If you change nothing nothing will change.

FAR OUT!! 

I love that saying. 

If you change nothing nothing will change.

If you've read my blog for ages, you would know I'm a bit of a gonna not a do-er, but lately I've been just bloody doing it! Lots of things in my life feel so bloody good right now. 

I signed up for Michelle Bridges to start in Feb, dismal failure, I think I lasted one week, school went back, Brenton had his operation, he was home for a month, talk about being thrown way off track. And to be honest I found Michelle's recipes way too hard. Too many little amounts of little things, it was painful to try and cook meals for myself.

Oh well, I moved along. I have been really conscious this year of the food going in, and the alcohol going in. I have cut back so much, I'm loving the clear heads that are a result, and really noticing that my body doesn't really like it too much. I've found one type cider that doesn't upset my tummy and other than that I'll drink vodka with soda water and lime. My stomach is telling me enough is enough.

I've been eating ok for most of the year but will still have a snitty at the pub, mainly for the chips!! Felt guilty but still ate it, and truth be told, probably still will here and there. And put up with the indigestion and heartburn from all that grease… 

Lately I've been cooking out of a mag I've seen around for ages, Australian Healthy Eating Guide, but only bought once before. To say I'm inspired is a bit of an understatement. Good, yummy, quick, easy meals. I can still have pasta, rice, not that I really crave those things, but enjoy them in the way they are used in the mag. I have hopefully inspired others on Instagram too. 

Here are some of the things I've made this week.

Find them in the latest issue.
 (the May issue, I just saw the June one today which also had a free back issue, woohoo)

Another thing that is making me happy, is having the hugest purge of our house. Why the hell do we keep so much 'stuff' Or is it just me? Too many bathroom products, platters, bowls, toys… crap crap crap. I wanted to sell a sideboard that was in our dining area so there was more room to move in there, I was able to clean it all out and I won't miss the space at all. That is crazy. I've sold a heap of stuff on buy swap and sell, and am putting the money away for another holiday to Bali! 

(that is another post, I LOVE BALI)

I cleaned out my pantry and threw the biggest garbage bag of food out. Out of date stuff like you probably wouldn't believe. And I have cleaned out my pantry not that long ago. Maybe not properly. Lexi's shoes, my clothes, the fridge, that drawer in the kitchen that we all have, you know the one. OMG I could hardly shut it. Pure bananas. And it feels so good. And I have heaps more to go. The list is still there. I should have taken before and after pics. I think it has helped that the weather has been so spring like, so the windows have been thrown open, candles and incense lit, music on, and I'm off like a rocket. Peter Walsh would be loving the shit out of me!! 

I'm loving my little job, it's the most minimal of hours, but I was sort of thinking it was a bit hard with Brenton away, The Family needed me, blah blah blah. Letting myself be a little influenced by other influential people in my life, when all of a sudden I thought, SHIT!! I REALLY LIKE THIS JOB!! And so I just went, I'M DOING IT!! I told the person that was a little bit in my ear to stop it, that I liked it, and that I was going to keep doing it, I love going down the street, grabbing a coffee, going into the paper shop, perusing the mags, saying hi to half the street, and going to work. I just really like it. I love the girls I work for, they are passionate, and I am there to help sell their wares!! So get your asses into Lincoln Kidz Wear. Some people seem to have the perception that it is expensive but it's not, the quality is so there, it's a local business supporting local people, and it's really heartwarming to see people pop in from up the bush, or in for a baby gift, all sorts of things. I love it! 

Exercise. I'm amping it up. I had been doing 2 PT's a week with KD since August last year and I have loved it so much, even though the night before I tell myself I don't want to go, and in the morning, I say  to myself, 'oh shit, i have to go to the gym' but it really is great, and I've started doing some things at home too. The gym did slide for a while while I put others first, but I'm back in a good rhythm with it now and loving it. I had Mia doing glute bridges tonight, and leg lifts, and she tried a hover. I think she thought they looked easy but she was laughing so hard when she realised she couldn't do them very well at all… I told her it's a good time to start doing a few little things, don't leave it til you are old like me. I'm feeling lean(er) and on my way to being strong. I like it. And I'm feeling very motivated at the moment. Must be something to do with the moon's phase, but I'm running with it. 

Me last week.

 If you stand up straight, and with your legs apart a bit, and hide your tuckshop lady bits behind your upper arms, it's all good! I'm getting there, slowly. I'm still 3-4 kg off the mark, just want to be stronger really. I don't want to run distances, I don't want to have muscles popping out all over the place. Just be fit and strong. 

Arty/craft stuff.

Still love crocheting. I have a huge Granny Stripe blanket on the go for Mia. I think that's why I'm going so hard in cleaning out the house, so that when winter hits and Brenton is at work, I can sit on the lounge, crochet and power watch all the tele series I have in the cupboard waiting for me. I have dreams of making a big quilt out of Lexi's baby clothes. And finishing the 986 part (not really that long but almost) quilting series I have bought from the newsagent in weekly instalments, actually only having completed 10 squares, one which needs re-doing, as it's crooked as. (why can't I sew in a straight line?) I still drool over scrapping, not that I do much of it, but i miss it, and am feeling mighty inspired lately by actually watching tutorials which I have never done before. Ahh Wilna Furstenburg, I'm in love with her style, easy looking but oh so clever at the same time. I'm slowly working my way through her youtube lineup of videos… Yummy stuff. I do believe I have bought quite a few new scrapping tools/accessories since watching her use them. Inspiring.. I've got a project life album on the go for my Bali photos. Over 800 pics in 10 days, you got me? Crazy! (Down to 300 for the album, including my favourite photos of my friend's and her daughter) What a magical place. I'm so excited that the portrait that I bought myself for my upcoming almost 40th but not quite birthday could quite possibly allow me to find and cut the perfect lettering for the Bali PL album.. And anything else I might fancy for it too! Very excited.

My garden has gone to shit.

 Rocco thinks it's his personal playground.. Dig dig dig. There are still some things surviving… I was really upset about the asparagus plants but two seem to have survived but don't tell the dog, he might go and dig them up tomorrow. He's tipped over a lot of my plants.. Some that I have had for years. Chews wood, chews toys, Lexi lost two pairs of mini havvies in a week. you just can't leave anything laying around like that outside. Brenton lost a pair too, they both left them outside somewhere where they 'thought' they were safe, but no place is safe. Not the edge of the tramp, not the middle of the table. I keep telling myself he'll grow out of it. And he will. One year. He's getting desexed next week, I'm not confident it will help calm him down but at least he won't be responsible for any offspring. He's lucky he's cute and doesn't talk back. He's my naughty little ragbag. But we all love him so much. Let's hope the desexing helps.. Can you all cross your fingers. The whole two of you that might actually read this? Funny aren't I! 

It has seriously been a long time since I have blogged, and I wondered why I didn't feel like it. I guess I just didn't have the urge, but I got it back today, let's see what happens. I do love blogs, and reading about people. People who are honest and open about their lives and what they are doing. We are all so different, and I love that. So thanks for reading my massive ramble, I am feeling good, I hope it lasts, I'm definitely on 'an up' at the moment and I don't want it to go down… My kids could be more loving to each other and Lexi's squealing is really pissing me off a bit, but hey, you can't have everything, can you?

xx

Escape 2 Create 2014

This time last week, I was sitting in the scrappy shed at North Shields, well, scrapping!! 

Here is a round up of my weekend.. 

For me I think it was one of the best yet, but I say that every year. 

 Loving my mug!! I've used it a few times since I have been home, but really should pop it with the others. I have accidentally put one through the dishwasher once, it's not quite the same now. Those who know me well, would know that I'm a bit silly like that! 

 The shed! All decked out in gorgeous colours!! It's MINT!!! 

 Lots of detail in the hanging thingies!! 

 Champagne, a happy me, although Champagne and I aren't the best of friends, it goes straight to my head. Say no more. 

 Our table names!! Love that we are all pre-seated so all we have to do is arrive and sit! No worrying about getting the spot you want with the people you want! Love this aspect! 

 Two of the loveliest ladies! Meredith and Amanda welcoming us. Meredith is ever so good with the mike… 

 Getting ready to settle in and scrap.

 The yummy food that we ate. This exceeded all my expectations.. YUMMO!! 

 A mango dacquiri (spelling is wrong) Oh well. These were so yummy, I'll be stock piling mango for a couple of months before next time. The best little cocktail in town!

 The shed open, it was lovely and warm one night, so good to let the fresh air in.

 THE RASKOG!! I won this in the prize draw.. I'm really so so happy with this, I just can't believe it's mine!! Yippee!!!! 

The beautiful Celeste. I've followed her on Instagram for quite a while now and how fantastic it was to get to know her a little bit over the weekend, to talk scrapping and her fitness journey too!! A most motivated woman. And modest too!! LOL!! 

One scrappy doctor! I loved Natalie too, what a fantastic person. Achieving great things in her professional career and also her scrappy life. Works very hard at both. And has a husband and two littlies as well… Loved meeting Natalie!! And loved her class!!! 

Gina!! So so nice to meet her finally after seeing her around on FB and Instagram too. Gina was very nervous, but taught us fantastically and also such a creative person. I hope that we helped to calm her nerves in some small way, I felt so bad that she felt so nervous, I just knew she would be fine.. And she was.. We all loved her class!! I most certainly learned lots! 

Celeste teaching. A natural on the mike too! 

Mardi, I love you!! LOL!! I've always loved Mardi and was so excited to know she was coming again. Yes!! Mardi was sitting at the table behind us and every time she walked past me, gave me a little touch on my back!! I loved it, there's something about Mardi, let me tell you!!

A table of creative goodness. So so glad that Kate was able to come too, I didn't spend heaps of time talking with her, but I loved being able to wander over and have a little peek at what she was up to, Kate is also special to me as we both have a Heartkid, and she helped me more at that time than she'll ever realise. She'll forever be special to me!!

 I didn't get a photo of Kim teaching, but we also had a fantastic class with her. A gorgeous mini album and a project life spread. Two for the price of one. Kim drove across the country with her husband and daughter to be with us, a mammoth effort really. All the teachers travelled a long way, but to drive is huge, I know I would much rather hop in a plane, although it sounds like they made a little family holiday of it. I was horrified to learn that her husband and daughter stayed at the Pier Hotel, nice food and a good atmosphere on a Friday night when there is live music but to stay there, no way!! Another lovely lady, I didn't get to speak to her much at all, but am very thankful that she came for us. FOR US! It's a crazy thought. 

Another dinner. Too good. Really.

The mess, also fantastic to just leave things where they lie for a few days, and just trot off to bed and know that you can pick up in the morning where you left off.. 

Table buddies. My sister in law Anele, Liz, Celeste, Gina, Natalie and Me! Pretty cool table if you ask me!! Heehee!! 

And a top view of our table… 

A wonderful weekend, with such a beautiful group of women, I laughed and I cried, fat ugly tears when it was almost over. I felt emotional, probably the most emotional I have felt at a retreat so far. Connecting, re-connecting, talking, scrapping, admiring others work, dancing, eating fantastic food, drinking perhaps a little too much alcohol, but just filling my cup. It really does fill you right back up and help to remember who YOU are. My hugest thanks to Meredith and Amanda for yet again exceeding expectations, and basically arranging this weekend, putting so much into the behind the scenes so that we can all refill our cups.. 

Hurry up mini retreat. I want to go again!! 

x

The layouts E2C 2013

It felt so good to get my scrap on, getting memories down.

One thing I almost always do on my layouts is write the story behind the photo. 

I like to do that so the kids and anyone else reading have an idea of what was happening at the time. 

It's usually just a scribble but I like to do it.

Friday night we did Kim Jeffress's class. When we opened our kit, I was totally overwhelmed. 

This was no ordinary layout class. But I just wanted to scrap layouts!! I knew it was a memory file, but I didn't realise what was involved.. I was overwhelmed!!!! 

But as we got going with it, and I looked at my photos that I had picked out to use, I became more and more excited. This was a great class. I simply fell in love!! I used this to pop my Darwin photos from last year in it. I really do love it!! Above is the front cover. Lexi on Mindil beach at sunset and Mia and I at P/L Airport before we left...

Then inside of the the file. Lots of flaps and hidey bits!

One of the flaps on the left hand side.

The flap on the right hand side... Waiting for the bus to take the girls and I to Parap Markets, and Mia relaxing in our Darwin City apartment, which was lovely!

The right hand side, with a pull out bit of us back home in the cold!! Fire happening, and sleeping kids on the lounge and poor tired Mia asleep at Adelaide airport after our red eye flight home. Never taking that flight again with kids.. Was quite hellish!! 

I really love this project, and would make a really lovely gift. And now that I know what I'm doing, I'll be making more. I did accidentally order some Memory Files in a online order not long ago, I thought they were smaller when I ordered them, when they arrived, I thought what the hell am I going to do with these?? And now I know!! I have heaps of ideas!! We went to Thailand a few years ago, and I think I'll be using one for that!! Thanks Kim!!! It was a fantastic eye opener class!! 

Now for the rest of my Layouts... All pretty self explanatory if you can read the words on the LO's.

The helicoper and the sea layouts were from Sharmaine's class, I did two, just because I could. I really loved using the texture paste. Another eye opener as to other elements that I can easily add to my pages!! 

This is from Eb's class, another great class, because she advised us to be free with it, which I loved too!! And I do absolutely love Eb's scrapbooking style, so was fun to learn a few of the things that she does!! Oh yes!! 

This LO of my first cuddle with Mia after her c-section is another reason why I could never scrap chronologically. I really enjoy taking a trip down memory lane while I scrap, and I just adore this photo! She's nearly 9 now, I may have already scrapped this photo, but I just love re-visitng that memory... My first baby, so special. The time I had with her as a newborn was simply divine. The unrushed time you have with that firstborn in the beginning is special, I had no idea what I was doing, but it didn't matter.. 

Can't wait to scrap some more with gorgeous friends!!! 

It was simply wonderful to share my table with Tatum, Lauren, Mardi, Liz and Anele. I did love seeing my friends from Adelaide and beyond, it was just special watching Tatum put her pages together, I love that. And Lauren, I just love her style, and her sentiments... And Mardi, well, last year I was almost starstruck at meeting her, but this year was just lovely as we 'knew' each other, too too nice!! Liz is such a creative soul, it's lovely for her to get some art into her soul over the weekend, giggle with her, and watch her put her memories down! Anele is still a 'newbie' scrapper, but I think she learnt way more this weekend, and was quite happy with learning all these new little tips and tricks... We are all always learning new things, and I've been scrapping long enough now to see trends come, then go, and then come back but in new ways.. Always good!! Again HUGE thanks to Amanda and Meredith and everyone who came together and made E2C possible!! 

Thanks for visiting, please leave me a comment, especially if you were also at the retreat... and share a link to you blog if you indeed have one. 

xx

Feb Photo a Day

I'm going to be doing the Feb photo challenge with Fat Mum Slim.. She is going to be doing it all year so I'll play as long as I can be bothered... Which probably won't be long. I won't promise that I'll upload them everyday but I will be taking them!!

Day 1 
Your view

 This was my view as I left work at 1pm... I loved how the sky looked.


Day 2
Words

Something that is stuck to my fridge...






Day 3 
Hands.

These hands constantly work.... Pick up, put away, hug, work, wash, scratch, wash.... The whole shebang.... 




Day 4
A Stranger

A stranger driving past my house... As about inspirational as I'm going to get today after a few too many strongbows last night. Was a ABSOLUTELY fabulous afty though. A girl that I went to school with came around with her gorgeous two daughters, we had a couple of drinks and a chat about some stuff, I had invited her to pick her brains about a few things. We had the best time, and got on so well, we all can't wait for our next catch up in a fortnight once I'm back from Darwin!! Who knew that a new but old friendship could be made/rekindled?? Feel really good about it. 
Then when Tam and her little lovlies went home I loaded the kids up and we walked to a friends house up the road a bit for a few more drinks. It was a good night, one of my friends got a bit crapped off with her husband so they all left, but Cin and I just talked and talked and laughed, it ended up being such a fun funny night. More laughs.. Lexi Loo feel asleep on her Dad's lap and we all walked home at midnight. Life is for living isn't it, but we all feel pooped today. Seize good times with both hands. 




AND I SCRAPPED. again. I have had a big clean out of supplies, and mainly sorted things together and wrote in big black texta on the outside of my expedit boxes (they are called something else, but I'm calling them that!) what was in there so I put things back where they belong. Let's see if I make it work!! LOL!! 

 

 

Kinda wish I didn't outline so much in black but by jingoes it felt good to just sit and scrap.. More will be happening. I'm ready for the Feb E2C challenges ladies!! LOL!! 






And for something different entirely I'm calling this vegie medley!! We have a lovely lamb roast in the weber for tea, and because I feel a bit poorly wanted to have lotsa veg aswell!! 

This is it on the way in. Corn, zuc and tomatoes from our veg patch. Locally grown (or so they said) garlic, potatoes, carrots, sweet potato, onion, red capsicum... Drizzled with olive oil and lots of salt and pepper. YUM YUM!! 
Hope you have a good Sat night!! x