Shopaholic? Me?

I need to get round to sorting out my son’s music lessons. He currently goes for piano lessons and he is on a waiting list to start violin lessons at school but ultimately he wants to learn to play the harp. You can imagine my pleasure that he would like to learn how to play the harp but you can imagine how scary the thought of purchasing a harp only to be abandoned a year down the line. On the otherhand if he took up guitar, I would struggle because a guitar often hurts my ears yet a bass despite its nice sound cannot really stand on its own. I suppose he could always consider a prs baritone which I believe is somewhere in between. But then again, I do like the harp and I do have another 2 kids… so who knows perhaps the harp will get some use if I bought one. And if not, I guess I could always resell it or donate it to my son’s school.

It would be great to have live music in our home.

Do you have any idea how much there is to know about balloons?

If you walk into a shop and ask for balloons for a party, you would think that the first question they would ask you would be how many? Not so. You need to know if you want air or helium, latex or mylar, printed or plain, if you wanted them treated or not!! So to make your ordering balloons easy for your New Year’s Party or for any Party, here are some facts:-

• Latex Balloons are the stardard type. They can be air or helium filled.
• If you want them air filled, the image on the balloon needs to have the nozzle at the top. Helium needs to have the nozzle below the picture.
• Latex balloons float for up to 12 hours with helium. They stay inflated with air for months. To have them float for longer, they can be treated with hifloat. Then they would float for days.
• Mylar balloons last up to 2 weeks fully inflated but can float for over a month (depending on size).
• Mylar balloons can be reinflated and / or topped up several times.
• A latex balloon will decompose in the same time that a leaf will.
• Balloons will explode and shatter when they reach a certain altitude.
• Balloons are NOT detrimental to the environment.
• Helium is a natural gas. There is a finite amount.
• Balloons bring a smile to almost everyone’s face!
• A party is not a party without balloons!
• Balloons make a nice change to flowers!

Have you seen the cost of education? Private education is steep. Mind you, I guess you get what you pay for. So now I either get a job at the school even if it is just one of the Janitor Jobs just to get a discount – rumour has it is as much as 40% discount. Or otherwise, I need to get a good paying job which fits into school hours and school holidays. Now where can I get a job like that?

My son is into his sports and his activities and more so into his acchievements. There is nothing better than receiving certificates, sport trophies or recognition.

Today he was awarded a level 2 ASA qualification in swimming, but to actually get the certificate we have to pay £3.50. As you know I have no objection to buying nearly anything but seriously paying for a certificate? Admittedly there are costs involved paper, ink and administration but can’t they be inbuilt into the cost of the exam or lessons? Or is it just me?

Yesterday I was accused of being a geek. And I must admit that it is true. For example, I love my playbook tablet which I insisted we buy rather than my IT hubby. I use it for the kids to learn on, to keep them occupied, to play on, to watch films on, for cooking, as a book in bed, to go house hunting, as a diary, as a camera (though not often), checking my email, surfing the web and loads more. This is aside from the fact that my phone has all these capabilitie but has a small screen, my camera is a DSLR and I could not live without my laptop.

So yes, I am a official Geek!

I just heard that my brother has decided to embark on an online business degree while working as cabin crew and seeing the world. I must say that is life. Mind you, when I worked as cabin crew, I spent as much as I earnt. I liked the high life but it was high maintenance too. You have access to all reknowned brand names and at discount prices… it was hard… nay impossible to resist. My dressing table was overflowing with YSL, Clarins, Chanel and more. My wine cupboard was filled with wines from all over the world and my larder filled with all sorts of decadent treats. The only thing that I have to show for it now, is an ever so expanded waistline!

Well, shows he has a good head on his shoulders, I hope. I wish him the very best!

BRO…. do well or else… I am still your big SIS!

OK here is my question. A child goes to a party. So who should give thank you cards. The child who enjoyed the party? Or the child who received the present? Or should they both send out Thank You notes?

I think the protocol is the child who receives the present sends a Thank You card but I also remember writingThank You notes when being invited to places such as Tea with Mr & Mrs X. 

I suppose it makes sense to er on the side of caution and send in both cases!

Tomorrow is my son’s first day at school. How time flies. Only yesterday I got him home from hospital. And now… School. I must get everything ready. His uniform, his school bag, his pencil box, my camcorder and my camera (to take lots of photos to remember this day), tissues (to wipe my tears), my alarm clock (to wake up despite the early wake up of the twins because you know tomorrow they will sleep in) etc etc.

While in London, I saw an advert for WGU – Western Governors University which is a non profit online University. It made me think about how much I would love to study further but being honest with 3 kids under the age of 4… it is almost an impossibility. BUT with it being an online university, then it can be possible as it would mean that I can study in my own time. I need to look into it further to find out how much time I can take to do a course and if there is a course that appeals to me particularly (unless there is a shopping course which would win hands down… though I could probably teach that myself)!

Doesn’t the internet facilitate everything. I mean if it weren’t for the internet… I could not even consider any further study… but like this… I can.

I know this post is not strictly shopping… but I suppose deep down I am shopping around for an affordable option to further my studies to be able to get a better paid job when I return to work, so that I can shop more. Now you decide if it is a post that deserves its place on Shopaholic or not!

My brother is studying dentistry and is at the point of doing a hard exam. Well I guess any exam in dentistry must be hard but this might be harder than most. I was thinking of getting him a present but was not sure what to get him. Although he probably has lab coats galore, he could possibly do with another. Alternatively I suppose I could get him a book voucher because I am sure that his books cost a small fortune. I suppose though, as it is a gift of encouragement, perhaps a music store voucher might make better sense. Mind you, when I was at uni, I use to party away the stresses of it all!!