I hate being sick

Hannah went back to school this week, after having a three week between terms break. I don’t go back to university until next week.  Needless to say, I was looking forward to using my kid and uni free time to get lots of stuff done.  Like cleaning the bomb that is Aaron’s and my room.   I clean the rest of the house every week, but the bedroom doesn’t get that luxury.  The kids are bored by the time I finish the rest of the cleaning, so I just vacuum around the mess and that’s it.  Aaron and I are not the cleanest people either.  We both have a tendency to leave clothes around, and put stuff on the dresser with intentions to put it away later, only later never comes.

I was also supposed to go to a Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security student get together on Sunday where we were all going to plant a bunch of native trees at the university’s river site.  I was really looking forward to it since I don’t really know anyone that well since I’m mostly an external student.  I haven’t even met a lot of the other people in my course.  There aren’t many of us, about 20-25 in total including first year and second year students.

But I’m sick.  I’ve been coughing for over a week now, but for the first 6 or so days, it was just that, a cough.  It sounded horrible, but I felt fine and went about my usual business, even running faster at the gym than I have in a long time.  Hannah has a cough too, and since I’m paranoid every time she has a cough, due to the time she had pneumonia, I called the home doctor service on Sunday.  My cough had turned into a deep, phlegmy type of cough that was getting harder and harder to break up, and leaving me short of breath when I did cough, so I had the doctor take a look at me too.  I love that there is a home doctor service for weekends and night time.

Turns out Hannah’s cough was just a normal she has a cold type cough, nothing to worry about unless she develops a fever, but mine is bronchitis.  By Sunday night, I had pretty much no energy, but didn’t feel too horrid.

Monday morning I took the kids to school and daycare and sat around all day trying to get better.

Tuesday morning I felt horrible.  In order to get the kids to school and daycare, I took two panadol.  Hannah said she wasn’t feeling well and stayed home too.  I’m still not too sure if she actually felt sick, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt.  I felt so bad yesterday afternoon that Aaron had to pick Daniel up when he got home from work.

And drop Hannah off this morning.  Oh, and now Aaron is sick too.  He describes the feeling very well: it’s like being blind drunk and you just have to lay down or you will fall over or pass out.  That is how we are both feeling right now.  Fevers, dizzy, aches, the whole thing.  His is a throat infection, that he finally found out about because I convinced him to go to the doctor after he dropped Hannah off this morning.  Lucky for us, no kids need to be dropped off anywhere tomorrow because I’m not sure that either one of us would be up for driving.

I hate being sick, I feel so useless.

I really feel for those who are chronically ill.  They are some tough cookies.

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Copyright 2014 Sheri Thomson

Younique 3D mascara

I’ve always loved going to formals and balls.  It’s so nice getting all dressed up, having my makeup done (because I’m terrible at doing eyeshadow myself), and getting fake eyelashes to make my eyes pop.  As a whole, going to a ball pretty much makes me feel like a princess for the night.

I bought fake eyelashes for my cousin Jennifer’s wedding last year, but every time I tried to put them in, I failed.  Eventually one of her other bridesmaids put them on for me.

I really like how my eyes stand out when accentuated by exaggerated eyelashes.  What if you could get the same effect, without the hassle (or in my case, down right impossibility) of false eyelashes?  According to the new Younique 3D mascara, you can.

Image from the Younique website

Needless to say, I was intrigued and excited to try it out.  They are taking off in the U.S., but have only just landed in Australia.  I was one of the lucky first people to get my hands on some.  And by get my hands on, I mean an independent consultant sent me some.

Without mascara, with normal mascara, and the bottom photo is with Younique 3D fibre lashes.

What exactly is 3D mascara (it’s actually called 3D fiber lashes, but everyone seems to call it 3D mascara, or just mascara.  It’s so much easier.)?  It’s a two part system.  First, you put on some “transplanting gel,” which pretty much looks like mascara but is quite sticky.  Then you use another mascara like wand  from a tube full of 100% green tea fibres to apply tiny little fibres onto your sticky lashes.  The fibre plumps up and extends your lashes making them look pretty awesome.

I really like the way it looks, but only on the top lashes.  I think it’s a bit too much and stands out as un-natural looking if also done on the bottom.   But maybe that’s just me.  It looks kind of like your eyelashes are turning into trees by sprouting branches when you first apply the fibres, but if you use one of those eyebrow/lash comb things (the ones with what looks like a tiny comb on one side, and a tiny brush directly opposite the comb) to make all the fibres go in the right direction, it looks normal. Only longer and fuller.  If you don’t comb them and tame them, you will also find a little pile of stray fibres on your cheeks a while later.  The crucial combing/taming step eliminates that as well.

Personally, I only use the Younique 3D fibre lashes on special occasions, not because it’s hard to do (it’s not), or anything like that, but because I usually wear glasses and the rims of my glasses pretty much hide my eyelashes. When my eyes come out from behind my glasses, my lashes get 3D’d, which is only on special occasions because as a stay at home mom, I can’t be bothered with contacts most of the time.

I used Younique 3D lashes when we had family portraits done a few weeks ago (by Michael Seager)

Click here to peruse and or buy Younique 3D fibre lashes, or any of their other products, such as mineral make up and BB cream.

*I was given Younique 3D fibre lashes free for review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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Copyright 2014 Sheri Thomson

Number three

Everyone knows that number one is code for pee and number two is synonymous with poop, but what, exactly, is number three you ask?

I think this video explains it best:

Hannah was just a baby when that commercial came out, so naturally, I found it hilarious and actually understood what they were talking about.  I can imagine that a non-parent/caregiver/nanny would watch it and think what the heck.  Poo explosions were a regular occurrence when the kids were babies, but I haven’t had to worry about it for at least a year.  Until recently….

Last week:

“Mommy, I need to go to the toilet!” Daniel tells me urgently at a friend’s house.  I pick him up and run to the bathroom.  At home he wears undies, but when we’re out, I don’t really want to deal with poopy underwear, so he wears a pull up.  I don’t really want to deal with poopy underwear any time, but it’s so much worse when we’re out.  Not to mention the pooped on garments sit there fermenting in a bag until we get home if he poops in undies while we are out.  Ain’t nobody got time for that.

I pull down his pants and underwear as fast as humanely possible and lift him up onto the toilet.  He wants down less than a second after I put him up.

“Nope.” He tells me.  False alarm.  He knows there is a poo coming soon, but he’s not so good with the actual timing. I know there must be one coming soon too, he hasn’t pooped in 2-3 days, and he’s a daily sort of boy.  The two tiny little wet fart type accidents he’s already had today make me think he’s holding it in and has a bit of overflow.  Yes, that’s a thing.  I know all about it because Hannah used to hold it in.  She still does sometimes, but I can tell when she’s doing it and make her go sit on the toilet.  I guess she figures if she’s already on the toilet she might as well just go, so it’s not really a problem anymore.

I think Daniel is doing it because he doesn’t want to poop his undies or pull up.  But he doesn’t want to go on the toilet either.

We have about five more false alarms at my friends house before we have to leave to go to a different friend’s house, one who’s house I’ve never been to before.

He has another false alarm there before I notice he’s lingering in the bathroom all by himself.  Just standing there, away from everyone.  A quick check of the pull up reveals he’s already started his poop, which is fine, I’m just glad he’s finally pooping.

“I need to go to the toilet!” He tells me.  But it’s not just a turtle head, there is already some poop in his pull up.  If I try to get if off, then put him on my friend’s toilet, I’m likely to get poop all over the toilet seat.  Not exactly what I want to do at someone else’s house.

“There’s already some in your pull up buddy, just finish your poop in your pull up.” I tell him.  If we were at home, I’d get poop everywhere and put him on the potty or toilet anyway.

I leave him to it and he stands in the bathroom by himself for ages before finally coming out.

“I’ll be right back, I just have to go to the car to get a new pull up and some wipes.” I tell my friend as Daniel sits down on the new carpet next to Hannah.

“Ok buddy, let’s go change your bottom.”  I tell him whilst picking him up.

That’s when I notice;  the 2-3 days worth of poop isn’t contained in his pull up.  Not even remotely.  We’re definitely talking about number threes here.  My eyes widen in horror as I realize there is a big brown spot of poop on my friend’s beige carpet.  Her brand new beige carpet.

My mind races.  Should I help clean up the carpet poop?  Should I run Daniel into the bathroom and deal with carpet poop later? I can’t believe there is poop on the carpet.  I should clean it up, but what about Daniel?  Won’t he just sit down again and make more poop spots?  My mind is made up in a second.

Holding Daniel by the armpits out in front of me as if he’s toxic, I run him to the bathroom, where there is a tiled floor, to change his clothes and clean him up.  The poop is half way up his back and oozing out both sides of the nappy.  I don’t even know where to begin.

“Do you have a hose outside?”  I ask my friend.

She looks at me like I’ve gone crazy.  It is the middle of winter after all.  “Yes, but you don’t need to do it outside.”

“Can I give him a bath here?”

“Of course.”  I think she is stifling laughter.

It’s impossible to peel his clothes off without spreading the poop, so now there is poop not only on his back, bottom, stomach, and legs, but also his shoulders.  The poo clothes are put in a plastic bag, which will have to ferment until I get home.  We somehow managed to get poop all over the bathroom floor as well.  There is even some on the bottom of Daniel’s shoe which has made poop tread marks on the tiles. The once white bathtub is streaked with brown.

Daniel is standing there, naked in the tub, delighted that he gets to have a bath in a foreign bathtub.  I don’t really want to get poop on someone else’s wash cloth, so I splash water on Daniel and wipe him down with my bare hand.  Once all the poop is off him, I use the warm water and my hand to get it all down the drain of the bathtub before using the baby bath I find on the side of the bathtub to wash both Daniel and the bathtub.

Daniel plays in the bath while I clean the poop off the bathroom floor and finally he and the bathroom are clean.  Number three has been dealt with.

Meanwhile, my friend, who is something like 39 weeks pregnant, is in her lounge room with Hannah and her daughter (who is under 2), cleaning up the soiled carpet.

“It’s a poo volcano!” I hear her say.  She is using vinegar and baking soda to fix her new carpet while Hannah’s giggles fill the room.  Luckily my friend has the kind of humour that finds poop hilarious.

Note to self: Always put Daniel on the toilet, even if at someone else’s house and pooping has already commenced.

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Top 5 chemicals to avoid to sustain healthy, luscious hair

Before kids, I always had shiny hair. Maybe I do now too, but I don’t really know since it’s pretty much wash, then throw in a pony tail whilst still wet. Today’s guest post is all about shiny hair. I’d better take note….

Everyone wants beautiful, luscious and healthy hair, but no one seems to know that the products we use to keep our hair looking shiny are actually doing the complete opposite! Most products on the market these days are riddled with chemicals that set out to destroy your hair – this will make you think that you need the products more and subsequently creates an evil cycle of consumerism that in the end only destroys your crowning glory! To help you out, here are the top five chemicals you should be avoiding in order to keep your hair looking healthy, luscious and beautiful!

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) is also known as sulphuric acid. SLS is not only found in heavy duty cleaning products, but in many brand name shampoos! Most commonly, SLS is found to dry out hair, which often leads to breakage! Something that is used to clean garage floors definitely should not be put in your hair to clean that too! Next time you’re buying shampoo, look out for SLS in the ingredients on the back.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is found in many hairsprays, gels and volumizers, as well as in antifreeze, shellac and wood finish. This product is used mainly to dissolve oils, which is great for things like shellac, but not so great for your hair. Since it dissolves oils, isopropyl alcohol strips the hair of its natural oils and moisture, leaving your hair victim to breakage!

Proplyene Glycol

This chemical is found in a terrifyingly large range of hair care products: shampoos, conditioners, lotions, hairsprays, hair dyes and much more! This product breaks down the proteins in healthy hair, giving it a false “shiny” appearance, but in reality is just causing your scalp to become itchy and irritated, and your hair weak and dry.

Mineral Oil

You’d think mineral oil would be good for your hair and would keep it shiny and healthy – but no! Mineral oil will just make your hair look greasy and unwashed! It will find its way into your pores which will block the natural oils from coming through and cause breakage in your hair. Unfortunately, many hair moisturisers contain this product, so be careful next time you’re looking for a new one – always check the ingredients!

Ammonia and Peroxide

This may seem obvious to most people, but constant hair salon go-ers need to understand that the ammonia and peroxide you are putting in your hair to change it’s colour are really damaging! The peroxide will dry out your hair and cause it to become brittle, and break really easily!

There you have it – five chemicals you must avoid if you want your hair to be as long and luscious as possible! If your hair is starting to thin, there’s always something you can do about it! Check out online sites like Transitions Hair to get your personalised hair loss treatment sorted – you’ll have a full head of hair again in no time. In the meantime though, keep avoiding those harsh chemicals!

*This post was brought to you by Transitions Hair.  All opinions and research are from of the guest writer.

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Copyright 2014 Sheri Thomson

Hannah turns 5

Somehow, it seems like Hannah was born yesterday, but at the same time, it seems like I’ve known her my whole life. I vividly remember the day she was born, and having my very first skin to skin cuddle.

And now she’s 5. FIVE!!!!!! I can’t believe it. She has been planning her party for months. It was her idea to have a gymnastics party at the YMCA (where I go to the gym and she does gymnastics). It was her idea that it would be rainbow themed. Except we couldn’t find any rainbow invitations or cups or bowls or anything else really, so no one knew it was a rainbow party except Hannah. It looked more like a Punky Brewster, nothing matches sort of party. Not that kids these days have any idea who Punky Brewster is.

Hannah and two of her friends at the gymnastics party

The paper cups didn’t match the bowls, or the napkins or the party bags. Some had chevron patterns, some different coloured polka dots, others stripes. But Hannah picked them all and she liked them, so who cares. Certainly not me and my mis-matched socks.

She picked out the trinkets for the party bags (she wanted more lollies in there, but I would only let her put a few M&M’s and a lollypop in each), as well as the little toys for pass the parcel, because you know, she’s a big girl now.

There just happened to be a Day out with Thomas on her birthday, so we drove over an hour away in the morning, had a 50 minute ride on a steam train pulled by a character from Thomas (I think it was Duck), then drove back home, had a quick lunch, and then it was party time.

Hannah sitting on Thomas. Daniel wanted to look at Thomas but was too scared of his large size to actually go near him (which is funny since Daniel’s favourite thing ever is Thomas). This photo was accidentally taken before I had it framed properly, but she is looking down in the one that shows Thomas’ full funnel.

After the party, Hannah’s best friend Violet (and her mum) came over for a sleepover. We thought maybe after all the running around, the girls would be tired enough to actually go to sleep at bedtime, but we were mistaken. We put them to bed at Hannah and Daniel’s usual time of 6:30. Despite the girls being loud, Daniel was out by 6:35, but the girls carried on until nearly 9pm. It is the first time that they have actually reached the sleep stage during a sleep over without having to be separated though, so I guess that’s progress.

Hannah and her best friend Violet ready for bed

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Vacationing with your pooch

Now that we have a cheeky little dog, we have to seriously re think all of our future vacations.  Do we board her somewhere when we’re gone?  Get someone to feed her and let her destroy the side yard in boredom?  What if you could bring your dog with you on vacation?  Today’s guest post has lots of dog friendly vacation ideas:

The world’s most dog-friendly places: Vacationing with your pooch

One of the reasons we take on a dog, along with those dreams of having a loyal, trusty companion, is for the lifestyle change that goes with having a pet. Owning a dog means long, healthy walks, even in rainy weather. When it comes to vacation time though, often the only alternative is to leave our hounds with friends or family or to find boarding kennels for them. But, there are lots of places across the globe which are perfect for dog-comes-too trips. If you can visit out of season, even better, as it will be easier for your pooch to explore. Here are just some of the best places to go with your pet:

Oregan, USA

While opting for a city break with your dog may not be the most obvious choice, pooches are incredibly pampered in Portland, Oregan. Nicknamed the Rose City, Portland has more than 30 dog parks and it also has an incredible number of pet message therapists so your dog will come home feeling incredibly relaxed. There are lots of dog-friendly eateries too, so, while in some places you might have to eat in your holiday accommodation or outside a bar or restaurant, in Portland, you could try Dog Lovers’ Night at the Tin Shed Garden Café (details) where, if you buy a meal, they get one free.

 

The Cornish coast

Most dogs love the beach just as much as children do, the sand underneath their paws, the waves to splash in, the wide open spaces. And, there are few better places to take your pooch than England’s south-western corner. Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula is the perfect choice because, while some beaches ban dogs from the sands all the time or during the summer, there are 13 beaches along the Lizard which your pet can explore year-round. Parkdean’s Mullion site makes an ideal central base as the caravan park itself has pet-friendly bungalows and a dedicated dog walking route (details) and Mullion’s gorgeous cove is one of the most dog-welcoming.

Brittany, France

France is renowned as one of the most dog-friendly countries in the world. In most villages and towns, you’ll see dogs in pubs and restaurants and, if you’re ordering a meal, you’ll often find a bowl of water is brought out for Fido as you peruse the menu. The huge stretches of sand on Brittany’s Quiberon peninsula make it a good choice. Your dog can run across the flat, wide beaches to their heart’s content, something that is sure to tire out even the most exuberant of pooches. Most campsites in the area welcome dogs if you want to sleep under canvas with your pet.

Girona, Spain

Dog owners in Girona were recently told they must walk their pets for at least 20 minutes a day or face a fine of up to $500. The byelaw was brought in to cut down on the number of neighbourly disbutes arising from dogs left home alone to bark for hours. And, really, when you consider the beautiful countryside and coast that surrounds Girona, there’s really no excuse for not getting out and about to enjoy it with your dog. Many private villas offer dog-friendly accommodation and, for those looking for a strenuous workout, you can trek the Girona Pyrenees.

 

Lake Louise, Canada

One of the dilemmas faced by dog owners in Canada is how to exercise their pet when temperatures plummet dangerously low. People are urged to walk small dogs for short amounts of time and to think about investing in dog boots to prevent paws becoming irritated by the salt put on sidewalks. But on a crisp, clean, sunny day, there can be few places in the world better to enjoy the Great Outdoors. There are more than 100 kilometers of dog-friendly trails at Lake Louise, so you never have to do the same walk twice on a break, and pet-friendly hotels including The Fairmont Chateau and the Lake Louise Inn.

They’re all breathtaking locations and, with so many places welcoming dogs, it just goes to show that you can appreciate the scenery together. There’s no need to leave Fido at home.

If you enjoyed reading this, please vote for my blog. All you have to do is click the link below. That’s it… Clicking the link brings you to the Top Mommy Blogs home page. You don’t have to do anything else. Any clicks from my site to theirs is a vote.  THANKS!

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Copyright 2014 Sheri Thomson