I'm A Super Proud Aunty!

Me and my gorgeous niece! 

My best friend once told me that being an Aunty was 'the best thing since sliced bread'.

Let me tell you, I'd trade all of the chocolate in this world to be able to spend a few moments cuddling my little niece while looking into her big beautiful eyes and wondering what she's thinking (obviously, wow, how am I so lucky to have such a wonderful Aunty haha?!).

Yup, that's right, I am currently experiencing a love that up until Friday, I didn't even know existed.

Meet Ameika Sian (pronounced Sharn)  Kaye, the most precious bundle of joy who has bought so much love into this world. She graced us with her presence on Friday the 5th of April, weighing 7lbs 12 ounces (fatty boom ba) and was 51cm long (how on earth that fits inside my sisters belly is beyond me!). Needless to say, I have a whole new level of respect for my sister!!!

Isn't she just edible? 

Nawww I just want to pinch those cute little cheeks!

Of course, there's some massive bonuses about being an Aunty.

You get to:

1.Bask in the glow of a new precious life, the heart warming tenderness of cuddles, and the feeling of love literally flowing through your blood without having to deal with ice packs melting between your legs (don't ask), bulging boobies as the milk comes in, and stitches down yonder.

2. Cuddle the baby until your heart is content, and then when you feel a rumble down under and the slightest stench threatening the very existence of fresh air, you can say 'cuddle over, mummy's turn' and secretly giggle because you've palmed off the dirty nappy duties to someone else.

3. Tickle, play and wander what's going on beyond those big blue eyes, until the little bubs starts a yawning Mexican wave and you know that you get to race home to a nice warm bed, and drift off to sleep with a smile of happiness and contentment on your face, while the mummy and daddy spend the night wondering what the different cries mean, ripping out their hair after feeding, changing, burping and soothing their little bundle of joy with no success!

4. Browse through the baby section in shops and then race around to their house and change her 15 times until you find the most adorable outfit, and in the meantime, bubs has spewed, drawled and pooped over every single item and you get to admire how cute she looks while the mum is busy washing the clothes (haha I haven't told my sister that this is going to happen yet!)

5. Feel an overwhelming sense of pride not only towards the bubs, but also to their super doting parents. I am so incredibly proud of my beautiful sister. To see the look of love, amazement and joy in her face lights up my world (can you tell that I'm still in the mushy, super proud phase!?) She's such a natural!

6. All of a sudden, feel like you have become a macho woman who can take on anyone who threatens the very happiness of little Meiky Moo! (giggle). *Puffs up shoulders and tries to put a dont-mess-with-me-face-on!*

7. Tease your parents about becoming a 'granny' and 'grumps' (mum and dad both HATE those words - "it's Nan and Poppy!') The words grey and hairs also appears in this tormenting!

8. Giggle to your partner about becoming an uncle and aunt! Tee hee! I can't wait until she says 'Aunty Kirst is the bestest in the world!'

9. Watch in awe and amazement as she changes each and every day, and knowing that you aren't responsible for the 'serious stuff' just the 'fun stuff!' (while paying out your sister and brother in law about the different features and characteristics that she has taken on from both of them in a friendly family banter - ish type of way!)

10.  Cuddle and kiss and love and cherish until your heart is content and then hand them back (very reluctantly but in a she's so cute NOT I want one of these pooping machines way lol)!!!

Very proud Aunty and Uncle!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

The Gift of Giving

Via

Did you know that Operation Christmas Child sent 94,681,510 gifts to disadvantaged children in 151 countries and territories in 2011 world wide?

Wow. That’s a whole lot of numbers to process but could you imagine the faces of over 94,000,000 children on Christmas day when their packages arrived?

Shoe boxes filled with games, dolls, Frisbees, clothes, hair ties, skipping ropes, chalk, hair brushes, tooth brushes, colouring in pencils and books, jewellery, soft teddies and so much more!

It gives me the biggest, fuzziest warm feelings.

This year my work mates and a couple of friends managed to fill 6 shoe boxes in a week to send to children all around the world.

It didn’t take long, it didn’t cost much but we were all left feeling as though we had contributed to making a child’s Christmas a memorable one.

I was absolutely blown away at the sight of all of the boxes and the volunteers at the drop off point.

Here’s some pictures!

The volunteers unpacking all of the donated boxes to check to make sure that there are no dangerous items.

Piles and piles of boxes from South Australia to be sent to South East Asia.

They were sooooo cute!

A map showing where the boxes are donated from and how many from each region.

The target for 2012. Yup, that's right, 36,000 from South Australia ALONE!

Some of the boxes that we made to send over to children in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

I encourage everyone to get behind Operation Christmas Child in 2013. It's easy to do, just follow the steps on the website!

To us, $10 isn’t much, but to a small child in a developing country, it means the world!

The gift of giving is such a joyous one!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

Keeping the LOVE in a Relationship

Via

When lust turns to love and love turns to years, how do you keep the spring in the step of your partner? I mean, after all, it’s one thing to love someone, it’s a whole other ball game learning how to show this love, particularly in a way that your partner understands.

Here’s some little tips and tricks that I have learnt along the way:

1.       When you are checking out your partner, let them know – “mmm damn – you have a mighty fine derrière!” Trust me – you won’t be able to wipe the goofish smile off of their face.

2.       Buy/create/send them a little present just because – and not for a specific reason like an anniversary, birthday or Christmas. You can always attach a little message like “just because I love you”.

3.       Tell them when you appreciate something that they have done for you – “mmmm these two minute noodles are mouth watering – thanks a million”.

4.       Date nights – I don’t know if it’s just me, but there’s something about the word “date” that makes me giggle, form butterflies in my belly and feel like a little pile of mush again. They don’t have to be elaborate or expensive – play board games, go for a walk, watch a movie and snuggle on the couch, go out for tea, cook a meal and turn the tv off – just create a time and date to spend time together and stick to it.

5.       Fondle with their bum – go on – do it. Just a little pinch (not too hard), tap or rub here and there - watch how it improves their mood!

6.       Write a little note for them – either in their lunch box, on the steering wheel of the car, on the kitchen table or whenever they are likely to see it – I hope you have a great day – can’t wait to see you tonight – or just something to let them know that you love and appreciate them.

7.       When you go shopping – add a little extra something in the trolley that you know they’ll love. It could be chocolate, a reduced bunch of flowers that you quickly rip the tag off, pistachio nuts, a bag of chips – anything! Let them know that you were thinking of them while you were shopping and bought them a little treat.

8.       When you say “I love you” – every now and again tell them why. “I love you because you make me smile”. 

9.       Pay particular attention and ohhhh and awwww when they are telling you something that they are obviously really passionate about – “HAHA yes it’s funny when a giant jug of juice randomly bursts through a court scene in Family Guy – *insert sarcastic laugh here*

10.   Don’t be afraid to spice things up a little bit – buy that naughty piece of lingerie, read Fifty Shades of Grey, try a different position every now and again (outside of your normal routine – you know you have one) – try and keep that spark alive!

Via

Do you have any tips for keeping the butterflies a fluttering?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

I can NOT recommend this book enough!

I'm Going to Miss...

7 years. 

Adelaide has been the place that I have called home for the past 7 years, but the tiny town that I grew up in has always been known as "home home" to me - it's clearly the place where my heart belongs.

In January my partner and I are moving "home home". While I'm SUPER excited to be able to duck around to our parents houses for dinner,  spoil my new niece or nephew, the amazing beaches, relaxed atmosphere and fresh air and rainwater, I'm definitely going to miss some things about living in the crazy town!

 These include:

Soaking in the beauty of the River Torrens as I escape the office for some fresh air and Vitamin D.

The HUGE choice of food, particularly Zen Kitchen for Vietnamese, Gouger Street for the tapas, sangria and Chinese and Charminars for the Indian!

The Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and the Clare Valley for the mouth watering wine!

A hummer limo wine tour!

Mick and I are a wine tour to the Barossa Valley!

Yup, we don't muck around when it comes to wine!

My beloved Adelaide Lutheran Sporting Club and the punch, dancing and dress ups that come with it!

These burgers are the main reason that I play for the club - amazing! I'm going to miss the mouth watering goodness!

When the club does a dress up night - everyone gets into the swing of things!

Yes - one of our netty trips was to the Gold Coast Theme Parks!

Tight and Bright night!

All my time favourite netball team - the year that Ash and I coached together!

My work mates.

Living around the corner from these little cherubs.

My aunty and her 4 gorgeous kiddies!

Andddd of course, my friends...yup, I'm going to miss them like crazy. I know there's Skype, and it's only a half hour flight, but there's something about knowing that you can call them and they can pop around at any time that I'm going to miss. Man I love these kids like a fat kid loves chocolate! They never fail to make me laugh!

Samarz and I making the most of the photobooth at a wedding!

Ash, one of my best friends from high school.

Carla and I back in the uni days when we'd consume copious amounts of the cheapest wine going (like $4 a bottle!)

Checking out the Lobethal Lights is always a highlight on my calender - especially with these two girls - Sarah and Rhiannon.

Amanda, me and Amz on Australia Day - kicking back in a blow up pool!

Samarz and Ran - the troublesome threesome house mates who had a fire engine, police and ambulance rock up at 3am because of an overheated wheat bag!

Sar - such a gorgeous girl she is!

Brock and Amy - love these kids so much!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

Is it a luxury?

I sure take my cap off to these wonderful ladies! Via

Being a parent sounds like it must be the toughest gig going around. I mean, 9-5 is tough enough, but being a mum or dad is around the clock, 24/7.

You can't just throw the towel in when you've had enough, duck out for some alone time on your lunch break, or have time to think, blink or scratch yourself.

But I'm also sure that being a parent would be the most rewarding, fun and challenging role that we have to look forward to.

The other day, while I was feeling frustrated and a little stressed about the bills that keep flooding in, I wondered how families make ends meet.

How do they do it? 

I found myself wondering whether it's now a luxury as such, to be a full time stay at home mum/dad?

Is it only those that are well off who can afford to have one income coming in? Or, are families living off of baked beans and laughing it off by singing the baked bean song, pay day to pay day?

You know:

"Beans, beans, the musical fruit
The more you eat the more you toot
The more you toot the better you feel
So eat your beans for every meal!"

Pretty sure I'm going to look like this! Via

Is being a stay at home parent a thing of the past? Are people being forced to return to work because of the cost of living? Is the lack of financial assistance with child care costs and minimum lengths of maternity leave making it harder for the average Jo blow?

I sure hope that one day we are in a financial position for me to be able to stay at home and raise the kiddies...and preferably not on baked beans!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx