Fluoride in Water Good or Bad?

Hello Folks


I am very pleased today to welcome Fluoride Free NZ as my guest blogger.  There has been a lot of press recently about the issue of fluoride in our water and the harmful effects it could be having on your health.  After hours of endless research looking at medical studies and watching I don't know how many videos and presentations I am in NO doubt that I never want to drink fluoridated water again!  We have been buying bottled water now for about two months and I have noticed all sorts of improvements in my families health.  In particular for me absolutely no more heartburn, which is wonderful.

We should have a say in what goes into the water we drink, this is a medication it's that simple.  I don't appreciate being given medication without my permission!  This is your opportunity, don't take my word for it, I'm not a doctor the information is out there, check it out and make an informed choice.

_________________________________________________________________

SAY NO to fluoride in our water !

Is Your Water Making you Fat? 

by Mary Bryne

This may seem like a strange question but if you are having trouble losing weight, or are feeling tired or depressed, and don’t know why, it could actually be the chemical added to your drinking water.

A fluoride chemical is added to the drinking water in many towns and cities in New Zealand. (See Is My town fluoridated). There are many adverse health effects associated with ingesting fluoride including brittle bones, impaired immune system, ADHD, lowered IQ and lowered thyroid function.

Low thyroid is a major reason why many people cannot lose weight no matter what they do. And low thyroid function is reportedly to be seriously under diagnosed in New Zealand. It is already known to affect around 15% of women with estimated 15% - 20% more women over 60 with sub clinical hypothyroidism. Thyroxine is the 19th most commonly prescribed drug in New Zealand.

And guess what? Doctors in Germany, France and Argentina successfully used pharmaceutical grade fluoride to treat hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid) for many years up until the 1950s when safer medications became available. Doctors prescribed 2 – 5 mg per day of fluoride to patients to lower their thyroid, the same level that many New Zealanders are exposed to as a result of water fluoridation.

Fluoride chemicals are added to the water supply at a rate of between 0.7ppm and 1ppm, with most councils aiming 0.85ppm. This means for every litre of water there is 0.85mg of fluoride. If a person drinks 3 litres a day (ten cups of tea coffee or water) plus any processed foods made with fluoridated water, they are easily receiving 2.5mg per day, and that is not including the fact that some foods are high in fluoride such as fish and tea.

In 2006 the US National Research Council (NRC) found that very low levels of fluoride can affect people’s thyroid. Normally the Ministry of Health only talks about the dose of fluoride that is being added to the drinking water, but what is really important is the dosage that people are receiving. Dosage is milligram per kilo per day (mg/kg/day) and is how medicine is normally prescribed. The NRC found that dosages as low as 0.05 – 0.13 mg/kg/day when the person has adequate levels of iodine and 0.01 – 0.03 mg/kg/day when iodine is inadequate is likely to affect the human thyroid.



So this could explain for many people why they are having so much trouble losing weight even though they do everything possible (including drinking more water!) and still don’t lose weight.

The NRC was set up by the US Government’s National Academy of Science, which is the top scientific body in the US, to review fluorides in drinking water. In the US some parts have very high levels of fluoride and their maximum allowable limit is 4ppm. The NRC was charged with reviewing all the scientific data on fluoride to establish if 4ppm was safe. This was the most extensive review that has ever been carried out, and even though it was not looking at fluoridation per se, a lot of the data they reviewed was relevant to the levels of fluoride used in fluoridation. The Review found that 4ppm was not protective health but was not allowed to state what it would consider a safe limit. Three of this 12 member panel have been brave enough to speak up against fluoridation and they can be seen on this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2H8_Jopo-0 along with other health or scientific professionals.

This information is even more important when we think about bottle fed babies. Fluoride cannot be boiled out so many babies in New Zealand are receiving a huge dose of fluoride. In fact, a bottle fed baby in a fluoridated area receives around 200 times more fluoride than a breast fed baby even if the mother is consuming fluoridated water. Considering, there are now 35 published studies linking fluoride to lowered IQ, this must be one of the most reckless things the government can do. And we even have proof that children are receiving too much fluoride as, according to MoH data, 44% of children have some form of dental fluorosis. This is white spots or marks on the teeth and even though, for most children, it does not look that bad, it is the first outward sign they have been overdosed with a toxic substance.

Another horrifying aspect of this is that the fluoride chemicals used (hydrofluorosilicic acid or sodium silicofluoride) are often contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. These chemicals have been captured from the chimneys of the phosphate fertiliser industry as they are too toxic to be allowed into the air. The phosphate fertiliser industry is required to have caps on their chimneys which capture the fluoride so that it does not poison the surrounding environment. Many people do not realize that fluoride contamination is what kick started the in the Green movement. See this informative and riveting interview with the author of The Fluoride Deception http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBZRb-73tLc which explains how fluoridation came into being. As a result of the fluoride being extracted from the chimneys it contains trace amount of these various heavy metals and even though the levels are low, no amount of arsenic, mercury, lead or cadmium should be added to drinking water.

So why add it to the water?

It used to be thought that children needed fluoride as to harden the enamel of their growing teeth. However, nowadays most of the top fluoride researchers, including top New Zealand ones, know that fluoride needs to be applied directly to the teeth to reduce dental decay. Therefore, there is no good reason to continue fluoridation but it appears the Ministry of health is determined not to lose face and most councilors are more concerned with votes than people’s health.

To stop fluoridation in New Zealand we need thousands of people to be informed and to do something about it. Please visit our web site www.fannz.org.nz and subscribe to our periodic emails and “like” Fluoride Free New Zealand facebook.









http://www.naturopath.co.nz/Articles/Thyroid+Conditions/Hypothyroidism.html

http://www.fluoridealert.org/studies/thyroid03/

http://www.fannz.org.nz/nrc_review.php

Disclaimer

This blog was written by Fluoride Free NZ 


So there you have it folks, there are some powerful arguments in there.  Now it's your turn find out more about Fluoride and the


toxic and harmful effects it could be having on your family.

Have a good week

Kate x

Wicked....but ruined!

I want to start today's blog by congratulating the cast and crew of 'Wicked' for one of the most spectacular shows I have ever had the pleasure to see.  The sets, the amazing costumes and the artists both chorus and principals were exceptional.  Thank you so much for bringing your show to New Zealand.  My seven year old daughter was absolutely blown away and is proudly parading around in her purple wicked t-shirt this morning.

Now the compliments are over it's time to move on to what this blog is really about!

A complaint to the management of the Civic Theatre Auckland -

Yesterday afternoon my young daughter Charlotte and I went to see Wicked at the Civic Theatre in Auckland.  As a single Mum I had saved for near on four months to pay the $220 for two tickets in C row in the stalls.  As the date of the performance crept nearer I can't tell you how excited Charli and I were to be coming once more to the beautiful Civic Theatre to see a show.  In fact so excited we couldn't sleep the night before it felt like Christmas eve!


Charlotte was just three years old when I brought her to see her first show and we have saved every year to see some truly amazing shows at this lovely theatre, including Phantom, Mamma Mia and Mary Poppins.

I have never had cause to complain, I have often felt the sting of the overpriced merchandise and refreshments but nothing that has ever overly bothered me.  Until last night......

As the curtain rose yesterday afternoon we were taken away to the beautiful and at times truly magnificent land of Oz, we laughed, we cried, we hid during the scary bits and as the curtain came down for the interval we headed up to the foyer to buy one of theatres greatest traditions an icecream.  By the time the curtain went up for the second half we were settled into our seats our icecreams finished ready for the next half and that's when it started.

A rustle made me turn sideways to eye up the person sitting next to me, a teenager, who had during the interval purchased a large bag of popcorn and a large bag of candyfloss. I looked a little in disbelief wondering how they could have smuggled it into the theatre when the people sitting the other side of me also opened a bag of popcorn, a Mother and daughter, then to my utter dismay a person behind me too.  Before I knew it all we could hear was the constant rustle of what seemed like a bottomless supply of snacks ruining any chance we had to hear properly or from that point on enjoy the performance.  Even my seven year old daughter turned to me and said 'Mum I can't hear properly the lady next to me is making so much noise'.

Now I am not usually one to complain but the theatre is one of my loves.  The fact that I paid over $200 for tickets, $25 for a programme, $40 for a t-shirt, $10 for ice-creams and money on drinks too, I think gives me a right to be able to sit and enjoy a performance without having it ruined by people eating through it!!

When we entered the theatre at the beginning of the show I actually heard an usherette reprimand someone who had brought a sandwich in to eat (which at least would have been quieter!), but is of course not acceptable but in your wisdom you think it's alright for people to devour noisy snacks as long as they are purchased from you for a live theatre show.   I didn't pay $10 to sit in the cinema or $40 to go to the circus, I paid $220 for Stalls tickets!!!!!!!!!!

What has happened to theatre etiquette?

This is what the second half sounded like!

There are some beautiful quiet moments in Wicked where the two witches are exchanging dialogue ....for us these were accompanied by 'scrunch, scrunch, rustle, rustle, scrunch, scrunch'.  What is the obsession we now have with having to eat all the time???  I go to the cinema now and we have pizzas, chips, popcorn, you can even have a three course meal now if you want to.  What happened to just being able to go and sit and enjoy a performance why do we have to stuff our faces to enjoy it?!

I spoke to the  Manager of the Civic afterwards and he asked me 'What do you think we should sell?'  I said 'How about nothing! I don't want to listen to other people eating, ice-creams are brilliant because they are finished before the curtain even goes up for the second half'

As I said to the Manager this is about greed plan and simple and now I am not talking of people's greed to eat constantly but the greed of the theatre.  How else can we make money, what else can we sell to make an extra buck!  Well this time Civic you have got it wrong, there is no way I will ever go to another show unless these sorts of foods are banned from your theatre.  You won't let people bring them in and you shouldn't be selling them yourself, stop being so greedy!

Let's get back to the time when you felt a sense of occasion going to the theatre.  When you dress up and act like civilized people.  I mean seriously can people not last 3 hours without needing to stuff their faces??  What truly amazed me about these people is they seemed to have no conception that the noise might be upsetting other theatre goers or even worse the poor actors themselves!

During the performance I was one of three people who turned to the various culprits to tell them to sshhh, so this upset was not purely me, other people were bothered by it too.

I have spent many years working both as an actress and as an usherette during those times when acting work was unavailable.  In the West End you would be thrown out for eating, it's as serious as leaving your mobile on! It is also incredibly disrespectful for those on stage, I only hope that the poor actors can't hear it!  This has to be a new thing for the Civic because I have never had this experience before, I just hope it is some horribly short lived experiment that they will think better of!

I can't tell you how bitterly disappointed I was to have our evening ruined.  We had been looking forward to it for so, so long.   I have written to the management of the Civic and I will let you know what happens when I get a reply.  I have a feeling though it might be time to take up a petition against them.  I can't stand the thought of not going to the shows there but it felt like a total waste of my money from the interval onwards.

I just hope they listen, it is just such a shame to see a theatre drop it's standards of behaviour in favour of making money.  Come on Civic show us you care!!

Have a great day folks

Kate x


Reply from The Edge to which I replied that I would like to be kept informed on future developments, I have to say it might have been nice if they had offered us a partial refund or something but there you go, most important thing is that they are going to look into it, I just hope they actually do!! 

Dear Kate,

Thank you for your feedback regarding the distracting noise the packaging of some confectionary items make when used by patrons, it is most appreciated.

In the past few years The Civic has had several productions with exceptionally long running seasons like Jersey Boys and Mary Poppins with audiences of many thousands and this is the first feedback of this nature that I have received.

It is of course not our goal to effect anyone’s enjoyment negatively. In fact we are selling themed confectionary, cocktails and suchlike to add value to the experience even before our patrons enter the theatre and enjoy the actual event. In this case being able to buy Wickedly green fudge, candyfloss and a themed cocktail.

Having said all this, you say that your experience was negatively affected by the noise of the packaging and this is enough for us to look into this matter and see whether we need to make some changes, be it by not selling certain items altogether or changing the packaging.

Once again thank you very much for your feedback, I will personally visit a few performances to get an idea of the extent of the problem and address it accordingly.

Best regards,

Frank Bischoff | Head of Visitor Experience

It doesn't get much better than this!

One month on from my new appointment as a celebrant I find myself asking the question 'So how's it going Kate, are you enjoying it so far?' I am very happy to report that the answer is absolutely and completely a 'YES'

This is by far the most enjoyable position I have ever had.  To date I have nine weddings and two baby namings booked and I can't wait to officiate at my first event.  I have met some absolutely wonderful people so far and it feels like such an honour to be sharing these special times with them and helping to write and develop beautiful ceremonies.  The writer in me is thoroughly enjoying the experience of ceremony writing...well it's so romantic isn't it!!

One of the things I have learned to so far is that everyone wants something totally different, no two couples are the same.  I am not sure you could ever get bored doing this job because of that one fact.  I have couples asking for simple to the point short ceremonies and I have couples wanting to write their own vows and have hour long ceremonies.  Inside and outside weddings, at home and at a beautiful venue.  As yet no one has asked me to marry them whilst clinging to a parachute for dear life possibly which is possibly the only thing I wouldn't be up for!

My website is finished although I expect it will grow as I do over the coming months and years.  I was rather thrilled to get some free advertising from Google adwords when I went live with my website which is proving to be useful and also giving me an idea of whether adwords is worth doing in the future.  I am really enjoying that side of my business from designing business cards and rack cards to launching my website.  Although past projects may not have been successful they taught me a great deal about advertising, websites and social media and it has helped me immeasurably in my efforts to get Celebrant Ceremonies For You out there in the public domain.


It's been a busy week this week, I found an outfit (with a lot of help from Mum!), received my new folders from a very neat company called www.menu.co.nz one for the wedding certificate to sit in for my couples to sign and a matching one for me to read from.  Plus a groovy new pen for my couples to use when they sign the register and my biggest most expensive purchase a PA system.  That is to say I have chosen it and now just need to pay for it!!  I am honestly having the time of my life, it really feels as if life is moving in a wonderful new and exciting direction.....FINALLY!


In other news we are enjoying the school holidays.  The kids have discovered the joys of New World miniatures.  Now there's a company that must be giving their marketing person a raise right now.  My kids are completely mini mad!!  Being the super patient and kind parent that I am ;-)  I let the girls mark out their playroom with masking tape to create the ultimate barbie world....and the only reason I am not going mental about the mess is that they have played for hours in it!  All thanks to some funny little miniature food items.  Barbie now has a supermarket, hairdressers, hospital, roads and carparks.  Just wish I could close the door on it!!  Still it's worth it when I can hear them playing together with no electronic help whatsoever just their little imaginations going wild!

The other really awesome thing about these toys is that instead of pestering me and throwing tantrums whilst I repeatedly say no to all their sweet demands (oh I could write a blog just based on checkouts in supermarkets!!) the kids now stand in line oblivious to the sweets next to them waiting for me to get to the checkout lady.  They can't wait to speak to her and watch her get out the 'magic' bag of toys.

No new news on the dating front, for now I think I have given up on love (can you hear those violins?!)  I know there must be someone out there for me somewhere but right now he doesn't seem to be anyway remotely close to me!  I am contented for now listening to everyone tell me their love stories.  In a funny kind of way it helps, it's rather cathartic, I find myself getting swept away with the romance of it all.

I am finding the whole internet dating thing a bit intimidating these days.  I was telling my best buddies the other day about a guy who sent me a picture and let me be clear it wasn't of his face!  I just don't get it, nothing would possess me to reply to someone sending me that kind of picture, it's actually slightly terrifying to be honest!!  Apart from which where's the mystery?  How weird would it be to go out on a first date, to a restaurant or something having already seen what's underneath his trousers?!  Nope not for me, I am no prude but really does anyone really want to see that?  So although I haven't cancelled my membership I am certainly on the brink of it!!!! Although to be fair not all internet dating sites are created equal.  I recently rejoined findsomeone which seems to be for people who are looking for something a little more serious. It is hard though when you are single to put yourself out there, and even harder when you do and things don't work out....it gets harder each time.

There also has to be something said for staying single.  I don't have to share the controller for the TV, I can eat what I like, I can go out when I like, holiday where I want.  I think perhaps if I didn't have my girls it would be harder to be single but when you have a young family they take up so much of your time it doesn't really matter.  I did have a moment of panic recently whilst on holiday is Australia.  I saw this woman in a pub eating by herself, one plate, one setting and I could suddenly see myself twenty years from now and I have to say it made me want to cry.  The idea of my kids having grown up and left home and living their own lives and suddenly being on my own for real....hmmm time to change the subject!! As my Mum keeps telling me Mr Right is out there I am just not ready to meet him yet :-) What would I do without you Mum :-)

I am really excited to be taking my little Charlotte into Auckland on Wednesday night to see Wicked.  We are having a Mum and daughter night out and the ginger ninja (AKA Spiderman note not Spider 'girl' ) is staying with my folks for the night.  I am planning to take her out to dinner somewhere really nice afterwards just haven't made up my mind where yet. 

Well it's getting late....so should sign off, there's just about enough time for a cuppa before bed.   I know, I know you shouldn't drink tea before bed but tonight I am going all out, I might even have a piece of toast as well really go mad...diet what diet?!



Have a good week folks

Kate x

They made me a Celebrant!

They made me a Celebrant!

I know it's been a very long time since I last blogged and for this I apologize.  I have received a number of emails over the last couple of months asking me if I was ever going to blog again, which of course was kind of nice really to know people actually read what I write!

I have been very preoccupied for the last few months on a new project.  A number of years ago when I lived in Howick I applied to become a marriage celebrant.  I handed in what I thought was the perfect application and was flatly turned down.  I was absolutely devastated but I decided that I would re-apply in a few years once I had settled into my new community on the Hibiscus coast.  So for the last few years I have been getting involved with my community and getting to know the people who live here.

With some trepidation I decided to start getting together a new application.  I was overwhelmed with support from the friendly people on the coast.  My application was suitably boosted by a letter of recommendation from my local MP (who is a total sweetheart by the way and has the nicest personal assistant possible).  It took me a good eight weeks to get the application together and looking just the way I wanted it to.

I sent it off two days before I took off to Australia with my folks and the girls (which I must blog about!)  The next two weeks were the longest ever.....(which was nice really as we were on our hols!) I felt like I waited at least two months for an answer!!  An email arrived the day after I got back home and I can't tell you how fast my heart was beating when I saw it arrive in my inbox.  I stared at it for at least five minutes before I opened it.


'We are pleased to tell you that your application to become an independent marriage and civil union celebrant has been accepted'  At the time I was sitting in the car waiting for my Mum who was in the chemist buying medicines for my horribly sick children.  As she approached the car I told her and we both promptly burst into tears, hugged and danced round the car!  I don't think I could be any happier than I am right now!  (Apart from the sickly children of course!)

Now one of the reasons I have been so quiet is that I have been building a website for my new role as a Celebrant.  I figured that I should forge ahead as if I was going to be accepted and then keep everything crossed that I actually got accepted and hadn't wasted hours and hours, days and days, weeks and weeks on building the website and gathering together years worth of research.  You can view my new website at www.celebrantceremoniesforyou.co.nz   I would love to know what you think of it, I am really proud of it.

Within a few hours of launching my website I had 500 hits and a number of wedding enquiries.  I thought people might be put off by the newbie on the block but it seems that people are more than willing to give you a chance.

So a new chapter in our lives has begun and I am pretty excited about it.  I don't think life gets any more perfect than this.  Two beautiful children who I get to teach and see everyday, my dream job laying a path in front of me, a wonderful family around me  the only thing that's missing is David Tennant on my arm ;-)  just kidding.  I have to say that right now I am pretty much content with my lot in life, comfortable with myself and comfortable at last being a single 'working' 'homeschooling' Mum :-)

Back to Salads!!

I think the only other thing that maybe needs addressing (I should probably have left out the 'maybe' in this sentence and replaced it with 'definitely') is my weight and diet.  Since having the thyroid operation my battle with the bulge has come under fire.  I would love to tell all the people about to have their thryoid out that weight gain is a myth but for me it has been.
But and it's a big but I do feel better for the thing being taken out.  It is now time to look a little more closely at what I am eating and return to a diet that will help me lose a few of the extra pounds I seem to have acquired recently.  To be fair I think a few of those pounds are more from the chocolate I have been devouring than from the thyroid operation!!  I felt rather sorry for myself immediately after the operation and was sulking like a child and that for me equals eating biscuits!  So back on the wagon, afterall I want to look good in my new celebrants outfits!!!

Have a great day!

Love

Kate x

Stamp Art by Katherine Armon

 

What an awesome first outing with my new Stamp Art!

 

Orewa Craft Market

I went along to Orewa Craft Market today.  It was very quiet with not many people through, but then the weather was cold and yuck!!  However my Stamp Art was received really well with lots of positive comments and compliments.

I got my first commission which was rather exciting, they want an Australian themed piece in a certain size.  I had a number of people take my number whilst they went home to measure spaces and so forth.

 

 

All in all a very positive first outing.   I was so very nervous of putting my work out there, almost convinced everyone would hate it!!!  But people were so nice and nearly everyone stopped to take a look which was very encouraging.

Due at Puhoi market tomorrow with the added fun of my very talented friend Jen from www.jennycakes.co.nz there selling her beautiful cake toppers.  If you are in the area come and pay us a visit!

Check out my listings on Trademe http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=597094786


 Have a great week!

Kate x

My Perfect Man!!

Well Hello Lovely People

I hope you have had a wonderful week!  We had a fantastic mini break in Rotorua but it is always good to get home isn't it.  Even though I seem to be faced with a bomb site and mounds of washing. I am not even sure where all the mess came from...anyway I digress!!  Who wants to talk about washing what a dreary blog that would be!

So I was thinking today, or rather daydreaming about my ideal man...you know if you could tailor make yourself a fellar from scratch...wouldn't that be a blast! I decided my ideal man would start off (obviously) with my mega crush David Tennant.  I love a man with talent. I have a friend who is a simply beautiful when he plays the piano and whenever I watch him play I fall a little more in love with him....can't help myself.   Sorry back to reality (yeah right) David Tennant for his talent, hair and of course as my daughter pointed out his ability to travel through space and time.  (I didn't have the heart to break it to her!)

Now if you put a little bit of fictional superhero then my new muse 'Oliver Queen' from the action packed new series 'Arrow' is perfect.  Who doesn't want a man who can pick you up and hold you close like Olly can....yum.  Plus you gotta love a man fighting for good against evil and righting the worlds wrongs.

This is going to be a very strange man by the time I have finished!  Next I would throw in some Mr Darcy, preferably of the Colin Firth variety.  Mr Darcy appeals for his old fashioned values, manners, etiquette and his intelligence.  Mr Darcy's image is obviously helped along somewhat by the gorgeous actor Colin Firth.

Next I think I would add (gosh it really does sound like a recipe!) a little bit of spy in the form of Mr Bond, Mr Spooks Man or either guy from Strikeback(!!).  Reason.....well just because really! There is something that just rings my bell when it comes to spies, action heroes and espionage!!  I know totally fictitious characters but sexy men.  

No pouty lip comments please Jen ;-)

Now for the maturity after all it's no fun dating men who haven't grown up yet!  For this part of my perfect man recipe their can be only one man for the job.  The gorgeous Martin Shaw...I know he's old enough to be my Dad but he is just yummy. Comes across as a real gentle man in interviews and he seems real old school which I just love. 

Then I need a bit of cuddleness in the form of Jason Segal, is cuddleness a word?!  My spell check doesn't like it but I don't care cuddleness is the only word that works here!!  Not really a muscle loving girl, I like strength but not so much muscle.

Then on top of all that he has to have the faith, kindness and loving I see in my own Dad....awww

So to sum up my perfect man then it looks like he needs to be a cuddly, talented shakespearian actor who can play the piano, travel through space and time dressed in period costume.  Who moonlights as a spy during the day and is a crime fighting superhero at night.  He needs to be older, good looking with impeccable manners, warm, kind, considerate, loving and to top it off a man of faith who doesn't mind dating a woman carrying a few extra pounds, who is only 5"4 and has two kids under 7 :-) Doable?  I think so!! 

Now I know what I am looking for perhaps it's time to start a new dating profile.....yeah right (in the words of the Tui Ads!!)  Would be kind of fun though to put that in my dating profile, although I have the strangest feeling I would never get a single email!!   

I love daydreaming though don't you?  It's something I have been great as since I was a child and an ability I have not lost as an adult.  My teachers at school told me off for it on a regular basis!  

As you can see my lovely readers I am totally moving on and getting on with my life and picking up the pieces!  I even made the effort to shave my legs today, blunted two razors to do it but I did it.  The woolly mammoth look wasn't suiting me, the whole natural thing.....hmm didn't feel that natural!  I have at least stopped sulking and my smile has returned.  How could it not with my new Mr Right just waiting to meet me and he does sound rather delicious does he not?!

Well had better hit the sack I have an early start tomorrow. Goodnight all and have a great weekend!

Kate x

You have to laugh...

You have to laugh when dining out on Mother's Day at the Gengy's in Rotorua when the CD player gets stuck repeating the song 'All by myself, don't wanna be all by myself'  then if that isn't bad enough once it finally moves onto the next song (after 3 repeats) we get 'I will survive' followed by bloody ABBA 'The Winner Takes it All' .  I actually got a fit of the giggles, I think my kids thought I was slightly insane!!  Life is a funny old thing isn't it.  You just got to keep laughing :-)

Charli's Crafts - Guest Blog

My guest blogger today is someone very special to me, it's my eldest daughter Charlotte.  

Charlotte is only 7 years old and she has started her own little business called 'Charli's Crafts' and today she would like to share some of the awesome things that she is making with you all.

                          _____________________________________________

Come See me on Facebook

Hi Everyone

My name is Charlotte and I am seven years old and live in Auckland with my Mum and my little sister Rosie who is three years old.  My Mum is typing for me today as it would take me a very long time if I had to do it on my own!

Kids Fleece Hats

When I six years old my Mum showed me how to use a sewing machine.  It was really good fun and I wanted to sew all the time.  I am really lucky as I am a homeschooler and I get to learn at home with my Mum and my little sister.  We get to do all sorts of cool things and learning to sew was one of them.  The first things I made were for a homeschool project.  When my project was over I still wanted to sew and the things I was making I wanted to sell.

Kids Fleece Hats

My Mum rang the lady who runs the Orewa craft market and I got to do a stall there one week.  I did really well and it was really good fun.  I found it quite hard to talk to people at first but after a while I enjoyed it.  I have now done four craft fairs and my Mum has helped me set up a website and a facebook page where I can show people what I make and sell stuff.

Tote Bags

When I grow up I want to be a fashion designer and make lots of lovely things.  I am really excited that I have been in the newspaper and I am going to be in the Little Treasures magazine too.  Today my favourite shop Spotlight wrote to me and they are going to do a story about what I make too.  It's really exciting and I am having fun.  My Mum makes me wait till after my learning to do my sewing now even though I would much rather sew than do Maths! I love weekends when I can sew as much as I want to.

Tablet Covers

I was really excited when my Mum got me sewing lessons and I have a really nice lady come to visit me at my house every month called Diane Lemmon.  I am learning so much and I got to make my own party dress.  It was the coolest thing ever to wear it at my church camp.  I am going to make my little sister a dress next, I would like it to match mine.

Tooth Fairy Pillows

I hope you enjoy my pictures - if you would like to come and visit me on facebook :-)

Charli xx 

Tooth Fairy Pillows

Tooth Fairy Pillows

Tablet Covers, Phone Covers and Glasses Cases

Tote Bags