Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jan 19, 2012, 4:12 am
Hi Everyone, HUGE apologies for my silence over the past month or so.  We continue to have trouble with our internet at home and they are now saying we need a new modem.  *sigh* Christmas was chaotic but a LOT of fun!  Things went as planned though and everyone indicated they had a lovely relax...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Dec 19, 2011, 6:04 pm
Hi Everyone, So sorry for the lack of posts or responding to comments of late.  We are having trouble with our internet so I haven’t been able to load my blog! A quick update from me: * Games Room has been concreted and carpetted!  Yah!  Hopefully getting wired today so we can have power an...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Nov 29, 2011, 5:23 pm
We have come to a new phase in my mental health treatment. Heading away from the path that says “a few years of drugs and this may all go away” to “this looks like it’s going to be a lifetime thing and you’re going to have to learn to live with it”. Not a path I EVER wanted to take. W...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Nov 25, 2011, 8:03 pm
I’m becoming the Queen of online shopping. It has a tendency to happen when you live so far away from shops. Not that I would advocate ALL online shopping because we don’t want to put everyone out of a job.  And seeing stuff is always a bonus. But the worst thing I find about living so far a...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Nov 18, 2011, 9:25 pm
I didn’t something a little out of character the other day. Something that I think many women have already done. But something I didn’t actually think I would EVER do. I bought an expensive handbag. I Guess it’s not the MOST expensive handbag I could have bought BUT my last handbag was $14...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Nov 11, 2011, 11:56 pm
Farmboy and I watched a movie the other night called “The Bucket List”. Then today on Simple Savings there is some discussion about Bucket Lists. I know I have written short term goals like my 37 Things To Do Before I Turn 38 list. But I’ve never really “dreamt big” so to speak. The bi...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Nov 10, 2011, 12:59 am
Regular readers of this blog will know that I’ve been in a “down cycle” with my depression over the past few months.  It has been something of a stressful and despondent time for me, having to come to terms with the fact that my depression is not simply going to “go away”. I had thought ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Nov 7, 2011, 5:03 am
As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, most of our Christmas Guests this year are staying overnight so I have several meals to menu plan for. My theme this year is “keep it simple” so that everyone (including me) can relax and enjoy just being together. CHRISTMAS EVE At this stage, I’m no...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Nov 4, 2011, 8:28 pm
Image via Wikipedia I’m pretty sure now that it’s November, I’m safe talking about Christmas.  Right? Right….???? We’re hosting Christmas this year for Farmboy’s family. It’s been planned for almost 2 years now - had to give everybody a couple of years notice to make sure everyone...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Oct 30, 2011, 7:08 pm
The boys in our family headed off this weekend for a Father/Son camp leaving the house somewhat quiet and Testosterone Free. In true “girlie” style, I cried when I said goodbye to hubby (I’m a big sook like that). We made pizzas, opened the chocolate and settled down to watch some Zac Effron...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Oct 29, 2011, 9:51 am
That’s what I am. My brain doesn’t function well. And I see the success of other bloggers and feel so “not up to the task”. So instead of blogging what I want blog about. I’ve let myself be crippled. By thoughts of unworthiness. By thoughts that no-one really wants to read what I’m...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Sep 14, 2011, 11:07 pm
Today is R U OK Day. From the website: It’s a national day of action which aims to prevent suicide by encouraging Australians to connect with someone they care about and help stop little problems turning into big ones. And the truth is? I am NOT OK.  I’ve been feeling like I’m standin...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Sep 13, 2011, 11:07 pm
While my playing year was certainly full of ups and downs this year, my first attempt at Coaching was an AMAZING experience. I’ve had SO much encouragement and SO many positive comments, which means SO much to someone who seriously lacks confidence in themselves. Of course, when I said I’d tak...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Sep 11, 2011, 5:50 am
Image by cliff1066™ via Flickr It’s a pity they don’t give out silver medals for netball! Yesterday we lost our game. I know my team-mates are pretty gutted by it. I wish I could have pulled out something special for them. But it wasn’t in me. It’s been a rough week. Something as ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Sep 8, 2011, 8:13 pm
Well, I managed to get up enough courage to go to training last night. It’s probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Thankfully, I have had some amazing support and encouragement from the President of our club. She phoned me yesterday, talked to me before training last night, and wa...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Sep 3, 2011, 8:34 pm
Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will know a little about the background to me taking up netball again. In a nutshell, I played for a couple of years as a kid, had a coach for 1 of those years who really made me feel like I was a SOMEBODY rather than a NOBODY. And for years g...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Aug 31, 2011, 7:46 am
Kind of. I’ve only ever read about them in books. You know, where all the farming neighbours gather and put up a barn. Of course, times have changed and we’re actually paying our friends to put up a shed. Kind of. It’s a fundraiser for our church. The guys from church are here putting up...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Aug 29, 2011, 6:05 am
Go Me!!!! Things are going so much smoother having a menu plan.  I don’t know why I get so resistant to doing it.  I’ve even shopped this week based on the menu plan (something I very rarely do). This Week’s Menu Plan: Monday - BBQ steak with a creamy seafood sauce and BBQ vegies Tuesday...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Aug 24, 2011, 11:38 pm
Can you believe it’s almost 9 weeks since I hurt my ankle playing netball? Unfortunately, there is still quite a bit of pain and a little swelling. Tuesday I went to see a different Physio.  One who specialises in back issues.  Limping around for 2 months has taken it’s toll on my back. App...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Aug 23, 2011, 3:15 am
I’ve been shopping!!!! Online shopping!!!! At Inner-B. They have the most beautiful organisers in Fuschia (one of my favourite colours!). And at the moment they are on SALE!!!  (Yah!). Partly because the year is almost half way over. BUT you can buy refills each year for less than $10. So ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Aug 17, 2011, 2:11 am
There’s no doubt about it. Parenting is a tough gig! You show me someone who thinks it isn’t and I’ll show you someone living in la-la land. Bringing up children to be well-adjusting, happy young adults is a tough ask. Navigating the emotional turmoil of life, relationships, homework and e...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Aug 11, 2011, 8:40 pm
1. What time did you get up this morning? 8.30am.  Didn’t sleep well last night! 2. How do you like your steak? Medium 3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Rio - had hoped to take the kids to see Cars 2 but it didn’t work out. 4. What is your favorite TV show? The Block - i...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Aug 7, 2011, 9:33 pm
While Farmboy was climbing to the top of Ayers Rock, the kids and I drove around the other side and did a short walk to a Gorge that was marked on our map. Fortunately for us, we were just behind a tour group and overheard the tour guide tell her group to turn around and have a look at this: I dou...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jul 25, 2011, 4:07 am
Apparently. Well, I didn’t get that far up Ayers Rock. But I did do the entire Rim Walk of Kings Canyon (just over 6km including plenty of steps to get up there - the hardest part was coming down the slope mind you). And it would seem I do have a small chip out of my left ankle. Nothing too se...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jul 20, 2011, 8:29 pm
I just clicked through a link someone posted on facebook and I have to share it. It’s called The Spoon Theory and it’s quite a powerful way of explaining things to people who have never suffered from “You Don’t Look Sick” type illnesses. As someone who has struggled with a number of thes...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jul 18, 2011, 6:41 am
It’s not really something I’ve ever thought about to be quite honest. I always think of Ayers Rock as a hot, arid, place. But in the rain, it is SO different.  Unfortunately, pictures don’t really do it justice, but we did try to capture the experience as best we could. This is on the way ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jul 15, 2011, 4:33 am
We’ve just got home from a couple of weeks away and after an hour and a half of unpacking, I decided I have earnt the right to put my feet up for a bit and catch up on some online stuff. When I opened up my blog, what did I find? BLOG COMMENTS!!! Lots of lovely blog comments. My poor blog has ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jul 11, 2011, 7:30 pm
On a recent trip to Port Lincoln, we were fortunate enough to see the “One and All” while it was docked. We had a friend who was heading off on a 5 day voyage so we were expecting it to be in Lincoln over the weekend. Sunday morning we went to have a look. The “One and All” runs youth dev...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jul 7, 2011, 7:30 pm
I didn’t get around to posting during seeding this year about my tractor driving. Life kinda got insanely busy! Which means, I haven’t shown you our new tractor: New to us anyway! We bought it from Farmboy’s father who has semi-retired this year. Now, tractors don’t come in a range of c...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jul 1, 2011, 7:30 pm
Image via Wikipedia So, today is my 37th birthday and right now I feel like life is simply flying by. On the other hand, I’ve also done and achieved some pretty wonderful things in my 37 years here on this earth.  In fact, as you read this, I’m on my way Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon to  to se...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jun 30, 2011, 7:30 pm
The results of turning my ankle during a netball game! a OUCH!
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jun 29, 2011, 8:21 am
Image via Wikipedia For some people eating breakfast comes as naturally as breathing. Why wouldn’t you wake up starving and eat something, that’s normal right? Not for everyone. I fall into the camp that really struggles to eat first thing in the morning. As a teenager I didn’t eat breakf...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jun 26, 2011, 4:06 am
I had a really great game of netball yesterday. Our team got the first goal and we stayed in front for the entire game. A huge boost for us given we haven’t yet won a game this season. And with a couple of people away this week, I was looking forward to getting a full game. Last week I had a b...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jun 22, 2011, 4:57 am
One thing I am learning on my journey to remove white sugar from my diet is that you don’t have to go without treats. In fact, there are some AMAZING recipes out there for “healthy treats”.  Often they are still high in calories so you still need to view them as “treats” but at least the...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jun 19, 2011, 5:22 am
Image via Wikipedia I have now managed to go 3 weeks without eating any white sugar. Well, almost anyway as I suspect there was some sugar in the barbeque sauce on my pizza last night. Close enough to 3 weeks anyway. It’s actually empowering to think that someone who usually eats at least a sm...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jun 17, 2011, 8:12 am
One of the things I hate most about my struggle with depression is the brain fog. Wanting desperately to put 2 thoughts together and not really being able to. Constantly feeling tired and like I’m thinking “through a cloud”. It’s awful and frustrating. And I’m not even sure if it’s c...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jun 8, 2011, 3:00 am
Tears beat a steady stream down my face as I drive along. The intensity of the emotions waring within me overwhelming. My throat feels like it has closed over. Why can’t I breath? Terror is added to the emotions and the tears come harder and faster and my body goes into a full blown panic atta...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jun 4, 2011, 8:29 am
While I was writing my post about Conquering a Sugar Addiction, Zemanta came up with some “related post” suggestions.  One in particular caught my eye - Sugar Free, Baby.  I clicked through thinking I might find a blogger on a similar journey to me (or one that has been there). That post led ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Jun 1, 2011, 11:18 pm
Image via Wikipedia This week I am attempting to go 7 days without sugar! Insane? Probably. Why? I was finding my sugar intake was getting out of control. Like I was compulsively eating honey crackles, one after the other after the other. Then I’d make another batch because I felt guilty I ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - May 31, 2011, 3:12 am
We’re big on games in our family. They’re great for quality time, lots of laughs and have many educational benefits too! In fact, we have an entire cupboard full of games (not so full now that I’ve shifted some into the caravan for when we go away). Some are more popular than others. One g...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - May 26, 2011, 8:16 pm
I tried to set up a Lightening Online Facebook Page a while ago but never got around to actually publishing it (the story of my life at the moment). Sometimes I just want to ask my readers a question or post something really brief and it seems like such a chore to do a full post on it and expect pe...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - May 25, 2011, 3:48 am
Singstar Princess has been asking to make chocolate mousse. Not something I’ve ever made before. Off I went to the internet, trying to find a simple recipe that didn’t contain too many raw eggs (not a big fan of eating raw egg white in great quantities). We thought we’d found one. It was A...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - May 17, 2011, 9:13 am
Every time a busy season comes around on the farm and I become a “temporary widow” and “temporary single parent”, I am overwhelmed by how hard the task can be (and in awe of those who do it on a more permanent basis). I will admit that it is easier these days than it was when the kids were ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - May 12, 2011, 9:48 am
Image via Wikipedia Thank you so much for your ideas.  It’s really helped me open my mind to things “outside” of my normal realm of consideration. I’ve been browsing around the internet and came across soy candle making kits. You can get kits where you make the candles and then sell them...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - May 10, 2011, 7:58 pm
This is not a new realisation. I’ve always struggled with finding something I could just relax and enjoy doing. I learnt piano for a while. Until it became more of a “chore” than a “hobby”. Netball is kind of a hobby. Only at the moment I’m not enjoying it at all. I am enjoying my ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - May 4, 2011, 7:12 am
The fitness and weight loss wagon that is. Today I started back with my Fitness Trainer at our tiny local gym. It’s been almost 2 years since we were meeting together on a weekly basis. We were away and then she went on Maternity Leave. I have battled on with my fitness myself but I KNOW I do ...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - May 1, 2011, 9:31 pm
Everyone seems to be commenting on how fast these School Holidays have gone.  I think having Easter in the middle of the holidays was one factor. Then again, I’m not sure I ever find 2 weeks enough. When the kids were smaller, I used to hang out for school to go back. When you’re in a blur o...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Apr 11, 2011, 8:04 am
They say that Melbourne is full of “hidden treasures” in all their little streets and laneways. “They” are right! Thanks to a great review by Kath from Gone Chocco, we hunted out Chokolait, a chocolate cafe tucked away in an arcade off one of Melbourne’s more minor streets (Little Collin...
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Apr 9, 2011, 9:07 am
We interupt our regular “Melbourne” posts to bring you an update on todays netball (and football) season opener: Today was a HUGE day for me with our netball/football season kicking off with a home game. I woke up a bundle of nerves for many reasons.  First game for me.  First game as coach....
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Jodi B. posted an article on Lightening - Apr 7, 2011, 2:16 am
One simply cannot visit Melbourne without a visit to one of their 2 Lindt Cafes.  Unless of course you’re from Sydney where Lindt cafes are no doubt “so yesterday”. For those of use who live in the “backwaters” (I say that with great pride of course) where no such Lindt cafes reside, mus...
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