I woke up today and contemplated resuming blogging.
The contemplation lasted about 10 seconds.... before you know it I was faffing around on blogger!

So if you have arrived at a half finished, template all over the show, old content here and there kinda 'blog crash'... that's why!

I am still here.. somewhere, lurking in the background, with lots of stuff I want to blog about, but no time free to do it!
Don't forget about little old me just because i'm not here at the moment...
My poor old 'Just Manda' blog is so lonely and neglected...
I'll come back to give it some love soon!
:)

I saw Mummytips' 'Celebrity Look-alike' the other week, and remembered that I had done this back in 2007 on Facebook.
So I thought - hmm I wonder how much my look-a-likey-ness has changed....
Here goes!





17th April 2007

Ok, so If I'm honest, I didn't know who half of them were back then, and still don't now?!

So, my 2010 look-alike (from this pic taken on our Xmas doo)


That's a pretty pants piccy of me to be honest - but the clearest recent one I could find off facebook!
... and Kelly Brook... in my dreams!

So go on... visit HERE to create your celebrity look-alike!

Me, well I think I am the most unorganised mum on the planet... maybe more.. erm.. forgetful.
ie. This is a typical Amanda thing...

Phone call...
Tawny Owl "Manda, where is Emma the coach is waiting to set off to Brownie Camp"
Manda "erm, we are just running a little bit late" (Realises... S*** It's brownie camp this week)
Tawny Owl "We can't wait much longer"
Manda " Ok, I'll drive her up myself, where is it?.." (Manda takes directions and runs upstairs to get Emma out of bed and pack a suitcase!!!)

I am rubbish...

This is the 1st time I've 'got round' to joining in with Tara's Gallery posting...

... and this weeks theme is 'UGLY'.


Mould. I found this tucked around the corner of the open fire in our bedroom - euugghhhhh! I think it was once tea or coffee in its former life.... (ahem ahem how embarrassing!)
I am sure it spoke back to me?.... If you look hard enough you can see it's mouth!






But I find the above just as ugly... a CUBE car. They have got to be the UGLIEST cars in existence if you ask me... and I took this pic with my mobile when I was laughing so hard because the old codger driving the beast over-took my husband on the motorway!

I was going to upload a pic of my hubby's Bum Tattoo... but he is sat down watching Manchester United V Bayern Munich so I'll have to save that for another of Tara's Gallery Themes!

Hey everyone.
Been meaning to post about this for a while now...

It's the Mummy Bloggers Book Club. 

If you like books (Or if your child likes books) you'll LOVE this...

Basically the only difference between this and a 'real' book club, is that we can't meet for coffee in real life, eat cupcakes and stuff... but hey - you'd choose blogging and tweeting book clubs over church hall ones anyday right?!!! :)

(And still use your review time as an excuse to eat those cupcakes!!!)

It was a while back now, I made a note of Emily at Baby Rambles 'Is there anything you won't blog about' post.

I made a note because I too had something to say about it! 

I started my blog because I thought I should have 'my place of work' with a presence in the world of mummy bloggers.


Id never really been into blogs before -  and if you read the post I wrote when I gave out my Sunshine awards, you would find this:



Then I started the blog - went with consistency in the choice of name..

I'm so glad I went to see Em's teacher BEFORE I went to sit in her class room and read through her school books in her tray.

What must Miss Dobbs have thought as she was marking Em's Clauses work in her Literacy book on Wednesday 24th Feb.. (check out no. 2)


 Ok, so when the kids are in bed, I spend too much time on the computer, in the bath, watching movies... and not enough time cleaning up!

But then...

Yo homies.

Just a quick novelty post (yes another one, I know, it's about time I wrote another topical one, I don't need telling!)....

But I have to shout about this!...

I recently joined Heather @ Notes from Lapland's Secret Post Club . (<--- highly recommended!)

For any of you who aren't familiar with this, basically each month Heather emails you who your Secret Post Club recipient is to be, you post them a nice little parcel.. it doesn't have to be much - it can be an unwanted gift, something handmade or if you are buying something, they recommend something between £1 and £10! .... and obviously the good bit is you receive a surprise parcel from someone else too.


I was over the moon when I received my gift - it was fantastic and from another Heather at www.handpickedcollection.com.

My gift was delivered via the internet with a picking note saying something along the lines of "I hope you and your children enjoy these retro sweets, my ULR is..." and then nothing! I had a pretty good idea it must have been from the owner of the site, but I just double checked with Heather first before I said my thanks!!!

(I ordered my recipients parcel from the internet with a delivery message, so I hope she gets her personal message! Haven't heard from her to say she has received it and obviously The Gadget Shop aren't in the Secret Post Club so she should guess it's not from them!!!!)

Anyway - here is a really cheesy and embarrasing vlog of me saying thanks to Heather.... Don't ask what the 'squeal' is... maybe a little over excited by Rainbow Drops?!!!!

Oh and check out the cutest camera person in the world with her "how do you stop it" whisper.. ahhhh!!

I was sat at my computer last Thursday night when the kids were in bed, as you do, when Tweet deck popped up a few messages about a Disney Dance-off.. well anyone who knows me knows I love a good dance off...
I am more of a 'pop it, lock it, polka dot it, Hoedown Throwdown' kinda gal, (but that's a different vlog altogether tee hee) so learning to dance like a Disney Princess is really not my thang... I am far from 'delicate'.
But... I happened to have had a few glasses of wine last Thursday and before you know it, Tuesday night was my deadline for uploading my dance off!

Liz at Living with Kids started it all off in this post following Disney's creation of the Disney Princess Dance, supported by the British Dance Council, to encourage youngsters across the UK to get active.

Anyway... surprise surprise Karin at Cafebebe along with Pippa at A Mothers Ramblings were the first to jump in there with comments starting this vlog dance off.


This is no word of a lie, the weekend was hectic, I didn't practice once.. or even watch the 'learn how to video', we've been watching England play Table Tennis at Preston Guild Hall tonight and only got home at 9.30pm, so it was literally, watch the video once, Jake as camera man using the mobile and with my own Princess Emma as my dance partner - I recon we completely pulled it off... WINGED IT!

Ps.. Do I get extra points for singing?? 

So here it is!....



(If today wasn't such a rush, I would have dressed up - that was our plan... but unfortunately I was just in my scruffs n jeans!)


Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=slkuZkYLfMw&v=hj3OqMzNin4

We'll do it at the end of the month - takes a little bit more time to learn! and I'm sure your kids (if old enough) will give you a little help! In fact many of you probably already know it step by step!!

So who's in?....

It's Sunday again.

If you don't already know.. hubby goes bed around 7pm on a Sun for his usual weekly 'goodbye wife, see you on Thursday' kip before he gets up at 2am for his trip to work... obviously kids are now in bed too... so it's just little old me.

I should really do some work, but I'll be doing that all day tomorrow - so I'm going to post a bit of this and that based on stuff I've read whilst eventually sorting out my Google reader, starting with the difference in size of my boobs....

This and That: #1 - It's a right thang

It was when reading Evie George's 'One side of my face is better looking than the other' that I realised every half of my self had a better part.

I commented on her post as follows:

Maybe tomorrow you will inspire me to decide which side of all my odd parts are better - to see if half of me wins!!!"

So I did... and here it goes...

Face: After studying a few pictures on Facebook, turns out it is my right side that is better looking than my left... Conclusion: Right wins

Eyes: My left eye is slightly more 'squintier' than my right... Conclusion: Right wins

Boobs: My left boob is bigger than my right - again Conclusion: Right wins, cause left bursts over my bra giving me the two boobs in one cup look

Feet: OH MY GOD... my left foot isn't just a little bit bigger... it's bloody MAHHUSIVE!!! and although they say supermodels have big feet, I'm going to go with the pattern to decide that Conclusion: Right Wins (plus left has onset of what I am sure is bunion!)

I could start to examine other parts of my body, but I'll leave it at that and conclude that my right self is far better than my left! (hahaha how vein do I sound! Oh, and It's just a bit of fun before any counselling obsessives comment otherwise!)

Anyone else have one body part larger than the other? 

This and That #2 - "Friends" (Spoken in true Inbetweeners styleeee)
As I said, my Google reader got 'unorganised'... a typical Amanda O'Hara trait... and I missed loads. People I thought I was following I wasn't, and people I was... who are you?

So anyway, I didn't get far down the list before the next post was something of interest - This and That #2 was another of Evie Georges which was unread. It was about Friendship and came about after an interesting post she read on Friendship Divorce.
I've been feeling a bit of a crap friend recently as I've been trying to find time to catch up with friends and just haven't had the time.

(own business, hubby away at work all week, two kids + all that comes with that! You get the pic, It's just not the same as it was pre-kids) 

So, as I was saying, crap friend.
One of my friends who I've been friends with since I was 19 (bridesmaid at my wedding) is pregnant with twins. I live in Preston and she lives in Skipton. We only ever get together once every 6 months or so.. but when you have a family and quite a few friends, that's the norm... isn't it?
This time, however, it's been like nearly 12 months! In fact not since my wedding (and it's our first wedding anniversary on the 9th April!) I really do need to see that bump before the gremlins thing happens and more than one baby pops out of it! So I'm going to see her next weekend (She better bloody keep them legs crossed and not eat anything after midnight!)
Of course I'll be back up again in a few weeks to see the babies so i'll have seen her more in a few weeks than I have in a year!!

You know what its like when you are a full time working mum... we all make plans to get together and then.. erm... don't!

So here is...

An Ode to my Friends: 

This week I'm seeing Liz
We'll drink a bottle of vino
What we'll do with the Kidz
I really do not know...

Nic + John I've planned to see
Then the plan doesn't follow through
I need to get more organised me
Cause I am really poo

To hear from Emma was really cool
I'll look forward to that lunch
We were bezzie mates at school
And part of the naughty bunch!

Jacky how many time have we said
More than I can remember
Kickboxing again we will go on a Wed
So lets pull out that finger!

And finally... Tamara
It's like I said above
Next week I'll come and see ya
So keep yer legs crossed love!

(check ma bad rhyming self rite out!!!) 

I have lots of very close friends,  who I don't see that often, but every now and again we get on the phone and have a right good catch up... (with some it might only be once or twice a year) We'll catch up on Facebook chat once in a while, or those best friend texts that do the rounds....  just one of those reminds you...you don't have to see each other all the time but you will always be friends. We've all grown up, some have husbands and families of our own, I suppose it's just what happens. But if ever in need (or vice versa) we'll always be there for each other.

(My real friends don't read my blog I don't think... but If you do and I didn't mention you, its only cause your name didn't rhyme!!) 

anyway, it's getting late now (It just took me about 20 mins to think of that rhyme you know!)

so..


Blogging.....

Last but not least, I just want to say that I am chuffed I've joined Notes from Laplands Secret Post Club. 

I'm looking forward to sending, and receiving my first parcel!

Also, her latest post is quite interesting, Its called 'How to find new readers for your blog' and is all about Erica's Guest Post Day on 5th March.

Which I've signed up for, but which brings me to the main part of This and That #3 ...

How the hell do all you working mums - or even stay at home mums who just have as much on your hands - find the time for all this blogging?!!!!!!

Love Manda xx

Being from a parenting magazine, you were probably expecting me to be blogging about Postnatal urinary incontinence - but no... I'm just talking about laughing! (or 'PMSL' as its commonly abbreviated)

And I am awarding it to three posts that made me chuckle... in fact *red faced* the only three posts

One thing our kids can't say is that there is ever a dull moment about... with Mick being away at work most of the week, weekends are always jam packed with something or other, even if it is a load of nothing much particular... it is always fun nothing much particular!

What I am going to write about will probably get me into some kind of trouble no doubt. But hey ho...

... and if you are some animal cruelty activist, go take your rant else where...  It wasn't me, it was my hubby, who may I add you can meet in my chubby bunny eating post!! (eating marshmallows not bunnies) So go take it up with him!

So it was a few weeks ago, we had been for an early morning trip to the garden centre to buy a bird table (random) and decided to stop off at Huntley's to purchase some live Lobster. (even more random)

Mick, being the alpha male kind he is, has always fancied this as he loves his seafood.
Me on the other hand.. well put it this way, when Mick popped off to the supermarket to get me some chicken breast (I wasn't going to be eating Lobster after I'd met them - have you seen how ugly they are? I mean, would you eat a spider?) Where was I?... oh yeah, Mick at the supermarket buying me chicken, I got Mr and Mrs Pinchy out of the plastic tub to play with them. I was half tempted to set them free, "run for your lives little lobsters... run!" but the garden pond would have probably been a more traumatic death than the one that was about to greet them.

Preparation: 
If you are going to try this at home, do me a favour...
1/ Use your noggin (unlike us). Being the smallest lobsters in the tank at the shop made them appear smaller than they actually were... a £15 pan set from Asda is not sufficient!
2/ Be careful! I am not being held responsible for any animal attacks, scoldings etc etc that may arise from boiling live animals after reading this blog!


The lobster turned out very nice. (Only takes 15 mins to boil) I didn't try any though... I ate Lobster in Bahrain last year and wasn't particularly keen then, so I stuck to my chicken stuffed with sun dried tomatoes and cream cheese wrapped in bacon!
I was however very impressed with both my children (Jake + Emma, nearly 12 + 9) who both got stuck in!

Oh and pleeeeease note - we are in the middle (still) of a kitchen extension/conservatory build, so excuse the plaster off the walls/bare bricks behind the cooker and dust etc etc!!

Enough rambling - here's the vid of how NOT to boil Lobster!!! (check out Gordon Ramsay or someone who knows what they are actually doing - as we should have done!)



(Just in case that doesn't work - here's the YouTube Link!)

Would you have eaten Mr and Mrs Pinchy? Or gone for the Chicken a la everything yummy?

.... One last thing...
Who should I tag in my Kill it, Cook it, Eat it meme?? lol Only joking!!!! :) xx

Here is my video footage of our Chubby Bunny Marshmallow Challenge.... It was filmed this morning.. but before you watch it, there is just a little something I would like you to read.

First of all, @Lola's_mum managed to get out of the Chubby Bunny Marshmallow Challenge set to her by Karin @cafebebe by getting her Hubby to do the dirty work... and his dirty work turned out to be pretty impressive. What was even more impressive though was that he challenged not only myself
but my husband too. For those of you who don't know my Hubby... well, basically, he is a 6ft 7" giant! Big height, big personality... big gob! lol.

Well Phil managed 14 marshmallows... however it was noted that he failed to mutter the words "chubby bunny'... so we are waiting for his second attempt. Lets see if he beats Micks impressive score...

As for my extremely unimpressive score... there are just two things that completely excuse my pathetic attempt.

1/ I am suffering majorly from the after effects of Man-da-flu. (Far worse than any man flu believe me)

2/ Yesterday we attended Pendle beer festival, which is a real ale festival showcasing very strong alcohol with damaging effects, where I consumed:

Bosteels Kaelit Triple 8.4% Belgium Trappist brew x 1
Bacchus Frambozen 5.0% Belgium Raspberry Fruit Beer x 2
Extremely strong amazing tasting Damson Wine x 2
(Again extremely strong) Broadoak Perry cider x 1

(Mick consumed about 5 pints of something called O'Hares which I think was about 9%!)

After the beer festival, we went to a party.... !

Anyway, enough babble, basically I was feeling slightly delicate and a tad 'gaggish' without trying to stuff marshmallows in my gob... so knew it was going to be a fail before I began!!!
(and that's also the reason I look like POO!)

So here it is..... and yes... we did do it in the pub where we went for Sunday lunch!! I was trying to get Mick to wear a tiara but he told me to 'bog off'!....



(and here is the YouTube link incase the vid doesnt work for any reason http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSwAVUpe0oY)

19 quite decent sized Marshmallows... Pretty impressive.. and he even managed to say "Chubby Bunny" (well mumble it).
Once I started giggling and dribbling, my hangover got the better of me so I spat. Didn't want to risk having to upload me vomming - I'd never live it down!

Now then, who shall I challenge....
Actually, I Chubby Bunny Challenge @Lolas_mum (http://omgip.blogspot.com) because although she has already been challenged.. she hasn't actually done anything... she got her man to do the dirty work!!!

and well.. I suppose that I can't stitch up @lolas_mum without stitching up @mummytips (http://mummy-tips.blogspot.com) who also bummed out using her brood to do the dirty work... but I think I want to see Sian and this famous 12 finger trick....

Whilst doing a little blog-spotting during my lunch hour, I came across @crystaljigsaw's recent blog post in which she interviewed her 1o year old daughter (http://crystaljigsaw.blogspot.com)... I thought that would be quite interesting and amusing, so have done the same.

The interviewees:
JR (my son) who will be 12 in just over two weeks... 1st year at high school, grown up all of a sudden and now knows far too much... which scares me a lot!

Em-J (my daughter) who will be 9 in March... looks like butter wouldn't melt, but think she is secretly the devil! (ahhh I don't really mean that, she is the sweetest ever in the world... half the time!!!)

To picture how the interview was conducted, each sat on a separate settee so they couldn't peek at each others answers. I read out the question, they wrote down the answer in silence. I am now about to type them up (yes the answers are about to be revealed to me as I type!)