What does Fathers Day mean to you?

My Dad, me and Mum at my best friends wedding in March 2010.

I find myself getting a little bit teary about Fathers Day this year.

I now understand how hard it must be for those who have lost their fathers, never known their fathers or don’t have a great relationship with their dads.

This year I am celebrating that I still have a DAD here to celebrate with. As you may have seen in an earlier blog post, my Dad had a MASSIVE Heart Attack this year. It scared the beejesus out of us! Truly. We are just so grateful to still have him here to walk us down the aisle, watch his grandchildren grow up and to get to know him even better (because to be completely honest, Dad and I haven't had the closest relationship in the past). Looking back now, I think it's because we were SO ALIKE that we clashed a bit. We are both so determined and strong willed, we both love helping other people and above all, we both love when people give us their time and tell us how much they appreciate us.

This Fathers Day I want you to do something special for your Dad. It doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg, you don’t even have to send him a gift. Just give him some of your time in some way or another. Give him a phone call just to let him know that you love and appreciate him.

Send him a card with some nice words or funny memories that you share.

Take him to do something that he loves or something that you enjoy doing together. It might be fishing, or going for a hike, or watching the footy together or sharing a beverage and chatting about your childhood years.

If your Dad isn’t still with you, take the time to celebrate his life and the memories that you shared together. Do something that you know that he’d like. Release a balloon in his memory, or bake a cake, or go for a walk, or write a poem about your Dad.

Fathers Day is a day to take a GIANT step back and think about the opportunities, memories, love and support that your Dad has given you over the years.

I’m yet to be a parent myself, but I know that it must be one of the most challenging roles that you ever face and I know that it must be so rewarding to receive love, thanks and appreciation in return for all of the things that you have contributed to raising your children.

Happy Fathers Day for Sunday to all of those Dads out there, and to my Dad, I love you and I am so grateful that you worked so hard to give Teegs and I the opportunities that we have had.

We wouldn’t be the people who we are without you (quite literally hahaha).

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

Come fly with me to Fiji.

FIJI!

Bring on copious amounts of Pina Coladas, sunshine, my little sisters wedding, celebrations, holiday sex and all things BREAKING ROUTINE in Fiji in 23 days!

Excitement.

So today, we're flying to Fiji (pretty much because I'm over work, the crappy winter weather and routine) so I'm posting a blog post to make me smile and feel all warm and happy inside (haha).

I wished I was fancy enough to know how to paste mine and Mick's faces over this lovely couple...sexy bodies included hahaha

Oh my godness, I can NOT wait to fly over this knowing that we get to spend 2 whole weeks here!

I like it, I like it ALOT.

I can't wait to snorkel and explore!

Mick and I get to stay in one of these!

Teegs is having traditional Fijian dances/flower girls in her wedding!

This is the pool at our resort. Think I'll be spending a WHOLE lot of time right about here!

Hell yes! I have always wanted to go jet skiing!

These are going to be my BEST FRIEND for 2 weeks...Pina Coladas!

And that my friends, is where I'll be and what I'll be doing in just over 3 weeks!

Do you have any tips for travelling to Fiji? Any must see and do things?

I'm soooo excited!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty

xxxx

What makes a great sporting club?

As my time at my beloved Adelaide Lutheran Football and Netball club comes to an end, it has left me thinking about why I am so attached to the club, and why it is going to be sad to leave.

After all, it's just sport isn't it? It's just a club? I can just go and join another one?

This is true, but I have a HUGE emotional ATTACHMENT to Adelaide Lutheran.

It has got me thinking.

A typical social event with copious amounts of alcohol including $3 punch with everyone dressed up and ready to party!

What is it that makes a club so amazing?

Is it the people? 

Is it the quality of the sport?

Is it feeling a sense of belonging? 

Is it the food and alcohol? 

Is it the on court fun or the off court fun or both?

The girls at African Safari night!

When I asked myself these questions I came up with a list of 10 things that makes my club amazing.

1. Adelaide Lutheran Sporting Club is more than just a place to take the field and court to battle out of your heart on a Saturday. It really is a home away from home for so many country kids who leave the safe haven of their small community towns where they grew up in search for a career and experiences in Adelaide. It's a place where you feel safe and welcomed and where you truly feel like you belong and you are truly appreciated.

Just a glimpse of some of the girls who play for the club!

2. The people are so friendly and welcoming. Believe it or not but with 150 netball girls there is barely any bitching. Your team mates and club members become like your family. I guess this is because most of us have left our family behind in the country, so we rely on the support of other players to score, time, umpire and to cheer us on and encourage us from the sidelines. You only have to wait for the football and netball finals to see how many girls and guys from the club come out to support each other with loud voices and an esky full of beverages. I have also met so many amazing people from all over South Australia and beyond, who I know I will keep in touch with in the future.

I met Sarah through the Doggies and I was in her wedding in December 2011.

3. The atmosphere. Nothing beats heading back to the warm club rooms that have been heated by a wood fire after training on a Thursday night to enjoy our volunteer chefs amazing feeds. Nothing beats walking, skipping or running up to the bar for a cold beverage after a long day at work or hard training. Nothing beats playing netball on a Saturday and then heading over to the club rooms to support the boys playing footy with a meat pie and sauce while devouring a cider. It's always a relaxed, friendly atmosphere at the club.

Being a crazy nutter who stole someone elses super cool costume at 80s night!

A whoop! 2011 Premiers!

4. The social events. Wow. Just wow. You are actually the odd one out if you don't come dressed up. We've had events ranging from cocktail balls to Eighties nights to book character nights to Mexican nights with mechanical balls to quiz nights, horse racing nights and well just a normal Saturday at the club can turn into a raging party. Everyone is up for a good time. Everyone loves to have a dance and to belt out the golden old school tunes and everyone likes to drink a lot.

There's always plenty of tequila and coronas at Mexican Night!

Tight and Bright night!

African Safari Night!

5. The quality of the netballers (and footballers for the boys). There is so much talent out there. It's great knowing that no matter what grade you will be placed in that the girls know how to play and have fun doing it.

Going straight to number 1!

6. There's no pressure to give anything but 100%. The club values a good attitude, sportsmanship and having fun over the pressure to win all of the time. Of course, winning is always a bonus but it's not the focus.

It's more about the friendships you make, giving 100%, getting back to the club and having a beverage and having FUN!

7. Did I mention the food? Haha it's truly amazing.

We have a slight obsession with Weissy's burgers (note these are miniture lollies, the actual burgers would make your mouth water!)

8. The volunteers. Our club rarely runs on rosters. Okay, so there's an umpires roster but the girls put up their hand to go on it. There's no bar roster. The bar manager sends out a call for helpers and people put their hand up to help. It's truly inspiring. Everyone who volunteers goes above and beyond what is expected of them. Some put in more hours behind the scenes then we can ever truly comprehend. Even on a Saturday night the football president and his helpers come out and run the bar so that everyone can enjoy themselves (which we are ALL grateful for!)

Those that do help are appreciated come Presentation Day, usually with a bottle of wine or a small gift :)

9. Everyone respects everyone. No joke. There's no bitching about the president's or anyone for that matter. Everyone supports and appreciates the hard work of those who go above and beyond.

Mexican Night as tacos!

10. It's fun, SO much fun. I have met some of my best friends through the club. In fact, I was in one of the girls wedding last year. I've been to Victor Harbour, the Barossa Valley the Gold Coast theme parks, and soon I'll be going to the horses races in Melbourne for our netball trips. Everyone ranges from the ages of 17-40. Everyone is out to have fun and socialise and get involved. The club makes me feel as though playing netball is such a small part of the overall fun of being involved.

Netball trip to Queensland. We went and saw Outback Spectacular! Amazing!

Just a sneak peak at some of the antics that we get up to!

I love Adelaide Lutheran Sporting Club and I thank it for teaching me that sport is so much more then taking the court, that you get in what you put out, that it's important to get behind your club by going to social events and going back to the club for tea and by putting up your hand and that a country kid can fit into the city through the sense of community that a club creates.

We even went to Movie World in Queensland on a netball trip!

Does your club sound like mine? Do you love your club? Why/why not? Do you get involved or do you bitch about those who are involved?

Mad Monday!

I'm going to miss Adelaide Lutheran but I'll be sure to visit when we come back to Adelaide.

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty.

Want to travel...tips for tightening your belt.

Today I welcome back my best friend Samara for Tight Ass Tuesday to share her tips for saving some moolah!

Samara, like me, is a pro saver. She has travelled the world while studying and continues to travel the world despite paying a mortgage, socialising and everything else in between.

How does she do it I hear you say?

Take it away Samara...

(To check out other money saving tips, including photographic docket proof of Samara and Joel's super savers, check out Samara's blog over the The Secret Life of Samara)

Our fridge is bare!! Ha ha.

Seriously though, this is at the end of the fortnight before our shop. Contrary to popular belief, Joel and I are actually still eating.

 I thought I would share a few hints and tips that I have to get your food bill down…

1. Shopping fortnightly really helps to stop all those smaller bills adding up.

2. We have moved to more ‘basic’ meals (i.e spaghetti, stir fry).

3. We get fresh produce from the market and then use that as ‘snack food’.

4. We are saying no to eating out.

5. We buy our meat in bulk.

6. We are snacking less- once upon a time we would get home from work and devour a bag of chips. Now we’re learning a bit of self control and either just waiting until dinner time or eating a piece of fruit.

7. Ensuring there is no wastage of food- every thing gets eaten instead of food going off.

8. Being flexible with your meals and using what is in the fridge instead of going out and buying more food when there is sufficient food already.

9. Making home made food if you need to bring something for a supper etc. Here’s an awesome biscuit recipe.

10. Eat less (within reason). People get all antsy when it is suggested that we eat less, however it is a fact that Westerners eat too much food. Cut back and your body may actually function better for it. You don’t need dessert every night. You don’t need to eat until you feel like vomiting. You don’t need a mid night snack.

This style of shopping is not necessarily a long term thing- I would go crazy. But if you need to save some money quick, it’s an amazingly fast way to get a few extra coins in your purse. Some of these methods would however be good to consider long term- I know Joel and I certainly will be using many of these methods even once we have stopped saving like crazy. Until that time comes though I just spend my days dreaming about our holiday and it makes it all that little bit more bearable!

Samara

xo

Thanks Samara. I know that I can learn something from your tips!

Do you have any tips to share for ways to save some moolah? I'm allllll ears haha.

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

If it's not a HELL YES than...

Via

IT'S A HELL NO! (Now that's an easy philosophy to remember isn't it?! haha)

When was the last time that you had a free night? A night where you got home from work and flopped on to the couch with NOTHING to do but indulge in the latest crappiest hit tv shows while snuggling on the couch with your pillow/dog or partner?

When was the last time you looked ahead in your schedule and had a free weekend with NOTHING planned AT ALL?

When was the last time you did something for yourself? Not your partner, not your kids, not for work, or your hockey team or for a friend of a friend but for YOU?

I never used to ask myself these questions.

Via

I just kept plodding along accepting that this is what my life was going to be like, even though I could feel my feet getting heavier and heavier and the my bags under my eyes getting darker and darker.

I always used to feel time poor - there just wasn't enough hours in the day! Well the old me did. Sometimes I still struggle with balancing a work life balance and saying no to things that are off of my "track", but definitely not as much as I used to.

I don't know if I'm just more alert now after being sick, but I feel as though I am constantly hearing people say "I don't have enough time," "there's not enough hours in the day," and "I'm exhausted, I can't remember the last time that I had a free night".

And sometimes I'm left pondering why are we always time poor? Why are many people struggling to find enough hours in the day?

We all have 24 hours in a day. Some people seem to have plenty of time while others always seem rushed off of their feet.

Is it because we all don't have the power to say no to things? So, instead, we have verbal diarrhea and spill out the words YES when deep down inside our guts is telling us to say HEY NO.

My dear friend bought the book HELL YES for me at a time when I needed it. I was FLAT OUT all of the time. I had bags under my eyes and I would feel exhausted just looking ahead at that weeks schedule.

Humph.

Sound familiar?

If so, then THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!

I can not recommend this book enough. It helped me to understand a simple yet effective little slogan and philosophy for learning how to say no.

It's short and easy to read (one line per page), with heaps of pictures (yay for pictures!)

It taught me something very important.

IF IT'S NOT A HELL YES THAN IT'S A HELL NO!

Via

Happy reading.

Hopefully by now you know that I am a TIGHT ASS and I would NEVER recommend something that I didn't think was worth your money and I'm telling you, I'd buy one for everyone of my friends if I managed to find that money tree that I'm still looking for!

You can thank me later :P:P:P:P

Want to grab a copy?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

A HUGE HUGE thankyou to my readers!

This beaming smile is because of you....and a 1 litre jug of champers!

Today I just want to take a moment to stop and really appreciate each and every one of you who takes the time to read my blog.

I know life is busy. I know that we’re always stretching ourselves thin to meet the demands of work, and kids and friends and family, and our relationship with our partner and updating our Facebook statuses and Tweeting about picking our noses and just trying to keep our sanity.

So thank you for spending a couple of moments every day/week/month to stop by my blog and to read about my thoughts and feelings towards topics that I am SO passionate about.

I started my blog just over 2 months ago not knowing where it was going to take me, whether people would be interested in hearing what I had to say, or whether I’d even enjoy doing it.

I have since had close to 9,000 views.

I am SO pleased to say that I have found my niche....now I just need to work out how to get paid for it hahaha.

But seriously, the other night when I was reading my blog out to my partner, I realised that even if I never get paid $$$ to write, then it really doesn’t bother me. I am reaping the reward of helping others to accept, deal with and move on from things that have happened in their life, I am giving people the opportunity to speak out loud about difficult things that they have faced in life to try and help other people and so that other people know that they are NOT alone, and if anything, I am doing something for myself. For me.

You, have given me the confidence to delve deeper into my Depression then I ever thought that I would and it’s helping me to move past Depression so that it doesn’t define me.

You have given me the courage to continue writing.

To be honest, there's been three moments that stand out for me since I have written my blog. One is when my Dad texted me saying how proud of me he was. Coming from a man who never said I love you or who never said those precious words when I was growing up made me cry. I am making my Dad proud.

The second was the other night. I got home from work and my partner said that he had a surprise for me. Usually his surprises are things like snail bait for my garden, but I still got excited. When he whipped out a box I almost did a little bit of wee in my pants. OMG! I opened it to reveal a i-pad type thing except it's not an i-pad as a symbol of how proud he is of me for writing my blog. He wanted me to be able to carry it around so that I can write any time that I get an idea...how sweet! I cried!

Super LUCKY!

The third would be when my story, Depression: the Silent Killer appeared on the front page of the ABC Open website which lead to a live interview on the ABC radio station. Wow. Just wow. I can not believe where my blog is taking me and that I am being given the opportunity to share my story to such a large audience. I really hope that it is helping someone out there in some way! To check it out, click here.

Every time I log in and see the page views increase, every time I see that someone has liked my post on Facebook or signed up to be a Follower and everytime someone comments on my blog, I have a beaming smile on my face. It truly means so much to me.

I always knew that I wanted to teach. I guess that’s why I studied to be a high school teacher for 3 ½ years and then realised that it wasn’t quite right for me. Now I have discovered a new way to create awareness and hopefully encourage people to be more critical of what they read, see and hear and to either question their beliefs or secure them through my blog.

You guys are helping to make me feel like the luckiest girl alive.

I am SO happy. And trust me, if you have been following my blog you’d know that after hitting rock bottom with Depression from April-September 2011, that that means the WORLD to not only me, but those closest to me.

I’m happy, I’m healthy and I’m writing and I LOVE IT!

And an even cheekier smile with chocolate in my mouth!

So thank you.

I hope that you are getting as much from my posts as I am writing them!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

Life in America by the beautiful Marianna.

Today I welcome Marianna to my blog to tell us about why we should pop over to America for a visit. When I think of America I think Disneyland, and Hollywood and JUNK FOOD and Niagara Falls but Marianna has some other reasons that we should visit!

I met Marianna is this crazy world of blogging. She's so cute. You'd love her blog! It's awesome meeting people from all around the world.

Enjoy!

G'day mates!

(That's me saying hello in my best Aussie accent.)

My name's Marianna. 

That's me.

I blog over at Delightfully Dunn about all sorts of random things:

usually my sweet dogs, wonderful husband, and penchant for sleeping in way too late. 

But also my adventures navigating through the "grown-up" world. 

I've been following Kirsty's blog for sometime now and feel so honored to have met her though this crazy blogging world. When she asked me if I would be interested in doing a guest post I couldn't respond YES fast enough.

As we've gotten to know each other a little bit, we've realized several things.

We both clearly have a couple screws loose a love/hate relationship with renovating, a firm belief in the power of the man cave, and a new found passion for this little thing called blogging. 

We've also decided that a road trip (or plane trip rather) is definitely needed to our respective countries.

Because clearly, we are awesome, as is America and Australia. Duh.

So today I'm going to share:

Reasons why Kirsty needs to get her booty up to America:

1. Michael Phelps. 

As I continue to mourn the end of the Olympics, I can't help but be reminded of the abundance of abs uh pride our American athletes had for our county. If Michael Phelps doesn't make you want to chant U-S-A, I don't know what will.

2. New York City

America has a ton of great cities worth visiting. But my all time favorite (besides my hometown, of course) would have to be New York City. From the rich American history to the new and upcoming fashion trends to the witty words of Carrie Bradshaw, NYC has a little something for everyone and I just love it.

3. State Fairs

America is all about a State Fair. We Americans love our cheap carnival rides and fried foods. (Hello deep fried Oreos.) Mr. Dunn and I try to attend at least one fair a year - and I promise Kirsty would LOVE  it!

4. Reality Television

From "The Bachelor" to "Jersey Shore" to "Here Comes HoneyBooBoo"....Americans are a little obsessed. This isn't necessarily a good thing, but hey it always proves for good entertainment and a great conversation starter. 

5. Willow

This little bundle of joy lives in America. Really, she should be reason number 1 and only to visit America. I mean, come on. How stinkin cute is she?!?!

Obviously, I'm probably a little biased (not about cute Willow is. No, everyone agrees with that) about how wonderful America is. It's my home and I really do think it's everything. 

But the truth of the matter is, my life in America seems to be very similar to Kristy's life in Australia. 

And that my friends, is reason number 234095897 why this blogging thing is so cool! We're connecting to each other despite the fact that we're 9,637 miles (that's accurate, I calculated it) away. 

Thanks for letting me rant on about America!

Now come visit...forreal! :)

And don't forget to stop by and say hey! I love meeting new people! 

Hugs,