This is the End…

I started 2010 with very high hopes… in the end, I only managed to cross a couple of things off the list and so here I find myself exactly 12 months down the track ~ effectively I am pretty much ending 2010 around about where I started…  
However I am not too perturbed by this, 2010 was a crappy year for me personally. It wasn’t ALL bad and doom and gloom, but I just constantly felt I was struggling to keep my head above water. Trying to find that elusive balance between work, family & life ~ I barely had time to do the things I wanted to do, let alone the things I needed to do. 
Again I have high hopes for 2011 and I’m hopeful that coupled with a better mind set and a wee bit more direction than I had this last year, I should be able to cope better & achieve some big things!  

2011 ~ THE BIG LIST

PERSONAL

* Organise my life
I have switched diaries (again) for 2011, this year I am trialling the OTI (on to it) planner, which is a smaller (A5) diary compared to last years diary.  

* Organise my house
I am eyeing off the new to be released Skipper - Domestic Guru eBook on 25 days of decluttering – be sure to pop by her Facebook page & LIKE, LIKE, LIKE! (she is giving a way 3 free copies!!!) I started out small today, but realised that I need to do more than just declutter… I need to CULL!

* Live Simpler
This one is a big one that’s important to both myself and DH. There are some big plans in motion for 2011 in which we are striving for more balance, less stress, less money, more happiness… In order to do this, we need to be able to cut back and while we’ve already started on this by installing water tank, solar panels, vegetable gardens we will be looking to heavily expand on this in 2011 with more gardens, another tank and chickens.   

* Address my health issues & lack of exercise routine
- With a small exploratory already booked for late January & a very real possibility of a 2nd more invasive later in the year, it’s come to a head that I need to address my health issues and find ways to avoid these pesky (and bloody expensive) operations.  Some small dietry changes are in order, it’s just finding that willpower to stick to the changes.
- Exercise just doesn’t happen, however I have the Zumba DVD’s now so there is really no excuse. I also have plans to sell my 2nd sewing machine and use the money from that to go toward a WII and the WII Fit package ;) failing that my DD got a tra-mop-oline for Christmas and I have been having a FANTASTIC time jumping around on it!!!  
- Put on weight (most people want to lose it, I need to find some!!!) I have lost far too much over the past year and now people are starting to comment on it, I am doubly aware that it’s time to put it back on! More pasta, potatoes and smoothies (just a shame DH is trying to lose his and has cut out all of the above food groups ;)

CREATIVE

* Writing
Part of my Big Plan for the coming years is to do a university degree preferably something to do with creative writing. I am in the process of researching what’s required for this, but 2011 will be a BIG year where I show commitment and actually DO rather than say I will.
- Daily Journalling - I fell off the band wagon miserably this year :(
- 5 min free writing per day using daily prompts (try and fill a sml notebook each month)
- Complete one or two TAFE courses on short story writing

* Photography
Seeing how I’ve forked out big bucks to do a correspondence course, it is high time I started actually USING my camera on a daily basis. I also have HIGH hopes on learning photo processing as well! I have set up a sister blog, check it out here where I will be posting all my photography challenges next year.  
- Complete at least 4 assignments for my photography course
- Project 365
- Scavenger Hunt Sunday
- EB Weekly Photo Challenge

* Sewing & Quilting
I want to be just make quilts and sew things for ME in the small time frames I have available with absolutely NO pressure to perform and churn out heaps. I started doing precisely that today by cutting into my Happy Camper jelly roll – just because I wanted to!

Of course there is also the myriad of other things that keep me happy & grounded ~ Art Journalling, Reading (I am doing the 50 in 2011 again, but won’t be pressuring myself if I don’t get close to it… although I did the full 50 this year – YAY ME!) Crocheting, Knitting, Baking. If I can continue doing each of these in moderation then I will be happy little camper.

HAPPINESS is the key to 2011 ~ Bring it on!

Advent Blog~a~long #24 Ground to a halt!

The Christmas prep seems to have ground to a halt today!

Some vintage Christmas tunes – I can find that pace again!

Still lots to do, I don’t feel I’m making headway on the list from Wednesdays’ post (read further and see what you think ;) I am zapped of energy & I just want to curl up with a book and relax – damn this rainy, gloomy weather!

STILL TO DO

• One Gingerbread house still in pieces
  wonder if the kit will last till next year?
• Buy lollies for one Gingerbread house
• Have stern words to one man who ate said  lollies
  I totally outed him publicly on Facebook LOL!
• Finalise the meal plan for Christmas Day
  Done, except my SIL bought extra, so some of my list has been culled…
• Go shopping for final bits and pieces
  Well worth spending extra dollars to shop at the local IGA in absolute peace… no crowds & no line up at the checkout!!!
• Make SOMETHING to take to mum’s on Boxing Day… 
  Will do the extra that was culled from Christmas day list – easy!
• Bake a huge batch of Cookies for the rellies
  Today? Meh’
• Clean the house
  the man who at the lollies cleaned the house, fair compensation for eating the lollies me thinks ;) 
• Wash the clothes (albeit only IF the rain goes far, far away)
  Washed but STILL wet, stupid rainy weather.
• Watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
  Tonight! 
• Tour the local Christmas Lights
  Did some last night – more tonight!!!
• Head into the big smoke to see Myer Windows and Santaland
  Canned this idea till next year :(
• Make Christmas Skirt for Miss K
• Breathe
• Deeply

I decided I would do salads this year, utilising my home-grown lettuce – I popped out this morning and found my lettuce going Ape Shit!!!

 

Seriously – this one has a a double head! It is standing taller than that plastic bucket you can just make out in the background! And here I was worrying a few weeks back we wouldn’t have enough lettuce LOL. I think this is my cos lettuce – impressive or just normal?  

Merry Christmas Folks – thanks for reading my natter, I’m not sure the 2010 advent blog~a~long actually kept me focused this year (which is what it’s supposed to do) but it’s been fun & it’s always good to peek into other peoples homes and see their festivities!

Advent Blog~a~long #23 countdown

HIP_314705084.227083
Originally uploaded by car_rose21

A lot happening today, a few more items crossed off the list, a few more things added and tomorow is set to C.R.A.Z.Y.

Cant wait, but you will have to wait for ohotos, for now hope you enjoy my christmas tree, hipstamatic style ;) love these cool aps!!!

Advent Blog~a~long #22 eeek….

Yikes – how did we get to DAY 22 so soon? Surprisingly after losing several days with Miss K getting sick, then having her share said illness with me, I feel surprisingly ready to go in this mad dash to Christmas!

STILL TO DO

• One Gingerbread house still in pieces
• Buy lollies for one Gingerbread house
• Have stern words to one man who ate said  lollies
• Finalise the meal plan for Christmas Day
• Go shopping for final bits and pieces
• Make SOMETHING to take to mum’s on Boxing Day… 
• Bake a huge batch of Cookies for the rellies
• Clean the house
• Wash the clothes (albeit only IF the rain goes far, far away)
• Watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
• Tour the local Christmas Lights
• Head into the big smoke to see Myer Windows and Santaland
• Make Christmas Skirt for Miss K
• Breathe
• Deeply

Remind me AGAIN how many days till Christmas?

I did however complete ONE job on the list – one skirt completed for one darling girl (who had a complete meltdown in Kmart today and turned me into one of those frazzled yelling mums… not good sweetheart… mummy is seriously STRESSING about Christmas, please don’t add to that… )

She’s still pretty cute though ;)

Yes that is a store bought Dora shirt!  The whole shopping HYPE of Christmas lures me in, I cannot for the life of me, walk past anything Christmas without buying something ;) sad huh? Much as I really love the thought of a homemade, home baked Christmas – I just cave when I see all though wonderful decorations and clothes!

The fabric is some re-homed from the beautiful Kayscha, teamed with some pretty basic red I had floating around. Based on the Lazy Days skirt, but winged totally – it only took half an hour and Miss K loves her Christmas Day outfit ;)

Awwww…. love that feeling of satisfied customers! 

Advent blog~a~long #20 delayed & giveaway

Sorry for the slight break in posts, I found myself struck down with the nasty gastro bug doing the rounds.... Gross...

Am back now and after an hour of work today (completing my year seeing as how I had to call in sick on my last day yesterday) Christmas prep will be stepping up a gear!

Have you seen this beautiful giveaway

Giveaway

beautiful calendar and just perfect for that gorgeous little girl in your life :)

Retromummy giveaway

P1013738
Originally uploaded by retro mummy

Wow - what fun I could have with this fabric... It might even give me the oomph to get back to the sewing machine ;)
Very generous Corrie, Merry Christmas to you and your family! - check it out here.


http://retromummy.blogspot.com/2010/12/flower-sugar-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Retromummy+%28retromummy%29

Advent Blog~a~long #19 crazy

With the toddler STILL sick today & having to miss the Christmas party with our mothers group friends :( I decided to make the most of this sitting around by getting stuck into the final check list for Christmas.

** Presents are wrapped

** Four jars of Cocoa for friends & day care teachers ~ labelled to gift.

** Ten bags of Reindeer Food ~ for all of Miss K’s best friends

** The Christmas Cards are hanging!

It took me all of 5 minutes to crochet a long chain which I strung between 3M hooks & using my Christmas pegs to hang the cards! It might look a bit silly, but beneath my Star Garland it’s ok and it sure beats having the cards on the sideboard blowing over every second day!

It’s definitely feeling like Christmas around here today!

I’ve also been busy in the kitchen whipping up ANOTHER batch of Rocky Road, half a dozen White Rocky Roads, some Mini Christmas Puddings and some White hearts. I have a Christmas morning tea at work tomorrow so will be taking a selection along to share (as well as leaving more than enough for us to gobble up here!)

** DH has taken over the renovating!

Amazing what a spray paint gun can do! Even though Miss K has seen the dollhouse and played with it (I had to give her something while she was sick yesterday ;) I can’t wait to see her face on Christmas morning when it’s filled with her new furniture and dolls!!!

This afternoon - I have plans to make Miss K a Christmas skirt!

Advent Blog~a~long #18 stuff

 

This has been the state of the skies pretty much every afternoon since Wednesday, with STILL more predicted. Unlike our Southside neighbours, we only seem to be getting really ominous looking skies but then when the storm hits, it seems to blow over quickly and we are mostly getting the tail end. This is a good thing for us, but the RAIN! So much rain is falling, my vege garden needed drastic measures prior to Wednesday downpour and it now has temporary climbers (pool fence) for the cucumber vine that had nearly taken over the garden (aka day of the triffids style)

Christmas craft has been steady, but with the weather so dreary, my photos are so gloomy…

 

I whipped up some cocoa in a jar… this batch was for ME! It had to pass the taste test before gifting to my friends for Christmas. I have 4 small jars ready to go after today. I did intend on getting some reindeer food for Miss K and her friends, but Miss K woke sick again today. Besides which I stamped each of the tags for the Reindeer food as RAINdeer food… hmmm… sigh and I knew I was making a mistake as I was doing it too ;) 

Advent Blog~a~long #17 toddler logic

With Christmas just around the corner, I am fast coming to the realization that my 3 year old seems to be thinking Christmas=Santa=Presents...

Although I am not overly religious, I did grow up attending Sunday School and Charlie Browns (which was like a church group at the local church hall each Friday night, where we made cool crafty stuff) anyhow... I do know of the Christmas stories, but as it's been some time I thought I'd revisit it with my little one and teach her that Christmas is more than food and tinsel and chocolate.

so I pulled out "The Christmas Story" little golden book and we read it together. About half way through the book she started muttering on about not being able to see the Cheezel... Thinking she must have dropped a cheezel earlier that day, I shushed her up and continued reading.

The last page shows a picture of baby Jesus in his manger and she pipes up

"oh there's the baby Cheesus"

of course with no disrespect to religion or the real baby Jesus, I had to have a little giggle and was mighty proud of her - sometimes Im not sure she listens when we read stories, so it definitely made me happy to see that she does indeed listen, we just have some issues on pronunciation to work through!!!

Advent Blog~a~long #16 sickness

I scored a rare day off today... Although it was because Miss 3 woke up and started spewing :( not my ideal choice of a nice day off. Once the towels were washed, we had quiet morning where I actually managed to catch up on some overdue work and phone calls. I have now started booking appts for 2011 already :o
Once I got a very tired girl to sleep, I had a couple of hours to do some art journalling, another 4 pages done and feeling quite refreshed after it. I would have done a spot of sewing, but we got a thunderstorm roll through and I was scared Id blow up the machine :o so journalling it was. if course photos must wait until tomorrow because I can't upload the photos as we have another storm rolling through.
the best part of the day was after Miss K woke up, feeling tones better, she spent the afternoon crafting with me *bliss* I do miss the old days...

Advent Blog~a~long #15 reno’s

I am trying to fix some water damage thanks to the ripper storm we had late Saturday afternoon. Although it wasn’t sitting directly under the water, enough water splashed onto the table to do some damage.

 

Luckily the damage is in one corner only :(

To say I was devastated was an understatement and we immediately got the estimators (aka DH) out to do some damage control. A few ideas were thrown around but after sleeping on it for a few days, I came up with a brainstorm this morning and decided that we could possibly just shave the edges down and place some white glossy (can’t for the life of me think of the correct technical term) down for the flooring and possibly run it along the side wall and use this room as the kitchen! I think this will be the quickest and least invasive procedure for the time being!

Meanwhile the painters (aka ME) have done a truly dreadful job with the first coat… we are hoping the second coat covers some of the mistakes (and if all else fails… guess who will be doing some spray painting this weekend LOL!)

   

Hope we can finish the renovations soon – Christmas is just around the corner and we have a family with their furniture ready to move in!

Advent Blog~a~long #14 (delayed)

Yes I missed yesterday, but doesn’t mean I can’t do two blog posts today – that’s not considered cheating is it???

The Bon Jovi concert last night was so much better than their last concert I went to in 1995 (showing my age now hey???) I was a little disappointed in the vocals (I just think the music is too strong for his vocals at times :( which is sad because I love his voice and lyrics) otherwise it was pretty cool! Now I’m trying to convince DH to get a superman tattoo on his arm like Jon Bon Jovi’s (what can I say… I’m a little partial to all things superman!)

 

Remember the unknown white flower a few weeks back, this little gem popped up beside it a glorious RED for Christmas and now I am fairly sure they are Gerbera’s – I’m pretty chuffed because not only did I grow them from seed, but I had them as part of my wedding bouquet (albeit fake ones ;)  
I’m also pretty chuffed with this shot, it seems I created some unintentional Bokeh (this is after spending much time and effort on Sunday trying to intentionally create some bokeh & failing!!!) I am starting to think I am a trigger happy, no setting, natural light amateur photographer!!! 

Advent Blog~a~long #13 hearts

Can’t talk – eating!

As seen here! I seriously dare you to go check out that site, it is packed full of all things Christmas – love, love, love it!

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Advance Notice that I won’t be popping by tomorrow… I’m off to the Bon Jovi concert with my sweetheart. I can’t wait!!!!!!!!

Advent Blog~a~long #12 Stuff

Today has been a LONG lazy Sunday. I woke up tired and have stayed tired ALL day. I think it’s the weather. The last few days of the week were steamy and hot and oh so lovely (I am such a summer babe ;) but that hot weather quickly turned into a late afternoon thunder storm yesterday that quickly turned out back yard into a swimming pool and within minutes the drains couldn’t cope with the torrential downpour we were experiencing.

It continued to rain into the night and today has been once more overcast and dreary and raining off and on. I can feel the humidity on the rise once more… more storms to come I think – just in time for the outdoor Bon Jovi concert on Tuesday night *yay*

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Today was spent baking ~ more rocky road (the last batch was gobbled up prior to taking photos) I also started the gingerbread men cookies (alas was too tired to finish) and also made a few super cute choc-candy-cane hearts. Photos to follow if I get to it before I eat them ;)

I finally pulled out the good camera again. Just a few photos for a scavenger hunt I found online. Check out the first two here. The first shot of the dog took seconds to take & turned out great! Alas the second shot after 10 minutes of setting up and 15 minutes attempting to get the best shot… that was the best I could do *sigh* I really don’t think I’m cut out for posed photos, my backgrounds suck and I just don’t understand photoshop elements enough to make them work. I need much more practice in both areas!

I also did a heap of reading, book number 47 in 2010 should be finished tonight and I have book number 48 (the second in the series) ready to roll. I think I have a fair chance of reaching 50 books this year and admittedly the list was made up of mainly smaller ‘easy to read’ books, I’m still pretty happy with that effort – trust me when I say it’s been a pretty crappy year.

Advent Blog~a~long #11 Nativity

 

Advent Blog~a~long #10 Santa

 

A smile!!!

Yes mummy is STILL in the photo (poor child was shaking with fear) but I’m so proud of her, she managed to give Santa a high five and by the end of it was chatting away to him like they were old mates. It helped that Santa gave her some Angel wings and a magnetic photo frame!

I must say – I much prefer to spend that little bit extra and take her to see the Myer Santa (beside which I also got a set of free wallet calendars too with my Myer One Card ;) If you head in just after lunch, there is NO line up and we could have stood around chatting to him for ages!

Only one problem abounds with this… Miss K informed Santa that she REALLY wants a trampoline for Christmas. Now that she has met him…. well let’s just say I can see a certain someone traipsing around Christmas Eve searching for the perfect Trampoline that will fit into the sled ;)

Advent Blog~a~long #9 summer

Driving home tonight it was a lovely warm 26 degrees at 7pm… I love do love a hot summers’ day!!

It reminded me of the old days, Hot Christmas Days… spent with good friends - swimming all day in the backyard pool. 

And elderly people acting like kids!

I miss those days and I miss this beautiful man xxx

Advent Blog~a~long #8 Lollies

Christmas food shopping without a list…

Looks as though I’ve got the “Sweets” side covered

I wonder if you consider it cheating buying a gingerbread man kit???

Advent Blog~a~long #7 money

One $20 Cycad planted about 6 years ago.

Several years of neglected TLC

= One Whopping Humungous cycad

Mum and Dad took this picture several months ago when the top of it was sprouting new fronds (?) these fronds have since all bloomed out making this one big whopping cycad that I would at a wild guess  say is probably worth A LOT OF MONEY!

Husband in his infinite wisdom (and on the heels of my awesome gardening talents) reckons I should dig up the pups that are growing beneath it’s bushy cover. Re-pot them and sell them for $5 each….

I however (the renowned genius of the family) had a better (& slightly more hair-brained) idea of creating a designated cycad garden in our yard. I can dig up the pups and re-plant them & if it works - I can grow them GINORMOUS, make a mint or gift them as presents for Christmas in years to come… LOL

Money, money, money!!!

And NO before you ask – I will NOT consider selling my Cycad pictured here!!!

Advent Blog~a~long #6 Zumba

Merry Christmas to me!

My mum had the DVD’s and after 5 minutes I was hooked (well really I was hooked on her WII Fit, but DH said NO when I asked him to buy me one… so this seemed to be my cheaper option!)

After some internet searching, I found a set DELIVERED for $35… what a bargain! Tomorrow morning I intended to start my work out *

* I should mention right about now that I have never done any sort of work out and truth be told, I haven’t done any exercise since high school… if the WII is anything to go by, I am still relatively fit, but some recent health issues has seen me re-think and re-evaluate the way I’ve done and am doing things.

In my garden… (aka vege jungle)

13.11.10 - Vegetable garden built and planted

24.11.10 – Vegetable garden progress pictures

05.12.10 – A little rain and the garden is now a jungle

My quilting girls were probably thinking I was crazy asking about harvesting after only three weeks :o but my gosh – would you look a that jungle! All I’ve done is add some mulch from a ground up tree stump we had chopped down. No fertilisers ;)

The lettuce has grown so much that we’ve had salads twice already this week

Yummy!

Hopefully I will have my 2nd and 3rd vege gardens installed this week! I am loving my ability to provide for the family ;)

In other areas, the garden is positively blooming.

I think these are gardenias (correct me if I’m wrong) I’d forgotten we had planted this bush, but in the last week it’s bloomed about 8 flowers – nice!

And even though Qld hasn’t seen the sun in days (well it did break through for about 5 mins today) my sunflowers are all starting to bloom

With more to come! 

Seeing as how I’m really loving this gardening gig & apart from my pumpkin issues, I’m actually starting to have some wins, I’ve decided to keep a garden journal next year so I can keep track of what I’m planting / harvesting times etc. I picked up this diary from Woolworths the other week… 

 

I think 2011 is going to be a busy year in the garden!

Advent Blog~a~long #5 Stuff

A friend sent me an Advent blog~a~long, check out the snow-globe in the bottom right of my desktop… it is so sweet! Thanks T!

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I’ve been busy this weekend wrapping gifts – 5 down, numerous to go! First I had to make room…
My craft table overflowing

A clear present wrapping station

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Bored with wrapping late yesterday, I decided to make something instead (to prove I still know how to sew ;)

Idea from Melissa, who got it from here 

I then pulled out a half done Baby Jane block that I had every intention of nearly finishing, except I started sewing the foundation on right to left instead of left to right… perhaps this afternoon I will finish it if I ever finish this work I’m supposed to be doing for DH ;)

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Advent Blog~a~long #4 decorating

It is a blah day here today (so I do apologise in advance for the blurry, murky pictures!) the fourth day into Summer and it’s still RAINING!!! Where is the sun? We are trying to brighten the house and our moods with a bit of Christmas decorating

Miss K & I went to Chicken Feed (the new cheap shop which replaced Crazy Clarks) earlier today and picked up some candles and tealights, as well as the beautiful white pot plant the new poinsettia tree is now residing in (sure beats the ugly plastic pot!)

Some little glass tea lights for 63c (spewing they didn’t have red ones, I bought green and blue, which matches in with my decorating theme!)

I found these gorgeous star candles in the cupboard from years ago… half an hour of burning and they are now stars with gaping holes – I don’t believe they were made for actual lighting!)

I used to ALWAYS do up the table with a little plate of candles, but this is the first year I have had the candles and centrepiece decorations out since Miss K was born. Do you have little traditions that you had to stop when children came along? Now she is older, I can put them out once more and she thought it was so lovely watching them flickering away today!

These two ‘candle’ plates are my favourite – the tin one is a birthday present from my late Grandad, the tea-set that came with it long since discoloured and been disposed of, but the plate although rusted and marked is now one of my absolute treasures!

The green glass plate was given to me from my Nanny. I've no idea where she got it from, but gosh I love it… it has a vintage type feel and I nearly went into hysterics yesterday when I couldn’t locate it – luckily it turned up in the office (we had put it there for safe keeping & storage!)

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My sideboard is also finished. The fish was due a bath and has been relocated to the left side for the Christmas season… He seems happy enough ;)

My little family of Christmas Matroshka’s!

Advent Blog~a~long #3 Presents

I signed Miss K up for the kids swap that Kylie was running.

 

While we completely forgot to take photos of what we sent earlier this week, I did manage to grab a few quick shots of what we received from Becky’s little girl Possum. Miss K was quite spoilt, with fabric, paddle pop sticks, modelling clay, balloons, hairclips, Christmas tape and much more! Thanks so much to Possum for putting together this little parcel – we had much fun opening it up  and am sure this will provide many fun crafty hours in the days to come!!! Thanks to Kylie for organising a great and easy swap!

Advent Blog~a~long #2 Wrapping

 

This year I’ve decided to save some money and try wrapping the majority of my gifts in butchers paper. Originally I had grand plans of getting Miss K to decorate the paper, but that’s proving to be more difficult since she adopts a more is better philosophy to painting! Instead I’ve purchased some thick organza (type) ribbons in a few different colours and have splurged on a rolling stamp (or two) to brighten the Childrens’ presents (hopefully it arrives tomorrow!!!)

This of course is all in theory… I discovered several rolls of Christmas paper I’d bought & put in the wrapping station last Christmas… I will use that as last resort when I find myself madly wrapping presents on Christmas Eve (note to self: you will get the wrapping done early this year!!!)

The little packages pictured are winging their way South… hee heee hee, I’m hoping my Secret Santa receives it soon!