Inspiral's Spiral

What goes around comes around.

Thursday, September 30, 2004

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.

Our fairly new washing machine has been annoying me so much over the last few weeks/months. It's not that old and would you believe it's problems started right after the 2 year warranty expired! *shocked macauley culkin face*

Anyway, when the hitting it and yelling at it didn't work anymore we decided to call someone to have a better go at fixing it. Their reply was - when I found a repair man who would answer his phone - that will be $231 for the parts not counting labour. Or a fair chunk of the price of a brand new machine. So I started seaching the net for an idea of prices and armed with a list of bargains I challenged the real shops to match the online prices. The grand final came down to Harvey Norman vs The Good Guys.

Now I really don't like Harvey Norman. Since the day my husband and I were escorted out of the shop at Aspley and insulted all the way across the carpark as we returned to our vehicle because we mistakenly entered their shop 10 minutes after it was closed. Where we live Saturday trading closes at 5:00pm but in Aspley its 3:30pm and I didn't know that. But I do now thanks to one Harvey Norman employee who found it necessary to yell at us about it. Their loss, we had cash in hand to buy a big computer desk, so you just can't tell from looking at people in their daggy t-shirts and shorts! Not to mention you shouldn't treat people that way.

Anyway, since then I can't stand the idea of giving any money to Harvey Norman, I can barely enter their shops. So when the Good Guys matched Harvey Norman's offer it was no contest! We scored a total bargain with a Fisher and Paykel 6.5kg washing machine for $615. That's about $150 to $250 off, depending where you go.

It sounds like an aeroplane about to take off when it spins but apart from that it goes without me having to yell at it or hit it and that's fine with me. *sings* He's a Good Guy, they are all Good Guys*

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

It's a Wiggly Party!

This year I decided to go all out when it came to the boys birthdays. They are both born in July, the youngest on the 4th and the oldest on the 31st. Daniel loves the Wiggles and so I decided to have a Wiggly Party, which is the name of one of the many Wiggles DVDs we have. Before I start to list everything I want to make it known that planning and preparation took place over about 2 months and I spared practically no expense. I wanted them to have the best party I could give!

Firstly I made the invitations. Thanks to the local scrapbooking shop Stampers and Scrapbookers Heaven I was able to get everything for the invitations including Wiggles borders with the Wiggles running and holding a surfboard. I cut these out and glued them on folded card paper. Each card was a different Wiggles colour. I printed out on the computer "It's Daniels Birthday! We're off to a Wiggly Party!" and glued this above the Wiggles like they were saying it.

I also made a pinata! They sell Wiggles ones at Target but they were $30! So I got some wallpaper paste from Bunnings and heaps of newspaper and a big balloon and made my own! I started to make this in the kitchen - not the best of ideas I have had. But after several weeks and lots of layers of paper it looked like a big egg. (The pinata, not the kitchen). I filled it with lots of confetti and tiny packets of smarties and things. I think there were too many layers of newspaper though because it took ages to break! My brother ended up going at it with a cricket wicket and it still took quite a beating!

We all dressed up like the Wiggles too. We already each had black long pants so I bought skivvies for each of us. We cut a Wiggles logo from some left over Wiggles wrapping paper to put on our skivvies to make them look more like the real Wiggles. Almost everyone who came to the party was also dressed up. The computer has a DVD player in it and that was taken into the carport where the party was held and it played Wiggles songs and DVD's for the entire party.

I got Wiggles themed cups, plates, serviettes and balloons from Target. There were blue, red, yellow and purple crepe paper streamers everywhere. For food we just had a regular bbq but there was fruit salad for dessert. There was also red, yellow, blue and purple jelly. I got some Wiggles stickers cheap from Makro and stuck them to the side of plastic cups. Corresponded the appropriate jelly colour/flavour to the wiggle colour. :)

For the cake I just ordered a plain iced sponge from Woolworths because they make nice cakes that are cheap. I surrounded it with patty cakes iced with sprinkles in the four Wiggles colours. From the Wiggles site I ordered an edible icing image and placed this on the cake. I had ordered some things from bakerysugarcraft.com.au for the Harry Potter party I was also planning at the same time. In that order I got a figurine of Harry and some crooked blue candles that were supposed to be lightning bolt shaped. I used 2 of these as Wiggly candles on Daniels cake.

There were also little take-home bags with smarties and stuff that Daniel likes. These were like little icecreams. I bought the paper with the icecreams printed on it from Spotlight and cut them out and put them together.

There may be more to add but I can't think of it at the moment. It was definitely one of the best parties I've ever been to! I prefer other peoples birthdays to my own. :)



Sunday, September 26, 2004

Poor Daniel Baby.

It's late but I can't sleep. We spent most of tonight at the hospital with Daniel. He got hit on the head by a metal goblet/trophy cup and it left a deep cut about an inch long on his head. It was distressing for all concerned and he has 3 stitches but its all okay now.

Am feeling bad for the poor doctor too.

They say bad things happen in 3's. Well that's 3 trips to hospital for members of the Boyle family in the last 2 weeks. Things can only get better!

Friday, September 24, 2004

Everybody else is doing it, why can't I?

Alright, I've got myself a blog! Ahh, let the Simpson's quotes begin! Well, mildly altered Simpsons quote, but never mind.

I wanted to post on my husbands blog but I had to join up first so I thought - ok. Everyone keeps saying I should get a blog so now I have. :)

Today has been 'one of those days'. Been awake pretty much since 4:30am, had renal ultrasound and tried to play a little Pokemon Leaf Green. I just beat Erika's gym in Celadon.

The good news is that its Friday! TGIF - Toes Go In First! Strictly Dancing and The Glass House are on tonight!