Oh For Crying Out Loud... the World's gone MAD!

Monash University public health expert Dr Nathan Grills says Santa Claus promotes obesity, speeding, drink-driving.....

With his portly belly and a fondness for a brandy-fuelled spin on the sleigh, Santa Claus is hardly the picture of health or safety.

Now his wild ways are catching up with him, with calls for a radical overhaul of his bad boy image. A study by Monash University public health expert Dr Nathan Grills found Santa could be promoting obesity, speeding and drink-driving, and damaging millions of lives.

The childhood legend should be used to promote a healthy lifestyle, the study, published in the British Medical Journal, found.

It suggested Santa slim down by ditching the cookies, mince pies and milk, and instead snacking on his reindeers' carrots and celery sticks. Santa also should trade in the sleigh for a bike or throw his sack over his shoulder and hit the global road on foot.

And the brandy should definitely be banished, because of its pound-piling potential.

It could also put Santa at risk of drink-driving, given that he visits billions of houses and takes a tipple at each.

His reckless behaviour could also encourage extreme sports such as roof surfing and chimney jumping - not to mention speeding.

At the very least he should buckle up or don a helmet, the study says.

Santa also has the potential to spread infectious diseases, the review warns. If he sneezes or coughs around 10 times a day, all the children who sit on his lap may end up with swine flu.

Food & Nutrition Australia dietitian Sharon Natoli agreed that pictures of Santa drinking and smoking were inappropriate. But she added: "I think it's going a bit far to suggest Santa slim down as he is an international icon rather than a role model."

Monster time again...

J has finished school for the year now, which I just can't get my head around, tbh. The first day of his holidays he had a birthday party to go to, one of his classmates, Jaxson. Here's the card I knocked together the morning of the party before I went to work:

Yup, the monster rides again! I'm thinking that this monster is definitely the most user friendly creature for little boys cards... Oh and the reason it is PURPLE? That's Jaxson's favourite colour! Truely!

Just love how cute J's handwriting is right now. He loves writing little stories and is constantly drawing us wee pictures to take to work. Too cute. Helps make up for those not-so-cute moments, you know? Ha ha ha!

Righto, time to pack up little dude to go to the sitter's while I head off to work. Hope you're all having a good lead-up to the silly season, not too rushed/stressed.

Oh and for those of you that have asked, Mum is home again after her hip replacement, and is getting there bit by bit. Our 'bionic woman' will be up and running again in no time, I reckon! Jokes aside, I know she's still pretty sore, and very tired too, but what better time of year to take it easy at home, have a few nana-naps, and avoid the craziness of retail? Fantastic!

Ok, best go... Toodles, B x

Here 'tis....

Yup, you finally get to see the finished product....

Let's face it, if it wasn't brightly coloured and covered in bling, it wouldn't be mine, would it?! Oh, and PINK of course! But wait, there's more...

It has LIGHTS! Ha ha ha! We have lights at our place - on the roof, on the fences, all over the place really. So, again, if it didn't have lights on, it wouldn't be a Caithness Christmas item :)

The Christmas photo to go in the centre hasn't been taken yet, as Movember interfered with my plans! I might take one this Christmas Day to put on it for next Christmas.

Cute huh? I reckon!

Toodles, B x

Here she goes...

I've just finished something that I started after I got J home from school this afternoon (with interruptions like tea, bathtime/bedtime, and watching V on the telly!)... it's actually a Flower Fairy, which I bought the pattern for at Annies Country Quilt Store in Ashburton, although in this case I'm calling her a Good Luck Angel... she's for my Mum, and she's going to keep her company in hospital when she goes in for her hip replacement tomorrow. I'll be delivering her on the way to work tomorrow morning :)

What have YOU been doing lately? Keep me posted, yeah?

Toodles, B x

Take a look at this...

Yup, she's famous now... click here to see the write up about Dianne on the Up 2 Scrap blog. Well done Dianne on getting selected for the design team! :) Looking forward to seeing some of your amazing creations on their site soon.

I need YOUR help...

I have a novel idea for a calendar for my office at work... but I need help, please :) I want photos of the numbers 1 - 31, but all different kinds, not just mailboxes, you know? Maybe on storefronts, cars, advertising, etc etc. If you see a really cool number when you're out and about, take a photo of it would you? Then email it to me :) Thanks! Cheers Ears.

Before I forget AGAIN...

I keep meaning to tell you guys about this website... Stacy Julian's Sprinkles. Love the name she's used! Also LOVE the idea. A lot like the Random Acts of Kindness book that I have (which anyone is most welcome to borrow if they like). I spent a bit of time back in the early 90's strongly endorsing the message Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty. I even wrote it on a huge banner and hung it on my (student) wall. It's all about doing things like putting money in someone's parking meter when it's expired, or leaving a food parcel or other necessary surprise for someone who needs it, without them knowing it was you. That's the idea. The anonymity. You Timaruvians will remember a while back the Christmas Angel who left little gifts anonymously around town during the 12 days leading up to Christmas? I was one of her helpers! ;) It's getting the warm fuzzies doing something nice for someone else, without needing the recognition. Go forth, people, and SPRINKLE! Go on, DO IT!

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What are you waiting for?....... GO!

I've Been Creatin...

It's my friend Jen's birthday tomorrow. She called in for a cuppa this afternoon on her way home from work, so I threw this card together this afternoon, and I was really pleased with how it turned out. (Oh and I reckon when Rach sees this she'll say it's more of a Rach card than a Beck card). Take a look:

Cardstock: Worldwin Double Mates Lovely Lilac; Patterned Paper: Kaisercraft Lilac Avenue; Bling: Kaisercraft; Stamp: Whiff of Joy; Border Punch: Martha Stewart Doily Lace Punch; Inks: Black Staz-on, Martha Stewart Sweet Pea, Martha Stewart Bamboo; Other: Watercolour Pencils, Ric-Rac, Oval Nesties

Oh and butter wouldn't melt in the mouth of my little helper - NOT! Ha ha ha. I'm listening to The Cult as I type - only one or two episodes left, quite intriguing... what's up with the military-style chick helping out the Momentums? Find out soon I guess...

Right - off to make some more Chrissy Cards...

Toodles, B x

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...

...Jingle all the Waaaay, Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleeeeeiiiigh!!! Yeehaa!

Oh, I LOVE Christmas. (Gee, can you tell?! teeheehee) Today I post off my first batch of Christmas cards - 16 to be exact. I still have a few more to finish making, then they can be addressed and go too. There's something SO nice about getting mail at this time of year that isn't in a nasty little window envelope with a piece of paper inside saying 'PAY ME' !

I love getting mail. I'm sure other people appreciate it too. The old fashioned kind, in an envelope, with a stamp, you remember? Certainly a rarity in these days of text messages and emails. This time of year seems to be the only time of year that we get much mail that doesn't fit into the aforementioned window envelope category. I like to think that some traditions won't change, like sending Christmas cards. Receiving hand-delivered ones is lovely, but it just isn't the same now, is it?!

So, today, on the day that I am sending out some of my cards, I feel FESTIVE. How do you feel?

B x