The Suburbs

Suburgatory is my new favourite show. It's a hilarious show about a father and daughter moving from inner Manhattan to the suburbs. The suburb they move to is full of fake, self centred people living in oversized houses full of maids.

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I'm glad that Brisbane doesn't have the extreme differences between the suburbs and the city like America appears to have.

There is a difference between inner city suburbs and outer city though (in my experience). So much so that a list can be created, has been created.

Our old neighbours were shit. Even the good ones were rude. Our current neighbours are so very nice. When we moved in without connecting the electricity (don't ask) they let us use their outside plug for a few days. How nice is that!? They are awesome. We bought them chocolates.

We are paying more rent but we are in a place three times the size we were in. Technically that means it's cheaper, right?

To a skater that is hell important. Rough, narrow roads are dangerous.

I'm not saying they don't exist, I mean we have one, but Holdens, Toyotas, Mazdas and Fords are a lot more prominent. There's a lot more utes and real 4WDs, you know ones actually used as 4WDs not just people movers.

We don't but our neighbours do and everyone walks their own dogs rather than pay someone to walk them. If you don't own a dog, you are the odd one out. Us.

I prefer mid morning Thursdays.

Wide roads = skater's dream.

Best Of The Past Week

We redyed my hair and it's amazing! 

Sesame slept so much during the weekend full of roller derby. She's amazing.

These girls are my heroes. One of them, Beth Adder, broke her ankle during the bout and nobody had ANY idea. She was back at the after party in a cast.

This is where I was all weekend. Awesome!

I want this as my back tattoo. Awesome female tatts over on this page.

This kaftan is so beautiful. Tree Of Life is one of my favourite shops.

Wow! Australia sure is beautiful. 

So true!

Need this so bad!

This dress is fabulous!

How To Not Be A Shit Neighbour

1. Don't play with your noisy toy helicopter outside our bedroom window. Especially not at 1am.
It's even worse if it's my child's bedroom because then we all get woken up. I don't have much dignity left after having children so I'm not afraid to go outside in my dressing gown to yell at you.

2. Say hello in passing.
I say hello, you say hello. Easier said than done so it seems. Looking at the ground does not make me disappear either, it just makes me more pissed at you.

3. Don't ask us to keep our child indoors before 8am as you work night shift. Especially if you don't work night shift.
If you're the same shit neighbour from number one and two I'm going to make sure my kid is outdoors making a shitload of noise from 6am.

4. Offer a nice gesture without insult.
Saying we can use your side of the garage to park our car is lovely. Saying it'd be easier because ours is full of shit/junk/rubbish is not so lovely especially when it's neatly packed with boxes, furniture and toys not shit/junk/rubbish.

5. Don't put signs up about each resident using their own bins not others then leave a heap of cardboard boxes in the bin area. Especially in the rain.
Did I mention WE had to clean up the sloppy cardboard mess as well? Your sign fails miserably if you're a shit neighbour. If you're not a shit neighbour we'd all be a lot nicer and more helpful.

6. If you live above your neighbour's courtyard try not to throw rubbish/dirt/ash/water/alcohol over your fence. Especially if you can see their clothes hanging out.
I hate washing. I hate washing clothes I've already washed even more. If you've made me double up on washing prepare for some insults to be thrown your way. In hindsight I should have given it to you to wash again seeing as you made it dirty.

7. Don't have parties EVERY weekend if you live in a complex. Parties during the week are just as bad if not worse.
I understand I live in a young uni student area but every weekend? I'm going to call the police if you turn up the music after I've come over with a toddler and a newborn to ask you to turn it down. This could also be filed under the 'You know you're old when...' list.

8. If you move out please take your animals with you. As much as I love your cat, I don't want to be responsible for it.
If you are going to leave your cat behind please tell me so I know it's being looked after. Every time it rains I wonder where that poor cat is hiding out. I'd much prefer if it was hiding out with me. Oh and cats love smoked salmon right?

9. Don't get the water to the whole complex turned off without telling the other residents.
Children need water especially a newborn on formula. I need water in my coffee. Putting a bucket of water down the toilet is NOT the same as flushing. Preparation and knowledge are fantastic tools.

10. If you're cleaning your car/bike/boat/quad please don't take over the whole driveway so nobody can get into their garages. 
We have bits of grass that are wide enough to clean a car/bike/boat/quad, I don't understand why they don't get used. Not only does it mean we can get into the garage, the grass also becomes greener. Win for all!

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The Best News!

Source: NT News

After a horrible two days of waiting, worrying and stressing the news came through last night that Monique is safe. There was a death, her ex-boyfriend Josh, which is horrific and I send condolences to his family.

I am so glad Mo is safe, I know she is a strong girl who will get through this ordeal.

Thank you so much to everyone that helped get the word out via twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You all rock and made a difference! Fuck yeah social media!!

I'm so glad my friend is alive.

Please Help!

Source: NT Police

My beautiful friend Monique is missing.

Monique and I met while clubbing years ago. We instantly clicked and started hanging out having sleep overs, dinners, lunches, drinks and general hang outs. We were close. She's a rockstar in my eyes. Always has been, always will be.

Last I heard Mo was living around the corner from me. No one I've spoken to realised she had left Brisbane. Of course none of that matters, all that matters now is her safety.

If you see Monique, Josh or that vehicle please call police straight away.

Monique, please be safe. You make the world a brighter place.

EDITED 10am 24/08/12: New poster is now available. 
Please share. The car has now been found but Monique is still missing.

Source: NT Police

Liebster Award

"The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. What is a Liebster? The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome."

I received my nomination from Jayme at Young Mum's Guide To Survival. Thank you so much Jayme, I'm so glad you tagged me and I found your blog! Earlier this year I was also awarded the Liebster. I'm very lucky indeed!

The Rules:

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.

2. Answer the questions that the person who tagged you created and then make 11 questions of your own for the people you tag.

3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.

4. Go to their page and tell them.

5. No tag backs!

Here are 11 things about me;

1. If I won the lotto I'd buy a warehouse to skate in. Ideally with three or four roller derby tracks and my league would have free range to it. It'd be the league's warehouse.
2. I love my children to bits but I don't want any more thank you.
3. I'm addicted to a whole range of TV shows including SVU, Community, The Office, Mob Wives, Criminal Minds, Real Housewives Of New York, New Girl, Once Upon a Time and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Addicted.
4. My favourite animal is an otter. They're so cute. They smell bad but I still like them.
5. I am a car fanatic but I don't drive.
6. I would love to cook when stressed but I hate cooking. When stressed all I want to do is sleep. It's really not helpful.
7. My weakness is junk food especially chips. 
8. I want to get a kitten. I love cats but we aren't allowed to have cats here and the mister is allergic.
9. My least favourite household chore is vacuuming. I hate it.
10. I love musicals. How good would life be if it were like a musical.
11. The best breakfast is good coffee through caramel Tim Tam straws.

Jayme has given me eleven questions to answer;

1. Why do you love blogging? Recording the wonderful (and not so wonderful) memories throughout my life. The community is pretty rad too.

2. If you could bring one person back to life, who would it be and why? I choose not to bring a person back but instead my old dog, Casey. She died ten years ago and I still miss her badly.

3. What is your life long goal/s? My goals change all the time. At the moment my main goal is to become the best skater I can be. I hope to be bouting by November next year (my high school reunion).

4. What is the most embarrassing thing you have done in public? I always do embarrassing things. I honestly cannot think of just one at the moment.

5. What is your all time favourite movie? I can't just pick one. I love many from most genres. 

6. What is the most thrilling thing you have ever done? Learning to skate. Going to the first day of rec league without being able to stand on my skates properly was pretty thrilling. Hard to think that four months ago I couldn't skate.

7. What piece of technology couldn't you live without? My iphone. I use it for almost everything.

8. What is your biggest fear? Death. I'm not so much scared of death as I am of not living.

9. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? New York City in a big apartment or townhouse.
10. Do you have any hobbies other than blogging? Roller derby.
11. Celebrity crush? Nick from New Girl. 

My eleven questions for the tagged people to answer;

1. Who or what got you into blogging?
2. Tomato, ketchup or BBQ sauce?
3. Mac or PC?
4. Where would you go on your dream holiday?
5. Favourite kids movie?
6. What's your favourite way to exercise?
7. What's one lesson you've taken away from blogging?
8. What do you miss from being a kid?
9. What's something you would love to do but are afraid to?
10. Your favourite childhood memory?
11. Do you know how to change a tyre?

I'm going to break the rules and not tag eleven bloggers. If you want to join in the fun please leave your link in the comments and I'll edit this to include a link to your post.

Lufflump is HAPPY!

Guest Post: Sakura Haruka: 满月|Manyue {Full Moon}

Sesame is here! A lovely bunch of bloggers have jumped in to help me out at this time so I don't have to worry about a newborn, a toddler AND blogging. Today, Ai Sakura is sharing a birth custom in her Chinese culture.

First of all, big congratulations to Ames! Yay we finally get to see Sesame!! *squeals* Such a delight and this certainly brings back happy memories of when my little girl was born. In view of this celebration of life, I would like to share how births of newborns are celebrated in Chinese culture. My husband’s family is rather traditional {and I don’t mean old-fashioned!} so we celebrate a lot of Chinese festivities the old way.

In Chinese traditions, a party {满月酒, manyuejiu} will be thrown in honour of the child after the child’s first full month {满月, manyue) to celebrate with family and friends. In the past, it was to celebrate a child’s survival when infant mortality rate was high, but nowadays, it is just a happy occasion of introducing the child to family and friends, and to mark the end of confinement for the mother.

The party can be as big or as small as you want it to be. Some Chinese families book a few tables at the restaurant and invite colleagues, business associates, family, friends etc. while others just have it at home with family. For our girl’s Manyue celebration, we booked a small hall to share the joyous occasion with close family and friends. I did not want a grand party as that was during the H1NI period and I was scared our girl would get infected. Yes, I was {still am??} a rather paranoid mama! :P

Gifts {such as the one shown above} are given away to family and friends. Content vary, but at the very least, should contain red eggs. The red eggs symbolize good luck and harmony. In return, guests will usually give gold jewelry, red packets of money {红包, hongbao} or other items and toys. Gift registries are not common in Asia, so if you are not sure what to bring, just bring a red packet! It is always welcome at Chinese celebrations, be it for Manyue celebration or weddings!

Living in multicultural Singapore, we see births celebrated in many different ways but all are so special. 

How are births celebrated in your culture?

Ai Sakura lives in Singapore with her toddler daughter and hubby. She is a photography, travel, food and fashion lover but Hello Kitty is her true obsession. She blogs over at Sakura Haruka and can be found on Facebook, twitter and Instagram.

Hello, I Want To Go To A Workshop

Hello Blogger Events are holding a Brisbane Blogging Workshop on the 11th March and I am DESPERATE to go. Ticket sales are over on the 28th February and I won't be able to afford it as, of course, everything has decided to break or be due in the last month. Throw in the mister getting underpaid as well, oh don't get me started on that! 

Anyway, Dani and Melissa have kindly offered one free ticket up for grabs. So this here is my entry.

Going to this workshop not only means seeing awesome bloggers again but also learning stuff. I like learning. Here's what my Workshop Schedule will look like (you can find the original Workshop Schedule here);

Oh and I haven't even mentioned the speakers. Some I've met and some I haven't but want to! There's the bloggers I can honestly say are lovely people in person as well as on their blogs; Melissa, Dani, Danielle, Jacqui, Kelly and Zoe. Then there are the bloggers I am yet to meet but oh so want to; Sass, Stacey, and Maddie.

Famous People!

I also know a bunch of Queensland bloggers are going too. I love the blog meet ups so I know the mingling times will be a blast rather than awkward. I know Melissa will grope someone to ease the tension anyway.

Awesome people!

All photos are from the Hello Blogger Events flickr or Suger Coat It.

Blogging Inspiration

It's 5:30am and I can't remember why I started blogging. I can remember dates and such but I can't remember where I heard about blogging, whose blog inspired me first to begin. I didn't include any of that information in my introduction post on my last blog. Why didn't I include it?

I'd blogged before on msn spaces then on MySpace but never a real blog, just one attached to a profile or social media setting. I wish I could read what dribble I posted about back then but I can't access either due to my old email account being hacked and lost.

I think the main reason I began blogging was to record lufflump's first years. I wish I knew what or who inspired me. I know I started reading Melissa's and Holly's blogs early on so maybe they were the inspiration, I know they still inspire me now. Actually I've written about part of my blogging journey already. In there I did include the bloggers who inspired me to start blogging again.

I remember reading A-M's blog daily and wanting to be a part of her community, loving her photos and stories, everything about her blog was interesting to me even the so-called mundane posts (oh god I sound like a stalker, promise I'm not!). She was probably the biggest inspiration for me to get back on board blogging. She's still incredibly inspiring, after a very rough year she's come out on top with her boys and she's still got the same light if only a bit more enlightened.

Apart from A-M there's been bloggers who've helped through dark and light times. Those who've made me laugh and cry. It's funny how someone can evoke such emotions without realising it. I'll try and keep the list down;

Melissa; she's such an amazing lady. You know that light some lucky people have around them, a glow? Well she has it. She's not only supportive and lovely through her blog but also in person. She's also got a pretty amazing laugh and makes blogs look really pretty in her spare time.

Holly; my pregnancy sister. This lady is hilarious and truthful. No spinning shit from her mouth or blog. She unashamedly swears which could be one of the main reasons we clicked so well ;) She writes from the heart, loves her kids more than anything and I'm so glad she's home again, happy.

Amy; another pregnancy sister. Amy has been through so much lately, all good things too; marriage, new business and now she's growing a sibling for Flynn. We share so much in common even our first names. In fact I know if we lived closer we'd often catch up for lunch, you know in all her spare time.

Eden; who hasn't this lady touched in some way?! Her writing, humour, caring nature, craziness - fuck it, everything about this woman is amazing. I think I've convinced myself her shit smells like roses, she's that awesome. She has this vibe that makes you me want to be a better person. She's herself in a way I wish I was.

I promised myself I would leave it at five but I can't so here's a few more;

Deb at Home Life Simplified

Veronica at Mixed Gems

Naomi at Seven Cherubs

Nat at Life of Lady Vega

Glow at Where's My Glow?

Nat, you need a button!

It's now 8:00am and I still have no idea what inspired me to start blogging. I'm glad I did though.

I'm linking up with Edenland's Fresh Horses Brigade. It's pretty damn awesome.

Valentine's Day Loving

The mister and I celebrated our first Valentine's Day with a lovely picnic in the mountains. We sat in the middle of the clouds with a slight drizzle. It was magical.

Our first Valentine's Day: 2009

This year we didn't do anything apart from chores before the mister went to work where they're having a big Valentine's Day dinner. The mister received a disgustingly soppy text message from me and he'd planned a big adventure day for us before he realised we couldn't do it, damn pregnancy! 

People think it's odd that we don't give gifts to each other every time we are 'supposed' to, like V Day, anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas. We just don't feel the need to show our love through gifts. I know he loves me when I'm sick in bed and he's doing the housework. He knows I love him when I clean for him or let him sleep in. We know what is special to each other and we do it as often as we can. 

We are the couple that possibly says 'I love you' too much but it's always heartfelt. I find it impossible to sit on the couch without touching him in some way (usually my legs over his). We are affectionate when we aren't jokingly bickering.

What do I love most about the mister? 

He's thoughtful, loyal, works damn hard for his family, he's caring, kind, puts up with my shit and doesn't complain when I'm stuck in bed and the house is a pigsty. He loves us with all his heart and we know it. He is so humble though, I don't think he realises how much he actually does.

What do I love most about me?

My body has produced one beautiful child and is in the process of producing another child. To be able to give the mister and our families that gift is definitely something that I cherish. I also love the way that lufflump and the mister love me. For them to love me the way they do, I have to be doing something right!

V Day 2012

I'm linking up with the amazing Glow from Where's My Glow? who came up with the brilliant idea of posting what we love about ourselves. Some amazing bloggers have joined in too.

What do you love most about yourself?

Liebster!

In the last few weeks I've received some amazing love from bloggers. Two of them gave me the Liebster award. Those wonderful ladies are Gillian from Tessie Girl and Lisa from Mrs BC's House of Chaos. 

Gillian has an amazing business where she makes all sorts of awesome stuff! She's also my soul sister, so alike it's scaringly wonderful!

Lisa is just so lovely and supportive, not to mention an awesome Brisbanite! She's so authentic too, honest and fun!

I'm so honoured, thank you ladies!

So down to business...

What is a Liebster Award?

"Liebster is a German word, meaning dearest or beloved, but it can also mean favourite.  The idea behind the Liebster Blog Award is that it is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers in order to create new connections and bring attention to these wonderful blogs."

Here's the to-do list of any Liebster award recipient:

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Post the award on your blog. (Right click on the award image and save it to your hard-drive and then upload it to your blog).
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet – other bloggers.
5. And best of all – have fun and spread the karma!

So my five picks for the Liebster Award are;

• My Life as a Cake
• New Adventures in Dreamland
• Kate and Michael + 3 (new name coming soon I'm guessing after the latest arrival?)
• My Vintage Vow
• Aspiring Mum

Even if you think these awards are silly (and that's ok) please check out the above blogs. The ladies who write them are amazing!

Blogging Nasties

Remember what you hated about high school? Not the school work or teachers, but the social aspects of school. The hierarchies, bullies, peers who wouldn't let you sit with them, girls who undermined you at every chance, boys who teased you about your appearance, when having big boobs was bad then having small boons was bad. You know the feeling where you just can't win? Nothing you do is good enough for the cool kids. Maybe you don't actually fit in anywhere; you aren't technical enough to be a geek, not smart enough to be a nerd, don't smoke enough to be cool, do too much work to be a slacker, don't care enough to be a perfectionist, don't like drama enough to be a drama queen, you get the picture. Unfortunately that doesn't end in high school. It happens in workplaces and the blogging world is no exception.

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When immersed in the blogging community through the social media outlets we all love using (Facebook, twitter, blogs, forums) it can be easy to fall into criticising others especially if some are already doing it. Even more so if the "cool" bloggers are involved. It can be easy to forget that we all began with a sole reader; us, and have grown from there. It's easy to dismiss those "below" us and admire those "above" us but diss them if they ignore us. It's easy to believe the hierarchies and everything that should've been left back in highschool.

Businesses like Nuffnang, PR agencies and big companies don't help disperse the hierarchies either. They have a business to do, they want to reach the largest amount of people in their target audiences and know those who are influential. It's understandable and it's business. Except a lot of bloggers aren't blogging for a business, but rather a creative outlet, a way to interact with a wide community and make friends. Personal blogging is on the rise and the perks can be fantastic, but those perks you are receiving may be the downfall for another blogger.

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Jealousy in blogging is rife. It's everywhere. Little snipes here and there. A nasty comment or a hundred from the same IP address on successful blogs. The saying is 'you haven't made it until you've had a nasty comment'. Unfortunately it's true. For some reason fellow bloggers, rather than be supportive prefer to leave cruel comments on certain blogs. Usually the more successful blogs.

Success. It's a word that could mean so much in the blogging universe. Success can be followers, page views, ads, comments, competitions held, events invited to, amount of time blogging and the recognition of other bloggers. Anything one blog has another lacks. Anything that one can be jealous of, also anything that can be found admirable.

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We are all different. We all live our lives differently with different circumstances. It's true that we may all not get along, that happens in every aspect of life and it's ok. Suck it up, be polite and move on. Undermining, demeaning, defaming them and acting like a spoiled brat is not ok. Posting cruel comments on other's blogs is not ok. Ignoring them if they say hi at an event is not ok. Posting intentional, passive aggressive statuses is not ok. Treat others how you want to be treated.

We are woman, hear us roar. Together. Let's unite, give credit where it's due, put petty bullshit aside and support each other. Be positive rather than negative. If you have nothing nice to say, don't waste your time and someone else's by saying anything. Most of us have children, lets be a positive role model and show them that it's ok not to agree with someone but it's not ok to be cruel to them. It's ok to have different opinions because the world would be boring if we all agreed.

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