt LOL

The Meek one, talked Cam into going onto the ever so mild Ferris Wheel, on the way, we saw this…

Yes, I like to dress in my finest frock and suit when going to a funfair, don’t you?? Seriously, there was a wedding there, the bride was gorgeous in her blood red (yes,blood red) dress, with her bridesmaids in white..that certainly confused me for a while! didn’t get pics of them, my camera was at the top of the ferris wheel! it did look funny seeing men in suits going on all the rides though!

Ok, onto the Ferris wheel, i reluctantly handed my camera to The Brave, who was going to take pics at the top!

he did a not too bad job..

You may be forgiven for thinking that this is a photo of me and the husband waiting for my camera to arrive safely on the ground…what you don’t see in this photo is the spitball that cam spat down to the ground and then tried to photograph.! nor do you see the person that the spitball landed on!

and finally what would a day at Luna park be like without the giant mouth!!! No NOT Cameron, but Luna herself or himself, i’m not sure on the gender lol

Well, that’s it for now..and I can hear you say..Thank God for that!!

I have heaps more photo’s to sort..there is still Taronga Zoo to go etc and then HI-HO onto Canberra…I need coffee and something to eat now..this has been mammoth LOL