Your Favourite Online Shops

At the moment I am doing a dance because I managed to install the Facebook plug in for this website. Can you see it on the right? How much does it kick arse? BOO YEAH! I am so proud of myself, playing with HTML code and the like. I am still not sure what HTML code really is but it seems to be working with me at the moment so I am sooo loving it. If you have a blogger account and want to install it onto your blog, just send me an email and I will send you code that I worked out after many hours of swearing.

Anyway the point of this post is this. I need your help.

I do partake in a bit of online shopping. Always EBAY because I pretty much have no idea of the good places to buy. I would love to browse but I just don't know where to start.

What are your favourite online stores? Share them with us so we can all get some helpful hints and stop wasting our time with trying to find the good places to click onto. Because there are just so many online stores I never have the time to check them all out.

So what are your favourite online stores? What have you bought recently?

Defeated by Swimming Lessons

I quit swimming lessons. Well not me actually...I know how to swim....sort of. I stopped taking Miss 3 to swimming lessons 3/4 the way into the term. This is an event in itself, because I never quit anything. I will stick to something and see it to the very end of completion because that is just the type of person I am. And also because when I pay for something I like to get my money's worth. Even if I hate it, I will go. Because not going is wasting money isn't it. I'm a bit silly like that.

But not this time.

My little girl loves to swim. But she isn't very daring. She doesn't like to challenge herself in the water. Which is cool with me. Going to swimming lessons was important for me so that we could get the kids used to being in and around water. Because husband and I are not big swimmers. Actually we hate it. We hate the beach. With all that sand. Like everywhere. On you. In you. In the car. Blerrrrr.

But when you turn three they turn the tempo up a notch you see. There are now levels. Different stages. Assessments.

Don't get me wrong. This is great for some kids who are very talented in the water and swim around like little fish duck diving and grabbing things from the bottom of the pool. It harnesses their talent. Which is great. But not all kids are the same are they.

I am not a competitive person. So you can imagine the look on my face when the word assements got thrown all over the place. As part of her assessments Miss 3 was required to put her head under water.

Simple enough? Nuh uh.

She won't do it. She doesn't like her head being in the water. Maybe she knows about the terrible frizz that will turn her curly hair into an afro. I'm not sure.

Anyway the ballsy teacher lady keeps telling her to put her head underwater. The more she says it the more she won't do it. Then Miss 3 started to get upset and wanting me to hold her hand at every minute during her lesson. Which wouldn't have been a problem really except for the fact that I was in the very early nausea stages of pregnancy and I already had a near 2 year old trying to drown himself in shallow water.

It was all too hard.

So we gave up. We'll try again next year.

Surely swimming lessons can be more about FUN and less about ticking all the boxes and progressing through the levels? Not all kids are the same. I think the teacher's persistance to push my daughter was totally unreasonable. She should have worked with what she would do, rather than concentrate on what she wouldn't and push her to the point of tears.

Nuff said.

I heart Sia

I am so into Sia at the moment and I am eagerly awaiting her album due out in June.

I first saw Sia on The 7pm Project being interviewed by the hot lesbian Ruby Rose and Sia was not wearing any make up and was sitting, wrapped up with a blanket. She looked terrible. She also had crooked teeth! Like wow! I was transfixed. No make up? Crooked teeth. Awesome. I liked her instantly.

Then I slowly started seeing her clips on Rage and then I was hooked.

And she is Australian....which makes me like her even more. And she is Bi-Sexual. Like. Just in case you were wondering.....

When 3 is the Magic Number

Before the kids came along we had a wonderful holiday with some friends in Japan. It was the best holiday ever. I don't think I have ever sung that much Papa Don't Preach at Karaoke in all my life. Except for maybe when I was 9 and the song had first come out and I used to dance around my room with my hairbrush and my fringe teased up to the moon.

Anyway. Our friend, J sang "3 is the Magic number". None of us had heard of that song before. This was before the days of the 3 mobile jingle that uses a version of it. J knew the words back to front. We were confused and he was surprised we had never heard it before. Maybe he had drunk too much. Or maybe we had.

Now I have a confession to make.

I have not been feeling my fabulous self. Hmm. Yes. Terrible nausea 24/7. This blog has also suffered. Sitting in front of the computer had me in fits of nausea. Is the screen moving or is it me?

I'm so hungry. Baked beans in a can has saved my life these last few months. For feeding me - yes they are gluten free. They have also provided my kids with a range of essential vitamins and minerals which is hard to get from any other convenient source. Dinner kids? Yes. It's baked beans again. Thankyou Heinz.

Then the great Great Drinkathon of 2010 commenced, similar to the Great Drinkathon of 2006 and 2008 when I was pregnant with my children. This event is characterised by large amounts of liquid being consumed by me. Namely choc milk, milk, Nesquik, juice, soft drink, water, cordial. Or whatever I can get my hands on. Large bodies of liquid - words of advice here. Run for your life.

So... we are having another baby which is due early November 2010. Had you guessed? If you have seen me lately (you know like, in person) I would be totally shocked if you hadn't guessed already because I already have a very fat belly. That and the fact that I very absentmindedly left the Elevit pregnancy supplement in my kitchen for all to see. I am terrible at keeping secrets.

Hello again to you, those dodgy sciatic nerves which have left me unable to walk even the shortest of distances. Hello dodgy coccyx which is so out of whack leaving me unable to sit for more than 10 minutes at a time. Hello to extreme exhaustion. Ahh. It's been so long. I had forgotten how bad pregnancy is.

Goodbye champayne. It will only be a short while but we will be reunited soon. Look forward to having you chill in my fridge and consuming too much of you in due course.

Yes I am complaining. I am grateful to be pregnant but if we are going to be friends you have to learn that I am possibly the most unhappy pregnant lady there is. So expect a lot of whinging to be going on in here. Because it's my blog and I'll write what I like.

And soon I will be a mother of 3.

Because 3 really is the magic number.

I think I was just sick in my mouth. Lycra Denim

As a stay at home Mum and a regular at the shops I first saw them a few months ago, on the bums and legs of mostly pre teens and teenagers. Also on Skinny Bitches. (And good on you. Please don't leave a comment and tell me I am skinny bashing I am simply being amusing).

Lycra Demin. Or Jeggings. (Jeans + Leggings)

Know what I am talking about? They are leggings, but made to look like jeans. So they are lycra and they are usually a deep blue, to emulate real jeans and they also have that denim stiching like real denim has.

And then I saw the Supre ads advertising them. For "Girls who want it now". Apparently. Excuse me but what are you saying here? What do girls want now? Cheap clothes that will fall apart shortly after being washed? No we don't want that now. Or are you saying that Supre fashion is very scampy and will have you looking like a hooker so you can "get it now"? I'm confused.

I have not been in a Supre shop for a VERY LONG TIME. I used to go once upon a time with my sister when I was just a wee lass and I had just started driving. It was cheap and good back then. But now not so much. I mean. That place is seriously overmerchandised. I can't get MYSELF in there, let alone a bloody pram. So I don't go in there. Also the prices aren't as cheap as they used to be. To be honest I would rather go someplace else.

And then there are the security guards manning the front entrance, checking everyone's bag as you leave. You think I want to steal from this place? Seriously? If I was going to steal I would most certainly go next door to Country Road, possibly Witchery. Not here. Anyplace but here. Getting caught would be image destroying.

Once again I am getting off topic. I was talking about Lycra Denim.

Lycra demin is horrifying. Don't get me wrong. I love a good legging. I have quite a few pairs now. But trying to copy jeans with any material other than denim is a fashion disaster.

Call the fashion police somebody. Please. Serious crimes are being committed and we need to do something about it before it really takes off.

Are skinny leg jeans not clingy enough to your body that you have to actually wear lycra to get them tighter? Would you like me to spray paint them on for you perhaps?

I'm sorry. Is it just me or are these things BAD? What do you think?

Who Am I?

Who am I?

I eat my cereal and insist on "No Minnulk" (No Milk)

I call my cereal Weetbix but it's actually Nutrigrain I want.

I love my Chuggie Choo Choos (Trains) but if you try to take one I will scream like a monkey

I say I "Don't want that" but if mum takes it away I actually DO WANT IT NOW PLEASE

I have the curliest hair you have ever seen.

I love robots but hate Wall-E

I love to get in the car but "I DO IT"

I don't like mess and I will walk into the bathroom and wash my hands and dry them off

When I eat my breakfast the first thing I do is go outside with my sister and ride my bike.

I am a very talented soccer player and Mum and Dad look forward to the days when I can earn the big dollars while they take it easy and earn the fruits of my talents

I say "No broccoli!!!!". But when Mum gives it to me I always eat it.

When my sister goes to Kindy I cry for her the whole time she is gone

When I wake up in the morning I want to know if my sister is awake yet.

I say "hello Man" to strange men wherever I go and "Hello Lady"

I am possibly the happiest toddler that ever did exist

But I do have a temper don't get me wrong

I love to swim. I think I am a fish.

When I've filled my nappy I will tell you "Done poo"

I love my sister. I don't know what I would do if she wasn't around. She bosses me around. I do as I'm told.

I can stuff marshmallows into my mouth until there is actually no room left

I love to have a picnic in the cubby house.

For my birthday I want a Robot Cake and some "presents" which Mum will organise.

Happy 2nd Birthday Harry. You bring us so much joy. We love you.

A New Business Venture

My husband never ceases to give me quality material to blog about. Thanks husband for your good work on that front.

At the moment he is busy planning his new business venture. It's very exciting and new and he is hoping that it will take off. You see, he wants to open a Gym.

Yes a Gym. A "private" gym.

Where is this gym you ask? Well. It's at our house. Yes he wants to open up a Gym at my house. Actually, in our garage. Because there is a little bit of space in there not taken up with the car, my 500 pairs of shoes and assorted other junk that I throw in there which I can't find a spot for in our actual home.

I'm wondering how long it can stay a private gym before everyone in Perth gets wind of it and it becomes more of a public gym where everyone in Perth are members. Because if I know my husband, everyone will want to join. He just doesn't do anything by halves.

He wants to have a Gym where people can come and lift Olympic weights (or something) and there are no posers flexing in the mirror and no lamers doing their "squats" wrong (or something). Not sure if I have that right. Possibly not. Excuse my ignorance.

Day 1 of the Rucci Gym opened up on Monday. There were three attendees. Him, his twin brother and his cousin. I had a girlfriend over for a visit. During the course of the morning I go outside to say goodbye to her. And guess what I saw.

The boys were walking up and down our street with heavy weights in their hands. Their expression, tense. Hello grunting noises. The neighbours were standing on their porches with puzzled looks, wondering when the hell it was that the Mr Universe contest had arrived on their street.

Hello Embarrassment.

I gathered the children up cowered inside and closed the blinds.

I love my husband but maybe one day it would be nice if he could just sit in front of the television and watch some footy and eat a meat pie or something. This day will never come.

Because Rucci's Gym is here.

I'll be inside eating my waffles if you need me.

Happy Easter!

A big hello to everyone and wishing you all a very Happy Easter!

I have been experiencing a serious amount of Blog Guilt for not updating This Is Taryn in a while but things have been very busy of late and I promise to get back to business soon. We will soon be returning to normal programming. I promise.

I have also not been my usual commenting self on other blogs so I apologise for this and I will be back to you shortly.

In the meanwhile. Happy Easter. Hope you all have a great day.

Me? Well I am trying to figure out how the kids are going to get through the massive stash of eggs they have acquired already and it's only Good Friday.

Here is my tip:

Put all the Easter Eggs in a bowl.

Give them their water bottle.

Send them to the cubby house.

Tell them to come out when all the eggs are gone!

This way I don't ever have to see my kids being slave to the wonder that is chocolate over weeks and weeks. The added bonus is that I won't have small children with chocolatey hands wandering all around the house and smearing them on the walls.

A bonus on all fronts.

Lets call it Pain Management.

Happy Easter! xx