Tiny Hearts by Kimberly Henderson

One of the most beautiful songs ever. Being alone in NZ with my girl it brought me to tears. We came to NZ when Chrissy was 4 weeks old after I gave in to my ex-husband and left the UK and I've been trapped here many years.  I realise how hard I made it for myself now but I love my NZ family, they have kept me strong and we've had so much fun together and I wouldn't change a thing.

For every parent, especially solo parents watch these two videos in order:

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Clannad Dango Plushies

Dango daikazoku!

My girl loved the Anime Clannad and so for Christmas we bought her a Botan plushie and I made these little Dango :)

Pattern: starstreak-seeker... Eyes and cheeks are permanent markers. Mustache is sewn on false stick-on. Baby is smaller circle then wrap a strip around the bottom half, sew along the bottom (careful not to sew baby) then cut off excess and turn inside out :)

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Fast Easy Mircrowave Chocolate fudge

My girl (10yrs) followed Elizabeth LaBau's simple instructions from the following YouTube video to make this quick and tasty Chocolate Fudge.

Let me know if you try it!

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Phewfee! Is On The Move

Help me get this out in the shops everyone! :D

I've officially entered the Virgin Pitch To The Rich contest with my product Phewfee! in hope to get it out there for the wonderful ladies of our world to enjoy.

If you didn't know, this natural oil crushes 70% of menstruation pain in 20 minutes.  I think we all deserve that.  I've felt so selfish keeping it to myself all these years so I have shared it with a few friends and it seems to work every time.  So why isn't it out there for everyone?

Well, I'm a solo mum, stuck in New Zealand with no family.  My family and home town is in the UK (should be moving back in May) and my partner and boys are in the US (long story for another long romantic post XD).  I do have a steady job but I've no clue with business start-up and I find it hard to face these things alone.  Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of wonderful friends in NZ and they have supported me in my NZ journey - I am especially grateful to every one of them and I believe I've told them enough for them to know this.  But in short, it is harder to manage solo away from family and starting a business is something I'm struggling with alone.

Anyway... enough of the downer.  I really want to win this contest and get this oil out there for everyone.  I think it'd be great if it helps many more women out there and are readily available.  I can't believe it isn't there already, that no one knows how amazing this oil blend is.  It is pretty simple and effective, and the ladies of the world deserve to know about it!

So please go and vote so we can own this!  Thank you so much <3

Cheri the Hopeful



Steps to take:
Click on this link
Enter your email address
Confirm the vote by clicking the link in the received email
(the vote wont count unless you confirm it)

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Hand Washing Clothes

Sorry it's been a loooong time since the last post but I was busy finding work then busy juggling jobs. All is settled now so let the blogging commence!! (blogging shows up as not in the dictionary, surely it should be by now? Its what I'm doing!! lol - oh and lol hehehee)

Anyway... my washing machine died last week, R.I.P. and bless it's little over-used motor. I haven't rushed to the second hand store to buy another, no no noooo, I have instead taken this moment to learn how to wash clothes by hand. I must say, I'm enjoying it a lot more than I think I aught to be :D

I thought I'd share my experience and Internet findings for those of you interested in this path or maybe who also have a washing machine emergency.

First I had to decide which container to use and I chose the bath as it needs a clean and I could wash more more clothes at once. I used my usual budget laundry powder though I'll be switching to something bio-degradable as that stuff kills your hands. You can use a plunger to agitate the clothes but I prefer to get right in there and do it all myself (rubber gloves are a bonus - though I'd like an alternative to that - plunger it is!).

Right so, bath 1/3 full of warm water I added only about a 1/4 cup of powder and washed 2 1/2 loads of washing starting with white and filtering to black. Slowly adding clothes and agitating as I went, then wringing and puting in a laundry bastket awaiting rinse.

Next step empty bath, re-fill 1/3 not-as-warm water and repeat process minus the powder. I found this one rinse was all that was needed. Next I put it all out on the line et voila... one very happy clean-clothed Squirrel was I :) (I like squirrels so shhh or I'll start throwing acorns :P)

Now to the comparison...

Pros

1. I actually used less laundry powder than I would in the machine for over twice the load. That's my stupid fault though for always adding more. Still I did get double the wash out of what I should be putting in the machine.
2. I've washed another 2 loads since then and both have been pretty much the same, they only take an hour from start to finish for 2-3 wash loads, I don't think the machine was ever even finished by then with one lot!
3. Added exercise and I felt really good about my achievement. I could do with a couple of tubs out in the garden though - much more relaxing.

Cons

1. I used a non-bio-degradable powder so I couldn't use the water for my garden.
2. duvets... hmmm not sure what I'm going to do about them, and thick or heavy things. Heaviest was one of my cozy jumpers and that was a pain!
3. I used (in total) approximately 54US/46UK gallons by hand as apposed to a supposed 42.5US/35UK gallons. I can't believe I actually used more water :( Bath measurements calculated using this page (((59*23)*14)= 18,998 cubic inches then convert to gallons). Though, I estimated 1/3 of the full bath and it could be 1/4 I guess? Can't find washing machine manual but online says 65L per load average. Meh, estimations *pouts*
4. the clothes are dripping wet when you put them on the line so 1 day out there might not be enough, not to mention trying this in winter!

I also found this awesome thread (a little drama in there but ignore it and chew through) where a lot of options are discussed and powder recipes. I recommend you look out for - or 'find' - the post by BikeWarrior.

Good luck in your washing ventures. Please do comment and/or ask questions!

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