I love my Mum and am incredibly blessed to have two wonderful grandmothers and a mother-in-law who I respect. Next weekend is Mothers Day, an organised opportunity for us to be kind to our Mum’s and take a moment to remind them how much they matter. I am excited that I will be able to see my Mum that weekend for the first time in ages, I tend to see my Mum around birthdays not this day for her.

This Etsy Treasury is just a few cool cards that I found that you could send your Mum.

Check out some of my other treasuries here, here, here and here.

Today is my darling sister Ellen’s 30th birthday. I couldn’t be happier that she came into my life all those years ago.

It is weird to think Ellen and I have known each other for so long. I have learnt a lot from her. Not just things I didn’t know but things about me. She reminds me of where I have come from and that I have gone a long way.

Ellen was always the cool one in my family. Incredibly smart and charming Ellen had that wonderful ability to be smarter than everyone, but she never intimidated you. Always up for a chat you always feel important when you have a conversation with her.

We didn’t always get along. When we were younger, I don’t remember how old, we had the most epic physical fight I have ever been in. I have no memory of what sparked the fight but it must have been big because we were at my Grandma’s and nearly gave my sweet Great Aunty Betty a heart attack with how strong our anger was. It’s not a pleasant memory but it was like we got all the years of anger out and our friendship was stronger for it.

Seeing Ellen as a mother has been one of the biggest blessings of our relationship. Ellen has that great mix of cool mum who is loads of fun but Charlotte doesn’t really mess with her. They have a great dynamic and Ellen takes it all in her stride though I doubt its as easy as she makes it look. And if it is that is fine by me, she was so so sick when pregnant so it seems only fair.

Oh and she won loads of points for not giving me too much grief when I missed her birthday that one time 7 years ago for a boy at uni. Well she did until I married him

I am so lucky to know you little sister and know that I am fortunate to share my life with you. Happy Birthday!

Seven years ago today Richard and I hooked up. I mentioned on my About Me page that I met Richard at uni and although we knew each other we weren’t the kind of uni friends that would be in each others lives after graduation. May 6th was when all that changed. It really was the best day of my life.

Our first holiday together in 2006

The photo above was one of our first photos together and every time I look at it I am reminded of where we started and how far we’ve come. Makes me extremely confident that our future together is going to go just fine.

Today is my darling husbands birthday. Birthday’s are a great reminder of how happy I am that Richard was born. Since I say all the sappy things to his face, this year I would like to thank his parents for bringing him into the world and raising him to be the man I fell in love with. You guys did a great job.

If you follow the blog you know that Richard shares his birthday with his mother. This year is a big birthday for her and she is celebrating in style, in a castle in Ireland. I got very, very lucky with my mother in law and I hope she is having a wonderful birthday, she surely deserves it. Happy Birthday Margaret!

This week we saw the first of the next generation of heirs to the thrones of Europe step up. We start the transitions of the thrones in the Netherlands with the new King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.

This is an interesting one. Unlike what you expect, where the previous monarch has recently passed away handing over the baton, in the Netherlands they have a tradition of the monarch abdicating. It’s a smart move really. When the monarch, the now Princess Beatrix, decides that it is the best thing for the country they choose to hand over the reigns to her heir.

I have two things to say about this. Thing the first, I think this is a great strategy. Succession planning is always a good idea and the idea of people staying until this pass away is just touch on everyone. Thing the second, there is just something magical in a King and Queen.

On the succession thing I understand why people draw the comparison to the Prince of Wales but please, it’s not fair on anyone. I am a fan of Prince Charles (in particular his charity work) and I do think that he has something to bring to the British Monarchy but I think, that as the population ages, he is sadly losing his moment. When William and Catherine are so confidently stepping out and showing us what sort of royals they are (which to be honest is along the same lines as all of the other European heirs) it is hard to imagine anyone taking over from Elizabeth other than William, though perhaps we shouldn’t jump the gun there. Either way English monarchs are not in the habit of abdicating.

Watch the trailer first. Have you watched it? Ok then you can keep reading.

I was paying attention when Russell Crowe appeared onscreen as Jor-El, Superman’s biological dad. Then Kevin Costner turned up as his earth father Jonathan Kent and I started to get even more excited.

And then … then … the hot guy from The Tudors Henry Cavill appeared as Superman and I was in. This film is going to be a huge. Men will be allowed to take their women folk because at least we can smile pretty at him. Yes he is good looking but he also seems to have the quiet strength that you want in Superman. He just instills trust in him, trust and it is so obvious he eventually gets comfortable in himself to save the world.

Amy Adams as Lois Lane is quite the twist, and a long way from Giselle. She is wonderful and I think will show everyone that she can be strong as well as sweet.

Its out in June and I can’t wait. Major event at work in June but I am confident that we will be able to find time to get ourselves to the cinema, we have to see this film on the huge screen.

Random aside I think Henry is one of the sexiest names on earth, something so regal about it. Henry Holz is a cool name, just saying!

I started watching sci-fi living under my fathers roof though I never realised it. Nor did I realise how big that would be in my adult life. I was reintroduced by Richard when we were first dating and I wanted him to think I was cool (mission accomplished) but now my favourite shows would come under the sci-fi umbrella. One of the big things that I love about them is the strong, empowered female characters. Yes sometimes they wear impossibly slutty outfits but I tell you what if Wonder Woman can save the world in what is essentially swimmers, bangles and high heeled boots then I can be in my jeans and ballet flats.

All of that ramble was to introduce this interesting clip I found on Mary Sue recently. I love what Jane Espenson has to say in particular her comment about everyone wanting to go be the hero not stay at home worrying about their man. Doctor Who companions are a great example of women who stand their own and show us girls can save the world too*.

*I was raised on the concept that men and women are equal but different. We have different strengths and weaknesses and it is by working together that we achieve wonderful things. That old saying “behind every great man there has to be a great woman” wasn’t a negative at all to me when I was younger on the logic that the man might have been doing the role that got the attention, the woman was important too even if only he noticed.

This weekend I finished BioShock Infinite. A big achievement for me as it’s the first game I have ever actually completed.

Richard was quite surprised, and to use his words impressed, that I enjoyed and picked up the game pretty quickly. He’d never really shown me first person shooters before but recommended the game to me because it was just so pretty. I must say I make a mean sniper, if I can have the time to slowly line up a target. Which is not to say there wasn’t a lot of squealing (there sure was) especially when I was trying to line up a shot and someone else jumps out at me. Still I had a great time.

What caught my attention with the game was first just how gorgeous it is. The trailer below doesn’t do justice to just how pretty the game is. Set in 1912 in a city in the clouds it has all of the deep rich colour’s you would expect of a place up there (if you’ve ever been flying up above the clouds you should get what I mean about light). The best comparison I can think of is that it looks a lot like Oz, the Great and Powerful.

Also, the trailer really plays up the fight sequences but there is so much more to the game than that. The story was the second thing that got me hooked. I just had to know what happened to Booker DeWitt and to find out who on earth Elizabeth was.

Speaking of Elizabeth, while I was writing this review Richard and I got talking about female game characters. Elizabeth is very feminine and remains so even when the going gets tough. That said she is no damsel in distress. One of my favourite books Ines of My Soul talks about how when the men fought their women stood right next to them getting ammunition and healing them, that is exactly the role that Elizabeth plays. Booker is there to protect her but she is no coward and stands bravely fighting to the very end. I love the concept of a character who is both a girl but tough, I guess I would hope that is me in real life.

Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that Elizabeth (on the left) looks spookily like Belle (on the right).

There is a lot of secret stuff going on in this game so Google things, I did and discovered some really great things. For example, Lutece is the French form of Lutetia which is the name of a Roman city upon which Paris now stands.

Recommendations

I really enjoyed this game and would suggest many would. There is a lot of story here to keep you engaged in the story but there is also enough action so it’s obviously a game rather than just a movie. The controls are easy to learn, especially since often in the hard battles they actually tell you what to do. It is pretty violent though, I will let Kotaku writer Kirk Hamilton explain that to you.

Of course I am a fan of games that make important/useful things sparkle and there is plenty to find here. Go out of your way to get the voxphones as they give more depth to the story. Listen when the Lutece’s speak, they give you the most keys to what is going on. Oh and the music, do not be deceived by what your ears hear there is mischief in the sound.

Overall I think this game is worthwhile. I finished it in maybe 15 hours which is not lot of time to commit to a game but it really got me thinking.

Being a part of a big family there are so many birthdays to celebrate. May is a particularly big month so I thought I would share two treasury lists with you today – one for the ladies and one for the gentlemen.

Ladies first

Fellas step up

Some really cute card ideas here. To all of you having a birthday this May have a wonderful day.

I rediscovered Karmin this week and had to share it with you. Definite girl crush, I think its the rapping.

We’ve got a quiet one planned just hanging out, I’ve taken today off to make a four day weekend out of the ANZAC Day holiday. I am sure I am not the only person in Australia to have this idea so I hope we all have a wonderful weekend.