Brownie Badge - Discover It. Mysteries, Maps & Mazes

The first Brownie badge we're going to tackle is 'Discover It. Mysteries, Maps & Mazes.'

Do you want to join in on the fun?! Go on, you know you want too!

Keep track of our progress on the "Brownie Badges" page of my blog. I'll highlight the tasks we've completed and the date of completion. It will help us keep track of what we still need to do.
DISCOVER IT Mysteries, Maps & Mazes

Complete seven (10 for us older Brownies) clauses, including at least one from each section.
Section A – Mystery
1. Make a masquerade mask.
2. Make a mythical creature from clay.
3. Make a mystery castle.
4. Create an awesome poster of some far-off mystery world.
5. Read a mystery novel and discuss your favourite part with the assessor.
6. Make up a secret code and share it with others.
7. Take part in a wide game at your camp and use torch or smoke signals.
8. Build a mystery hideout such as a tree hut, fort or shelter.
Section B – Puzzles, Webs and Mazes
1. Solve a Rubik’s Cube or similar puzzle. Show the assessor the order in which you solved the puzzle.
2. Make a puzzle or game.
3. Complete a jigsaw (with 300 to 400 pieces).
4. Visit a maze or make a maze.
Section C – Maps and Places
1. Take an adult on a route that you know. Tell or show that you know how to get there. Plan the route beforehand. You can go by car, bicycle or on foot.
2. Go and explore somewhere new with some other people, including at least one adult. Plan where to go, what to see, what to wear and what to take. Remember safety rules.
3. Ask another person to choose a spot not less than 300 metres away. Find your way to it by following the directions given, using signs on the ground, growing trees, landmarks etc.
4. Find out about your ancestors. Mark on a world map where your family come from. Go back several generations.
5. Show you can give directions to three places such as the nearest public phone, service station, church, police station or scenic spot etc.
6. Make a map of the area where you live. On it show your home, four places that you visit often and the safe route you take to one of them.
7. Ask another person to make up a list of directions for a mystery walk around your community. Use the directions to do the walk with your six or friends. See how many public signs you can find and discover their meaning.
8. Make a plan of your dream house and share it with a friend.

Stop Motion Music Clip

Lee posted this YouTube clip on Facebook and I loved it. It uses stop motion to create a very beautiful video clip to a very beautiful song. If you love the clip, watch the 'behind the scenes' clip as well and you'll be even more impressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY&feature=related

Happy Birthday Tracy!

Brownie Badges - Where to start?!

A while ago I came up with an idea to finally gain all my Brownie badges. I was a Brownie when I was a kid, but not for long and I don't remember what (if any) badges I earnt. From what I hear, being a Brownie is a bit of a right of passage (much like being a Scout is for the boys). So, why not earn the badges now?! Better late than never I reckon.

Lu recently graduated from Brownie to Girl Guide and so gave me her Brownie badge book to copy. All going well we could move on to earning our Girl Guide badges too I guess.

So far the plan is to work through the badges one by one. Playing along with me are John and Rachel. If you're keen on joining us you are more than welcome. The more the merrier!! Flick me an email if you want to join us, or just follow along with my posts and have fun at home.

All the tasks are aimed to challenge a 8-9 year old girl, so as an adult you're not going to find to these tasks impossible to achieve. Most should be easy, but some will be a challenge even to us 'oldies'. But I can almost guarantee that all of them will be FUN.

Here are the rules for gaining a badge:

1. Brownies must complete seven of the 20 clauses or 'tasks' for the badge. However, as we are slightly older than your average Brownie, we think it's only fair that we must complete 10 of the 20 clauses to achieve the badge.

2. When an Assessor is required to complete the task, I will be sharing, telling or whatever is required on my blog. For the more practical aspects videos will be taken and linked up here. For others playing, you can share on your own respective blogs, or with our wee group if you wish. If you're keen to share your tasks and don't have a blog, I'd be honoured to post for you on my blog.

3. My 'six' (Brownie term for 'group') is John, Rachel, Lu and you! Any task requiring 'show and tell' with my six, will be with you all. For others playing, same as above, or you can create your own 'six'.

4. Time frames will be set. Otherwise, we'll be still working on one badge a year later.

5. All 20 tasks will be posted on my blog, with regular updates about how the badge earning is going.

6. When a task refers to 'take an adult' or 'ask an adult' we will be enlisting the help of one of our 'adult' friends.

Now for the fun part, choosing a badge to start with! Here are all the badges:

Animal World

Discover It. Mysteries, Maps & Mazes

Green Machine

Jazz It Up

Live It Up

Me, Myself & I

My Creation

On The Edge

Pen 'N Ink

Science Whiz

Technofunk

Trailblazer

After a team vote, we have decided to start with 'Discover It. Mysteries, Maps & Mazes'. Check back tomorrow for a full list of the task options and how first picks for tasks to work on.

He's almost here!

There's only two weeks before my nephew is due to arrive, so yesterday afternoon we took advantage of the late afternoon light and took some photos of the baby bump. I've collaged a photo from yesterday with a photo from 10 weeks ago so you can see how much he's grown!

At one point I thought I saw a foot poking out, but it may have just been wishful thinking as whatever it was quickly moved away.

The midwifes have told Lee that her pregnancy has 'textbook' which is awesome. Of course, does this mean he'll arrive on time? Lee and Morgan have been keeping track of everyone's birth date prediction. I've gone for the 22nd July (11 days after the due date) for several reasons. The 22nd is Lexi's birthday, no one else has gone so far past the due date, and both Lee and Morgan arrived late - and still do to this day - so I figure it's a good bet. No matter what date he arrives, I'm going to be there in the waiting room for him. I'm so excited!

Oops, I haven't blogged for a few days as you may have noticed. No big reason, just been doing nothing much.

John introduced me to "Misfits". It's a UK TV show about 5 teenagers doing community service who get struck by lightening. As a result they develop 'powers' based on their personalities or insecurities. (And as John would say) Hyjinx ensues. We've been watching it online over the last few nights. It's been fun hanging out, downing the ginger ale and chips in front of the telly. The cats join us, so it's like a whole flat party.

What else, hmmmm..... work is. . . well. . . . let's just say that I'm working really hard on being positive and keeping myself in check. I think it would be very easy for me to get in to a downward spiral of negativity right about now. I just have to have faith in myself, hold my head high, grin and bare it. Probably shouldn't say to much more for fear of starting a rant and once I get started I might never stop. With this blog being in writing it probably wouldn't be my wisest move to let rip on here. Ya never know who might be reading.

With that said, I think I'll call it a night. I have a photo shoot with Lee and her bump tomorrow afternoon, followed by dinner at Grans. Then I have Sunday all to myself. Sweet.

The Devil Wears Prada, Dog Soldiers & Dogma

The Devil Wears Prada is fast becoming a classic of the 'naughties' decade. Not only is the movie great, but the book it's based on is a great read. Author Lauren Weisberger has written several other great books and has become one of my favourite autheors. She does a modern day chick lit with both humour and grace.

Andy Sachs is a wannabe journalist in New York city, but the only job she can get is as the PA to Miranda Priestly, editor of Runway Magazine, a job hundreds of girls would kill to get. Andy has to learn to survive a job with the boss from hell if she wants to get anywhere in her career.

Anne Hathaway stars as the spirited, yet somewhat naive Andy. Meryl Streep pulls out all the stops as the hellish Miranda Priestly. Together they are a powerful duo. They are supported by the wonderful Stanley Tucci as Miranda's long suffering 2IC, one of my personal favourites Adrian Gernier (in fact I think he's number 1 on my 'to do' list) as Andy's non-understanding boyfriend and Emily Blunt debuts in the role that launched her career, as Emily the number one PA for Miranda.

This story is perhaps not the most original movie out there and it's definetly a coming-of-age story for the main character and even for most of the secondary characters as well. Perhaps that's it's mass appeal. That or the actors are all brilliant in their performances. Perhaps it's that we all want a wee bit of that glamourous life that Andy finds herself in or that we all dream of getting past that horrible boss for the life and career we so badly want. Whatever the reason, there is something in this story for everyone to enjoy.

While the guys might not be that keen, I think you might be surprised, and if not then you'll at least earn some brownie points for watching it. Girls, you'll love it. Even if it's just for the Adrian Grenier factor.

Yes I've now watched Dog Soldiers. I was told that this one was more funny than it is scary. Being told this before I watch it makes me nervous straight away. How scary is it if I need pre-warning that it's not really scary?! If it's not really scary, then surely I don't need the warning!

A team of British Soldiers are sent on a training excersise in the Scottish Highlands. The routine excersie is disrupted when they come across the leader of a special operations team leader seriously injured and alone after his entire team have been destroyed by a mysterious force. Local farmgirl Megan comes to their rescue, but the team soon realise that the house they are taking refuge in is home to a family of super werewolves. Now all they need to do is survive until morning.

The only actor I recognise from this horror film is Kevin McKidd of Grey's Anatomy fame. Here he uses his real Scottish accent and he's much sexier than using a fake American one on TV. Other stars include Liam Cunningham, Sean Pertwee, Emma Cleasby and Thomas Lockyear. If you know who any of those people are then you are a more intuned with British film than I am.

Yes this was scary. And, Yes this was funny. At times the movie pushes the line between scary and just ridiculous, therefore being funny. Though I must concide that while the line is pushed, it's not often crossed. There's a lot of blood and guts, hence my requirement for the lights in the room to remain on, but somehow it's not to much. With all the death (and I don't think that's giving to much away seeing as it is a horror movie and horror movies tend to be filled with death and horror. . . ) you do slowly become accustomed to it by the end, perhaps lessening the horror and increasing the humour. Or maybe that's just me?!

Anyway, it wasn't as bad or as scary as I thought it was going to be, although I don't feel any need to watch this again any time soon. Girls, you'll earn the brownie points for watching this movie this time round. Boys, unless you're not a horror lover (and I'm yet to meet a bloke that's not), you'll enjoy it.


Dogma is a movie that's either loved or hated by those that watch it. Personally I love it. It's completely ridiculous and it mocks religion, so yes I love it.

Two fallen angels are attempting to get back into heaven through a loophole in church dogma, but if they do all hell will break loose and life will cease to exist as we know it if they do. It's up to a human, an apostle, an angel, a muse and two proliphic prophets to stop them, all with the backing of a missing God.

Dogma stars some great actors - Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Alan Rickman, Linda Fiorentino, Jason Lee, the popular Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith (Jay and Silent Bob) and cameos from Janeane Garofalo and Alanis Morissette. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are a great acting team and alway compliment each other so well, which they do here again. Salma Hayek is passionate and Chris Rock is the filthy mouthed, comedic actor we know and love. Alan Rickman adds some fantastic acting, as only he can. But it's Jay and Silent Bob doing what they always do, that make us laugh so much.

For me, I love the controversy that this movie stirred up. I love that they didn't try to be PC, but the complete opposite. They take a religion and mock the bollocks out of it. As a non-religious person this amuses me, but for many others it wasn't so funny. I can apperciate that, but it's just a movie and should be taken for the light heartened, good natured ribbing that was intended.

This movie is defiently not for everyone. As I said earlier, people either love it or hate it. If you're a religious person, then perhaps you best not annoy yourself by watching this, but if you're not, or if you can appreciate a good laugh when one is presented then go for it. Don't say that I didn't warn you tho!

Wedding collage

I've learnt how to do collages on my new photo editing software. I'm keen to get my hands on Lee and Morgan's Wedding photo disc so that I can use the originals for some collages. I had thought I'd get several prints, but now I'm thinking I'll get a canvas print of a collage of my fave photos instead.

Despicable Me

Despicable Me is another awesome children's film that's fun for the young and the young at heart. I like to think I fit in to both those categories! I haven't yet met a person that honestly doesn't like children's movies. Like most movies, the style, story and technology of the 'cartoon' have a lot to do with what type of children's movies you do and don't like. But like I say, everyone (and I say that tentatively even though I think it's true) likes children's movies. Perhaps deep down and perhaps some won't admit it but you know it's true. We loved them when we were young and we love them now.

Gru is a villian, secretly living in surburbia with his hundreds of happy, yellow minions doing his bidding deep down in the basement. He wants to steal the moon and become the greatest villian ever. But, standing his way is a lack of funding, a new super villian on the scene and three orphaned girls trying to sell cookies that want to make him their new Dad.

Despicable Me is Dreamworks 2010 offering to children world wide. Comedian Steve Carell voices the main character Gru, with support from Russell Brand, Julie Andrews and Jason Segel. Along with a cameo from New Zealands own Jermaine Clement as one of the minions. With a cast of currently 'hot' comedians and stars this movie could date very quickly. But this is a 'cartoon' afterall and I'm sure the 'celebrity' of the cast will wear off and leave behind the fun movie for all to enjoy.

The storyline is different, it's not your typical super hero versus super villian with the hero winning, but instead, the villian is the 'hero' and we're all routing for him to succeed in his villianous endeavours. The charming orphaned girls add a smack of schmaltz to the movie that I can conceed was a good edition, but I'm not really convinced that it was overly necessary.

My favourite thing of the whole movie has to be the minions. The minions are small, yellow, squeeking people. Although they are more like 'people-like-beans' really. Each minion has a different outfit, facial expressions and jobs. We are also convinced that there is one in the movie that makes a face exactly like John when he's slightly annoyed, but we tried to locate it once and couldn't. I'm sure he's in there somewhere.

If for no other reason, watch Despicable Me for the minions. The villian 'hero' is not overly explored and therefore another good reason to watch this movie over some other previous offerings. If you're looking for a laugh and a no-brainer then you can't go wrong, plus the kids will love it. Win-Win.

New Photo Editing Software

I've discovered a new photo editing software that is free from google. So far I'm impressed with what it offers. I've only played with the individual editing options, but it does collages and slideshows and movies. I'm keen to try them all. But for now check these edits from my recent trip to Australia:

Flames from the firepit. mmmmm marshmallows over a campfire. . .

Jessie has a snooze in a cardboard box. I'm reminded of the children's book "My Cat Likes To Hide In Boxes".

Jackie climbed into the same box as her older sister Jessie so she could give her a kiss. So sweet!

Happy Birthday Lee

hAPPy BirTHdAy tO yoU

HapPY bIRThdAY To YoU

haPpY BiRthDaY DeAr LeE

HApPy biRthDay TO yOu

Shopping in Australia and speaking 'Australian'

Is it just me or does it always seem like it's so much easier to spend lots of money in a foreign country?! I have four reasons that this is true.

1. You save up all your money to use as 'spending' money on your holiday. So naturally, you spend it.

2. You don't recognise the colour of the money, so it all blends in to itself, meaning you think you have more money and you really have no idea what you're giving the checkout chick.

3. There are so many different stores, different products, different brands and here in Australia there is just so much more of everything. Plus, if you don't buy now, then you'll miss out at home, cause, well, you know, you can't get it at home. duh.

4. Your flatmate wants a souvenier and you're compelled to buy that 'thing' for that 'person' because, well, you can (refer to point 1).

And if you still haven't guessed, I went shopping today. What did you buy Heather, what did you buy? I hear you asking. Here's the list:

Three rings (one's a present)

A birthday present for Lee

A scarf

Two pairs of boots

One pair of heels

A bag of Jumpys (and no, I'm not telling you what they are before you see them)

A book

Various assortments of 'new and different' lollies (as per psuedo-family tradition)

A hat (technically I bought it the other day, but it still counts as shopping)

Two cardigans

Not bad for a days effort huh!

In other, completely unrelated to shopping news, I've been facing off with the kids about 'Australian vs New Zealand' words. They laugh at my 'New Zealand' words that to them are just ridiculous. But I refuse to budge. They tell me I'm in Australia now, but my response is that I'm still a Kiwi and only here on holiday. Last night we made a list of the words that mean the same thing, but we refuse to budge on.

Jumper vs Jersey

(In NZ you'd know what both were, but in Australia you'd have no idea what a jersey was. My argument is that a Jumper doesn't make me Jump. Jacob argued that a Jersey doesn't make me a cow. I took that as a compliment.)

Baked Pork vs Roast Pork

(Which would you rather have?! Roast Pork sounds much better if you ask me. I guess you do put the oven on to 'bake' to roast a dinner?!)

Thongs vs Jandles

(If you're an Aussie in NZ, so much could go wrong if you call your jandles 'thongs'. Not recommended. Jandles just sounds better.)

Swimmers vs Togs

(This one I have to give to the Aussies. Where does 'togs' come from? At least 'swimmers' makes sense. Still seems odd to say tho, and you won't catch me changing any time soon either.)

Texta vs Felts

(A 'Texta' is a brand. You can't text someone with them. Meanwhile they have felt tips, hence the name 'felts'. Come on people, common sense thanks. Sheesh.)

Humpy vs Shed

(Yep, here in Australia a shed is a 'humpy'. I don't get it either. It's weird. So weird. What makes it a humpy? I'm walking away from this one now before I get too rude.)

Eskie vs Chilly Bin

(This is essentially the Texta vs Felts argument all over again. Eskie is a brand. It's a bin, that's chilly. It's a chilly bin. Enough said.

It's not that long, so we tried to think of  other words that could be different. Turns out tomato and tomato are the same. As are most words. But, it was still fun to play the game and it kept the kids occupied for a while.

Aside from all of this, there's 'Jackie language', which is really the language of a smart 4 year old that hasn't quiet got the grasp of some words. She will one day get the hang of them and I know that Mum will be very sad once she does, because they are just so darned cute.

Picmic = Picnic

Elicious = Delicious

Attending = Pretending

Trigangle = Triangle

(Mum's favourite, especially since she keeps making shapes and getting Jackie to tell her what they are just so she'll say 'Trigangle')

Ostopus = Octopus

Mote = Remote

Eano = Piano

Zert = Dessert

Pies and Hats from Kangaroo Valley

I appear to have a cold. I'm not sure it it's the same cold I had 3 weeks ago, making a second appearance, or if it's my cold that I passed to John, that he managed to pass back just before I left. However I got, I have it. The good news is that I have only the snotty, blocked nose bit and none of the rest. I'm especially pleased since I usually get a sinus infection and all the other guff with it.
Enough about that and on to more interesting things.

It's fairly quiet over here at the beach. I guess that's what happens after you take two very energetic girls back to their parents. Phew! I do enjoy them, but there's something about the quiet that follows that's so endearing.

This morning we asked Jackie if she wanted to come with us to Kangaroo Valley. She was having way to much fun riding her bike around and around the outdoor table and squirting a water mister at the concrete to possibly come with us! Plus, I think she's cottoned on to the fact that coming with us would mean that she'd have to go and brush her hair, wash her face, find shoes and put them on. Much too hard work if you ask me.

So, Wayne drove Mum and I out to Kangaroo Valley. A quaint little town tucked in a beautiful valley west of Nowra. We drove through Kangaroo Valley when I was here in March and I really wanted to stop and have a look at the shops. It was placed on the 'Next Time You're Here' list. And what ya know, it's now the 'next time I'm here'.

The little town had one main road, with very tall trees all turning reds and oranges with the impending winter. We stopped for pastries at the local bakery, but they didn't have eftpost - who doesn't have eftpos these days for goodness sake?! After we managed to get some cash we took our treats to the dam and enjoyed a picnic (or a picmic as Jackie calls it). Delicious, homemade pies. But made in a disposable tin. For two countries to be so close and so linked, it seems so odd that there are all these little things that we do so differently. I don't think I've ever seen a pie come in a little tin shell before. Not that it matters, it's just different ya know.

Back to the shops. Each shop is an old house. The facades are the same and they have cute little steps or ramps up to the doors. Even the insides are gorgeous and 'quaint'. First stop was the lolly store, at which I indulged in my pseudo families tradition of purchasing a few 'never-seen-before' treats. I'm here for a while yet, so hopefully I have some left when I get home!

We made it to the store that I'd seen the first trip over, a cute we store with a large hat stand outside. Most of you will be aware that I've got a new hat obsession - I love them! I loved going through the beautiful hats and of course managed to fnd one that I've never seen before in the style that I've been looking for for ages. It came home with me, I just couldn't bare to leave it behind.

I didn't spot any kangaroos in Kangaroo Valley. And interestingly, the local symbol on the tourist merchandise is not a kangaroo at all, but a very old, medieval looking bridge. Go figure. I'm sure there are kangaroos, but the only place I've seen them so far is in the park by the local club.

The rain clouds followed us back over the hill and we're now settling in for a cool night. I've finished another magazine (yep I bought all my unread mags with me cause I figure I can throw them out once I'm done, making more room in my suitcase for things like new hats), and Mum's making a smoked chicked and leak pie. Mmmmm pie. . . . . Not in a tin shell this time. Second pie of the day, but I'm on holiday and it doesn't count!  

Here I am again

Well, here I am . . . again. Australia.

I'm so glad I decided to book a short holiday for the beginning of the winter before I hit the 'I really need a holiday' mode. Because, last week, leading up to this break away I was tired, irritable and over it. Perhaps it was the need for a holiday, or the knowing that a holiday was on the way?

Anyway, I'm here in Australia again to visit Mum and the new family she has over here. Things are much the same as I left them in March, except that Mum now has her things here making it seem more like her home too, and it's colder, meaning I have all my warmer clothes, which the wee girls love because they now have a different set of clothes to try on. Yep, they love to play dress ups in my clothes. I decided it's cute, not depressing, that Jackie (4yrs) puts on my t-shirt and she calls it a dress because it hangs very loosely and down to her knees.

Last night we went for a walk down to the beach. The black clouds looked rather ominous, but there were dolphins in the water just 50 metres out and it was almost majestic.

Of course I was on the early flight over so by 7.30 I was done for. After a few rounds of 'tea parties' and story books it was bed time for me and the little girls.

Today we were up early to have breakie and Jackie insisted on being my hairdresser. I had my hair cut with imaginery scissors, coloured green with imaginery hair colour, and a large assortment of hair clips put in so I was very beautiful.

Now don't shoot me but the girls and I made cupcakes with the prepackaged cake mix stuff. Before you scoff, it's so quick that it holds their attention, it's very easy to supervise and allow them to do all the work and they taste great. I'm a fan.

The 40 lorakeets have grown in numbers, with a handful of regular baby rozellas. They seem to have no fear anymore and swoop down for a feeding when you appear at the door. Some a so brave as to come right up to the door.

We went to see if we could see the whales passing by the Crookhaven heads, but to no avail. I did manage to get some wicked pics of the waves breaking over the rocks tho.

Mum's belongings arrived in massive boxes, which the girls adored playing in outside. Jackie loved to hide inside  and jump out. She was a "Jackie in the box". After a wee tiff with her sister Jessie curled up inside one for a snooze, or so I thought. She managed to hear very clearly when we started the bonfire and toast some marshmellows.

I'm here for a week. A week to relax, be away from home, and to see my Mummy. I'll be back soon enough and hopefully more prepared to face a cold Wellington winter. Of course with my wee nephew arriving next month, I'm sure the winter won't matter at all.