IGoddessI

holy crap lol good one. The only aussie thing I can make out is crunch and skittles oops and kit kat :P @ duff... it wouldn't surprise me if they were being sexist they are those kinda people. Sometimes he posts these jokes on facebook and I wonder how he can walk out his front door in the morning without being flogged with a 3 ply :mrgreen:

Err? Nobody is saying you have to. I also don't believe in Halloween, I think it is a pedos dream come true and also don't believe in encouraging my kids to ask for candy from strangers. I'm just saying a polite no thanks is a good way to deal with it, no need to be a grumpy shit about it though. On the funny side, my partners friends forgot it was Halloween and felt bad that they had nothing to give the kids so they gave the boys a can of baked beans each and the girls a box of cake mix hahaha......

Family first by Dr Phil... a lot of things I already know but it's worth reading because he has some great strategies and a few things worth learning about

Today should be interesting... get to hear who is rsvping to the wedding and reception afterwards... hopefully people reply on time so we can organize how much alcohol we need to buy and food platters to order. 10 days to go!! I had a test run on my hair last night too omg it turned out sooooo beautiful!

lol zierro of course do what you wish, if you want to be known as that "arse" be my guest. Hope you get egged :D Personally, I don't think kids deserve to be treated that way. Nobody has to give them anything, a polite no is justifiable.

My little 3 year old was very excited tonight, our door got knocked on about 5 times with parents and their kiddies dressed up. He got the job of giving them candy and chocolates and wishing them a good night. He sat by the door and wouldn't move until more turned up and he would start shouting "they're here they're here!" lmao think he had a good time. @ the grumpy bum who doesn't give out lollies. If they were your children, bet the tables would turn pretty quickly. They're just little kids, no need to be an arsehole. If you don't believe in it, tell them nicely that you don't but wish them a great night, not hard.

^^ I had the same upbringing mate. If you don't have the money, you don't buy it, pretty simple. I have never owed a cent in my life. I think my fiance' and I are the only people in the circle of friends we have who doesn't owe money on a credit card. I don't plan to use a bank loan when I buy my first house either to save a shit load of interest. It's not hard to bank hardcore for 5-10 years and stick it in a high interest account. Once I own a house, it's not hard to save an average of $1,200 extra a month, sell the house I'm in and buy the dream home I've always wanted. Leaves plenty of superannuation and money for my kids and grand kids to enjoy when I'm gone. Everything we have, we own as we saved hard and went out and bought it all.

We do this well at the moment considering my husband to be got demoted from his management position and stuck in the garage as a head mechanic because he's the best they have and want their return percentages risen. How did they thank him for his 14 years of service? By decreasing his salary by $30,000!!!! Right when we're paying for a wedding in just over 2 weeks time... My wallet currently holds nothing but dust and cobwebs lol Even when we had plenty of spare cash, I still do the same things!! Full price is for fools. Shop from independent grocers or from the markets for fresh produce and meats. Make a list and stick to it. Bring a calculator if you have to, to stay on budget Put $20 a week in to your utility bills so when they come in quarterly, you don't owe as much Sometimes it's cheaper to buy in bulk, especially toilet paper and laundry powder Learn the times that your local shop has items on sale. If you're Australian, woolies and coles usually mark down their meats, bakery items and dairy products about an hour before closing time. If the packaging is broken or damaged, companies allow a discounted price. I saved $15.00 off my son's tonka truck because the package was damaged, there was nothing wrong with the truck. Ask for discount on floor stock. I saved $450 off my dressing table because it was floor stock, also saved $80 on my son's quad bike. If you've seen it cheaper, haggle to drop the price. I once got a jeweller to sell me an $800 bracelet for half price by walking out on her 3 times. Freeze products and expand their life span. Buy marked down bread and freeze, thaw if you need. Expand life on meats, bakery items, vegetables. ALWAYS check your receipt! over 50% of the time I go shopping, there has been a price error or scanning error with grocery shopping. Check pre loved clothing stores - Not only are most of them run by major charity organisations but there are some beautiful clothes. I recently picked up 5 beautiful skirts for $29, when in retail outlets they would be at least $30.00 each. Cheap entertainment. Cheap Tuesdays here, for $7 you can get a pizza and rent a new release dvd. Do shopping on a full stomach so you have no desire to throw in extra tasty products If you buy fruits that are going out of season, cut out the middle man go straight to the farmers. Also, check your produce. Did you know if Mr woolies or Mr coles has a bad box of strawberries, they will try to flog them off evenly, 1 or 2 in each package? Also check the bottom of the punnet, have they hidden squashed ones down there? Plant your own fruit, veg and herbs Generic brands are sometimes BETTER for you and taste BETTER. - Me personally: lasagne, weetbix, pasta sauce, pasta ect Just an example but home brand fruit boxes pack of 6 cost me $1.80 or I can pay $3.00+ for something that has less real fruit contribution, more sugars, preservatives, colour additives just because it has a pretty picture on the box? Read those annoying catalogues that are always thrown on the front lawn. I am loyal to NO SHOP, I am loyal to whoever gives me the best discounts on the products I need. I ying and yang because I value my dollar. Play companys against each other... Harvey norman have a washing machine for $700, what is the best price you can do? $680...right well now I go to talk to Mr clive peters....can you beat $680? yes $620.... okay well I will go away and think about it... Good guys... can you beat $620? $590.... SOLD! I go to garage sales and round up a whole heap of children's dvds and books for my son. I've never paid more than $3 each... retailed up to $30 each. I once bought the whole series of high 5 for $30!!! My partner is also a trained mechanic so he fixes my friends and family's cars all the time and just charges them for the parts that he can buy discounted. He just serviced our car for $30 when it can cost anything up to $300...usually around $190. Turn all your appliances off by the switch/wall when you're not using them!!! especially computers and tvs. If you're not in a room, turn off the light, if you're finished with the kettle, flick the switch. You can save yourself hundreds of dollars each year. Our electricity bill is usually about a hundred dollars cheaper a quarter than anyone we know lol Go and put things on layby with low deposits and especially take advantage of times like christmas with 0 deposits. You can pay just a little each week until they are paid off.

I can't remember if I posted in this thread somewhere but I'll comment again anyway. I don't have the energy to go read sources and what not and present some wonderful argument but here is the gist: My personal choice is to never abort. I take full responsibility of my actions and will rise to the responsibility. The only time I would abort is if I were raped. However, I'm smart enough to take the morning after pill so I wouldn't be pregnant anyway. Though, the pill is not always reliable, especially when taken with some medications. I prefer if other women didn't abort but it is not my body and not my choice. I am anti abortion, other than rape but I am also pro choice. I choose to live my beliefs and let others live theirs.

I live in Brissy, Australia. We don't really celebrate halloween here. I do buy wrapped chocolate and candy though to give out because I'm a sucker for the little kiddies who ask for them, I can't say no lol Usually one bag of choccies and one bag of candy (to open and give out, not each), sometimes we get no trick or treaters, sometimes the odd one or two... The shops make a huge deal out of it but seriously... QLD isn't too big on it. People will probably flame me for saying this but I don't really like it. I don't encourage children to go around to strangers houses to ask for candy and what not. Halloween would be a pedophiles dream come true and favourite time of the year. If not accompanied by a parent, it's so easy for kids to go missing. That and you don't know what you're eating. It might be wrapped but any sicko can rewrap things or inject crap in it. Or give out things past their use by date and make people sick. Chances are probably ridiculously slim but still... In saying that, it is pretty cool how people dress their houses up and have a lot of fun. Go for it... It's just not my thing.

preparing for a wedding.... thank god I only have to do this once lol It is frustrating as hell and I have no patience left and snapping at everyone. If you ever get married, hopefully you'll have more friends than I do and can delegate lists for them to do so you don't have to do it all yourself :thumbup: At one stage I did have bridesmaids but they ditched the date we picked out to get dresses fitted to go to the beach... thankfully I haven't seen them since that day or I would have made them eat sand and they're no longer brides maids. That and people get their noses out of joint if you don't invite them or don't invite people they want to be there. How about a cup of stfu for every, single, one of them it's my day and I'll do what I want!!! yeah that's right *flips the bird*....oh my.... I think I need a nanna nap, I'm a cranky cow. Weddings.... pay someone else to do it :)

Helmets are the law here matey. I teach my son to be law abiding and sensible. I know a little boy who was run over by a car and snapped his helmet clean in half, otherwise he would have been DEAD. A broken arm heals, brain injury is irreversible. I thought that was just common sense but seems teenagers these days care more about how they look in one lol Which I understand of course... I used to be one ;) but it did sink in eventually. In fact... wearing a helmet prevents up to 88% of brain injuries in bad falls. Here's a few horror stories where a bike helmet saved a life: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Bike-Helmet-Saved-My-Life-Child-123847204.html http://forums.roadbikereview.com/general-cycling-discussion/helmet-saved-my-life-181245.html http://deerfield.patch.com/articles/bike-helmet-saves-doctors-life

I have a 3 year old boy. I find I don't need to smack because I'm able to explain things to him in ways he mentally understands. I have tried smacking, it doesn't work for my child, he laughs at me and tells me to do it again. I think every child is different and needs to be punished accordingly. You wouldn't punish all of your children the same as they all have different personalities and learn differently. You wouldn't teach a kinetics learner with audio or visual if you get my drift. I'm not against smacking so long as its done lawfully; no objects, below the shoulders and doesn't leave a mark. It just personally doesn't work for child number 1 in my house hold. While I'm here I want to have a whinge about all the stupid parents who let their children play on the road outside their houses. Haven't you heard of a backyard before? Maybe get off your arse and take your kids to a park so they can ride their bikes, skateboard, roller blades, scooters. And invest in a helmet for f... sake. I am so tired of driving down the street, waiting for 2 year olds to get off the road with no parent in sight, or the 5 year old riding with no helmet. Too bad if I came around the corner and didn't see them, BANG. A ROAD IS NOT A PLAY GROUND!!! IT IS NOT OKAY FOR YOUR KIDS TO RIDE WITHOUT SUPERVISION AND A HELMET. Rarrrrrrrrrrr..... done :mrgreen: I always point at them and show my 3 year old.... "Look at that silly boy riding with no helmet, he could get hurt on the road" ----------------------------------------------- Also I had my child before I was married. It doesn't make me any less of a parent and if you knew my circumstances you'd understand why I'm so thankful that I didn't get married to that loser and found a better father for my child. Both are blessings and I wouldn't change a thing.

When I see parents accepting their children when they announce they are gay or lesbian, seeing old people hold hands and kiss still after all those years, equal pay rights for women, seeing white kids playing with multi cultural children and vice verser, seeing honest people hand in a wallet or credit card, seeing parents playing and being involved with their children, people who treat their pets like they're part of the family and not just tied out the back somewhere every day of the week, parents teaching their kids responsible things like wearing helmets while bike riding, holding hands and looking both ways across the street, teenagers who still remember to visit their grandparents and respecting their elders, teenagers saying no to peer pressure, responsible drinkers who drink in moderation, people who are passionate about their job, people who spend their lives helping others, a smile with customer service, people who have the guts to say I've had enough and no thanks, that one person who stands up and disagrees with what everyone else is saying because they know it's wrong or because they aren't afraid of having a different opinion. There's a few I can think of.

Getting married in 17 days!!!!!!!! I should be happy but I'm scared shitless mostly. I'm sure everything will go fine it's probably because I'm stressed. Just over 2 weeks to go and I still have to find a mobile hairdresser/make up artist, order a wedding cake.... Do you know how hard that is going to be to book on such short notice?? Arrrrrgh 11.11.11 at 11:11am bwahahaha.... just because it is my favourite number.

Black and white mixed couples make me smile, its not the 1950's anymore. Everyone has the right to live happily.

Hi Rob I can tell you that short answers can mean two things. 1. She has social anxiety and gets thought blocks and isn't intentionally shutting you out or 2. You are being cut off communication all together. Consider it a bit of classical conditioning. If you like to have conversations and you're continually given brief answers, you will learn the behaviour of not even bothering as it lacks little reward. Much like a little mouse will stop eating cheese if it is scared or shocked every time it goes near it. Now since we know this person isn't a shy person and it is pretty hard to have social anxiety over technical devices, I'm 100% positive you're in category 2 buddy. And while we're here... there is no chance of a friendship but you'll learn that the hard way too probably lol Secondly, don't under estimate shy girls. When I met the person I'm about to marry I barely said boo to him. You have to spend time together desensitizing the awkward silences. She needs to be comfortable with your touch, she needs to feel safe with you and once you share personal information about one another she will open up. Let me tell you this: If you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it's not because they enjoy solitude. It's because they have tried and tried again to blend into the world before and people continue to disappoint them. Jodi Picoult The aim is for her to be able to reveal her true self to you, without you judging her. Once she understands that you like her for who she is, she will be who she really is. Plus, I know plenty of friends of mine who are complete opposites. The key is to admire things in each other that you don't, yourself, posses. I guess that's the thing when you're young.... you seem to think you have to have everything in common ;)

It's believed that "contagious" yawning is a form of social bonding and linked to empathy (Dr Gordon Gallup, 2007). Stranglely, researchers at Kyoto University in Japan (2007) have only been able to link "contagious" yawning to humans and chimpanzees.The possibility of dogs was ruled out by canine author Turid Rugaas (2007). Dogs were found to yawn to calm down. This happens in children over the age of 4, however, a less common trait in kids with Autism. The more severe the case, the less likely they are to "catch" a yawn. This piece of research began with Clinical Psychology graduate student Molly Helt who asked her Autistic son to yawn with her while on a plane. Robert Provine (2010) a developmental neuroscientist, found between 40 and 60 percent of healthy adults yawn after seeing someone yawn, thinking about yawning and reading the word "yawn." Other current findings suggest yawning is a protective mechanism to make a group more alert or is herding behaviour. Did I catch the yawn? No because I was already aware of the experiments.

Here's an interesting reply... I'm going to be the first to admit I've had a serious gambling problem going back a few years ago. I've probably spent close to $30,000, no word of a lie. I have Bipolar disorder and when I get on highs, I have the urge to spend money. I'm now on a mood stabilizer so my highs are nowhere near as severe. Gambling can be your best friend when you're trying to escape from other problems in your life. It can be your social life when you have none. Women are more likely to become "closest gamblers" which means they prefer to gamble alone. Most women who gamble are characterised by problem childhoods, troubled married life and troubled adult life. NSW health department (2000) found that women who gambled often gambled to escape lonliness, isolation, boredom, stress, depression, sexual assault, childhood sexual assult and domestic violence. Poker machine gambling has the ability to to arouse if a woman's mood is low and the capacity to sedate a woman from the anxiety and troubles in her day to day life.

It's only depressing as you make it :thumbup: Take yourself out to dinner for a big, juicy steak and then come home, watch your favourite shows with a 6 pack. Give yourself some lovin' :lol: