The Light Bulb went on and there was Music

Happy Monday, Plonkers.

Pinterest and I were visiting over the weekend, and I found some cool ideas for Teacher's Gifts for my kids.  The one I want to use is a screw-in light bulb with M & M's inside and a wee note that says "Thanx for helping to make my future bright".  I think its adorable, but I have a dilemma....


How the fek do I get the middle mechanism out of the bulb and open the back of the light bulb to get the sweeties inside?  


So, I went on The Google this morning to ask the question and find out what to do. Seems it's quite involved and is a 10 Step Process and it could be dangerous if I break some of those teeny weeny glass bits inside.  

Look, I don't think the teacher will be breaking the glass in case of emergency and eating the M & M's, but you never know.  I really don't want him to get glass shards stuck in his throat and bleed out and choke to death.  You know he has been instrumental in my child's education and development.  I'd rather avoid a bloody manslaughter case on my CV thank you very much.

So, any ideas how I can remove my finger prints from a light bulb and write on a piece of cardboard without leaving any traces of DNA?

Today is also Music Monday over at Xmas Dolly and I'm sharing some of my new playlist toons for your pleasure.  Enjoy xxx


 

 


I kinda slipped this one in for Megan who is learning to beatbox from YouTube and its pretty good. Nothing like these guys but she'll appreciate this one.

Friday....my Second Favourite F Word

For Christmas this year my Brother-In-Law and our niece is coming from Australia.

We are extremely excited to be seeing them as we haven't spent time with them for 2 years.  Its been a long time and we all have so much to catch up on. It will be so festive to have a big family get together on Christmas Day, have lunch and share the day swapping stories.

However, I'm secretly jealous, as I haven't seen my folks since April this year. I can't tell you how much I miss my mum and wish I could go there for Christmas too. Our budget just doesn't allow us this year, as we have a massive school fees bill that we need to sort out for 2016.

I'll be playing the lottery hoping to win a few thousand rands so that we can have a wee beach holiday with my mum and dad....

What are you plans for Christmas?

Caption My Photo Competition #Win

Hi Pretty Plonkers

Remember this?

Caption this image and you can #win a wee special sumthin'-sumthin' from wee me.

Whoohooo, right?

Go

I Swear it was Friday about 2 Minutes Ago?!

And Monday rolls around again...sneaky wee bastard!

That means its time to play some music and rock the house. 

Speaking of rocking music, I got gifted tickets to a show called Rock Royalty at The Barnyard Theater at Emperors Palace.  An extremely talented bunch of singers and musicians blasted the speakers with AC/DC, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Led Zepplin and even Tina Turner.  They had us all rocking in our seats.  My daughters were on their chairs pounding the air and playing air guitar.  It was a great family outing with a LOT of whoohooing and wiggling our bums.

A kick-arse show for Rock Lovers!  Go get your tickets and rock on! \m/

You WILL be up dancing and rockin' out.


and now back to the Theme which actually is BIG BAND here is Robbie Williams,  performing his big band swing stuff 

 

This is a South African Swing/Jazz Band called The Swingsetters. I discovered them over a year ago. They are a Cape Town band. Give them a listen 



Now hop on over to Xmas Dolly, sign up and share yer Big Band Toon.  Enjoy the rest of your Monday, Plonkers!

xxx

 

Happy Friday, Plonkers!

What do you want from Santa this year?

Have you even thought about Christmas?  or are you one of those people who plan Christmas from October?  Do you have all your Christmas shopping already done and gift wrapped?  Are you one of those that have lists for everyone and everything?  Lists of the lists?

I'm one of those people who leave Christmas until the middle of December and then go do all my shopping.  I normally only wrap Christmas gifts a few days before and I'm an impulse shopper.

However, I have made a Pinterest Christmas Wish List last year.  Not that anyone looked at it, but just in case someone wants to stumble across it and buy me a little somethin-somethin.

Have you thought about Christmas yet?

Are you one of those that plan ahead?

Are you on Santas naughty or nice list?

Hotter Than the Bottom of My Laptop

Well, butter my bum and call me a biscuuit!  We're enduring a Heatwave here in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

We've been struggling with temperatures of between 32 and 36 degrees C.  It's even worse when you're traveling in the car!

It's been unbearably hot and I'm battling to sleep at night because we don't have air conditioners - only fans!  I have heard that wrapping a damp scarf around your neck, or using damp sheets at night keeps you cool... 

Immediately, I thought of my mum who would say "that will make you catch your death, or even worse, Pleurisy".  My mum loves to say "catch your death" and low and behold, my sister and I are still around to tell ALL the stories...

Well, last I heard someone contracting pleurisy was...oh wait! NEVER, so I really don't think I have much to worry about.  Bring on those WET SHEETS.  Let's lube-up for the night.  Just don't tell my Mum.

Have you any other tips from staying cool in 40 degree weather?!!?

Monday Music....Is that still a "Thing"?

Happy Monday, Plonkers!

Today when I was running on the treadmill, this song came on VH1 and I hadn't heard it for YONKS!

I thought I'd share it with you.  Only the bloggers that grew up in the 80s will remember this one.

Remember to link up over at Xmas Dolly and share your Toonz

 

 then I got completely distracted by all the old 80s recommended links on the right.

 

Happy Friday Everyone

Have a BRILLIANT weekend.

See you again on Monday.

My Top 10 Tips for Shopping with a Tomboy Teenie

Yesterday I took my oldest daughter who is 12 going on 30 shopping for swimwear.  She has been invited to a party on Saturday and obviously wanted a few nice new things to wear.   

Firstly, I have to let you know that its extremely difficult for shopping for Megan, as she's been a devoted tomboy all her life. Let me paint a quick picture for you:  Meg loves dirt bikes and beat-boxing, being cricket Captain, playing football with the boys and adventure sports.  She loves Grand Theft Auto and surfing YouTube for entertaining gamers to watch and texting on her phone. 

Meg very fussy about colours and style of clothing.  It's only been in the last year has she ventured into the ladies and girl's sections at the clothing stores.  I actually suggested that she try denim shorts this season and it worked!   Shopping is a whole new world for her and she has no clue!  In fact, its a whole new world for me too, as I'm used to going straight to the boys section or the action-wear section, pulling something off the rack, taking it home and hoping she'll like it.

I'm usually more often wrong that right now that she's a Teenie, and I spend my life returning things and swapping things because she DETESTS shopping and coming to the shops with me. She'll wear her shoes until they have holes in, she'll wear the same pair of worn-out shorts even if they are ripped, you get the picture...

So here are my Top 10 Tips for Shopping with a Tomboy Teenie 

Make a List - Stay Focused

Have a list of things that you are going for and stick to it.  Don't deviate from the plan.  It is so easy to get distracted at the shops.  These places are set up to pull you in directions you don't want to go. Marketing to the Tweenies is massive and they have been targeted with messages plastered all over the media telling them what is cool and trendy.  Don't be sucked in.

Fly under the Radar

Your girl does NOT want to be seen shopping with her old crusty Mum.  This is embarrassing for her and let her hide if she spots any other Teenies shopping with their parents, and God forbid, you spot anyone she actually knows.........just pretend not to even know her if she gets that panic look on her face. 

Bling is Evil

Don't even try to go into the accessories section.  Anything with bling is the devil and anything with frills it just Fugly.  My Megan will not wear anything that even has a teeny weeny bow, or hearts or glitter attached.  That shit will be cut off as quick as you can say Dirt Bike.

Be Mute

Keep your "old fashioned" opinions to yourself and do NOT make any comments about her body parts, especially her growing CHESTICLES and or "cute round bum".  You WILL be rewarded with rolling eyes and clicks of her tongue.  You are NOT cool!  Keep your lips tightly sealed.

Brand Names

Brand Names are always in high demand with the pre-teens.  Their philosophy is - If my friends are wearing it, I want to wear it.  Just know it will cost you the same as buying a small island with no gain or reward.  Try and look for the brand sales if they are adamant. Don't be bullied into buying a R2000 pair of takkies because they have a swoosh on the side and make your tomboy grin like a Cheshire cat and produce puppy-dog eyes.

Don't Bargain

Just let them wear what makes them comfortable.  Don't try and comprise by saying you can wear your ripped jeans, but you have to wear a shirt with sleeves, or leave the new shoes on for the first hour and then you can change.  Don't go there - you will only cause her to HATE you and you will be riddled with guilt.  Just LET IT BE.

Dressing Room for One

Do not go into the dressing room with your Teen!  Don't even suggest it.  You will be accused of staring at their body parts and being a pervert.  Just stay out of that area all together.  If they say it fits, it fits.  If you really are concerned about the clothing fitting, let her open the door and show you.  Remember it will be a 3 second glance so have your beady eyesight focussed and ready for the QUICK FLASH.

Poker Face

Do not be over-enthusiastic about any specific item. Don't gush about how cute something looks on her or that she should really get the matching bag.  Be cool, don't act too excited when you finally get something that she likes at the 12th store you've been to.  Be nonchalant and casual about it all.  I know you want to hang out the flags and pop the fucking champagne, but restrain yourself!

Suggest Nothing

Don't make too many suggestions, she needs to be able to find her own style and navigate her own way through the shops.  Suggesting "what about this green one?" will only aggravate your young shopper beyond the point of explosion and saying "There's nothing here! Lets just go home!" and you having to deal with the lip that's tripping her and the huffing attitude for the rest of the day.  Just know everything is YOUR fault!

Keep Hydrated

You will be traipsed around 20 different stores before you find the right style, colour, shape and cut.  You will get fed up standing around.  Your feet will hurt. You will need to visit the bathrooms at least thrice.  Be prepared, keep drinks and snacks in your handbag for these trips.  Keep tissues on hand too for the tears...there is bound to be one person crying by the end of the day.  If its not your daughter for hating herself after staring into those horrid retail shop mirrors, then it will be you for the blood thats gushing out of your mouth from biting your tonuge all day.

Remember to reward yourself afterwards with an EXTRA LARGE glass of wine, especially if you stuck to tips on my list.  Reward yourself with an even BIGGER glass of wine if you failed to follow any of the tips above - because you're going to need it.

Better yet Shop online.....posted with LOVE.

Grow Yer Mo and an Update

Hello everyone!

Oh I know its been a while....4 months to be exact, Plonkers.

My blogging has taken a back seat to real life for about a year now...

Being a full-time working mum of two very busy girls and a very busy social life, its hard to find time to blog every day.  I'm actually not sure how I did it for 7 years before that?  I guess you just make time - like everything else.  Well, during those 7 years I did get a little side tracked by the blogging community and so I wanted to take some time to refocus on what I really wanted to do and where I wanted to spend my time.  You can so easily get sucked into the blogging world and spending more time speaking to faces you've never met, than spending the time with the REAL people in your life.  By real people, I mean family and friends you see in real life on a regular basis.  I'm not saying that the blogging community are not REAL.  Not at all!  I'm just saying they are online relationships with awesome, real people that you've never met.

I am still quite a social media whore and I'm now on FB, Twitter and Instagram mostly.  Some of you have found me on Twitter and follow me there, some of you on Instagram.  My FB is mainly for family and very close friends.  I don't have hundreds of Friends that I post random shit to.  I use it mainly to keep in touch with family overseas and far away.  Kind of like my blog actually, thats why I started it all those years ago.



Something that has changed in my life, is that I've found a love for running, specifically trail running.  I've always been pretty active, going to gym and Pilates but I never thought running would become part of my life as previously it always came across as something really BORING.  Well, for me its time to think, time to put my favourite music on full blast in my ears and enjoy the alone time. 

So, its Movember Plonkers which means all those men here in South Africa are growing their facial hair to create awareness for men's health, specifically cancer but also things like depression in men and prostate health.  The aim is to Grow Yer Mo aka Moustache in showing support for these causes.

My Boerewors aka Hubby is taking part and is trying to raise money for the cause over HERE.  Go check him out and make a pledge.
 
Are you taking part in Movember?

So, how have you all been??  I'd love to hear from you. 

Leave a comment and say hello. 

I have noticed a lot of my previous follows are not blogging anymore either.  I really have to update my reading list....eeek!  lots of work to do to catch up with my blog. It's possible that I may be redesigning the look of the blog as I find it a little outdated.  It's not going to be over-night though, it will be gradual.