Decorating - Ballet Style

So, with the building and fit out almost complete, the time has come to seriously think about the decorating aspect of the renovation. First off the mark are the girls bedrooms.

You may recall the youngest Miss of the house desperately wanted a mermaid room, complete with blue walls "as the mermaids live under the sea Mum!". The older Miss really wanted a ballerina room. "How fun!" thinks the Mum picturing a fun, bright ballet themed room, "but where on earth will I find mermaid fabric?". Turns out that the mermaid themed room was VERY easy, ballet themed room, not so much. You see all the ballet fabric is light pinks, not a lot that screams bright around at all. Older Miss really wanted hot pink walls - we let her have one feature wall only as the colour was REALLY bright. I eventually found quite a funky lamp that was quite literally a hot pink tutu with bright tulle in lime, purple and aqua. We already had a bright coloured chandelier (read about that and the mermaid fabric here) but no fabric. I was resigning myself to a quilt that had all the colours in it but was not ballet themed as such. After all the fun I had picking the mermaid fabric, colours, lamp and even having a painting done for the youngest Miss, I was very disappointed I was not going to be able to do the same for older Miss.

Today was one of those holiday days where we all felt like lazing around and doing a whole lot of not much. The painters and their oil based paints put those plans to rest when the fumes became a little too much for us all.

Right! I think, I need to choose a light for the girls bathroom and I need backing and binding for the current WIP I am focusing on! First up to the village for sushi as a sweetener and then after promising a play in the park with friends at the end of the afternoon we headed off to Calico and Ivy, thinking we would then go to my favourite lighting and hardware shop. Who can go into Calico and Ivy and come out with only what was on the list? And I did have a little list (the backing and binding fabrics, a couple of crochet hooks and perle thread). I thought I might as well choose a few little fabrics that tie in with the colours in Zoe's room and add that to my list of WIP's for this year as it really does need to be done sooner rather than later. 5 or 6 fabulous fabrics sitting on the counter, still looking looking for what I could add and I mention to the lovely lady who works there, Donna, about not being able to find ballet fabrics that will achieve the look I want. General chit chat, a couple more bolts of fabrics on the counter and suddenly Donna spies some new fabric that happened to be absolutely fabulous and totally irresistable, and perfectly ballet. I am in love! Not very bright but I am an adaptable type of person and all I had to do was convince Miss 7 and have a total, and quick, rethink of the ballet themed room. Oh wow, this fabric is divine! Check this bundle of gorgeousness out!

And look at all those yummy co-ordinating fabrics just begging to be made into a quilt for one gorgeous little girl! And with that very excited mummy who recently fell in love with crochet, what little girl can be without a co-ordinating throw rug for the end of her bed?

So...with bags in hand, we jump into the car and we head to the lighting shop. All the while I am thinking how can I make this work with the lamp and light fitting I have. Yikes, it won't! But this fabric is just too divine, the bedroom with the charcoal carpet, hot pink walls and gorgeous antique brass bed will look just amazing with the fabric thrown in. I KNOW! I will sell the lamp and light fitting and choose something new. Knowing full well the man of the house would not be overly impressed with this idea I chose the bathroom light first...and chose the cheaper option of the 2 I liked and decided Zoe had to have a clear glass chandelier with some pink crystals on it. Hmm, a lamp I think to myself as I walk out of the store - across the road from my favourite lighting and hardware store is No Chintz - woo hoo, Brilliant they can make a lamp shade from the gorgoeus new fabric and I will pop it onto the old off white lamp base sitting in the cupboard from Ikea. Successful, brilliant and expensive afternoon...but my won't that Miss 7's room look sensational when it is done. As I sign off to go and start the crochet rug and think about the quilt design I will just push to the back of my head the fact that I now have to put a coloured chandelier and tutu lamp on ebay and that I will probably lose money on it....But won't that bedroom look great!

Christmas Crochet

Back in November, I did a Christmas Crochet class at my new favourite store, Calico and Ivy. These were my first 2 attempts. I made them as Chistmas gifts and for our own little tree we had this year - crocheted about 20 of them all up.

I am really enjoying crochet and plan on getting more practice this year in between my quilting!

WIP's to tackle in 2012

1. Block quilt

2. Nikki's 40th birthday quilt - a quilt I started for one of my best friends that never quite got finished for her 40th last month!

3. Abby's quilt - top done. For another dear friends little one - she was one last September! Cent decide whether to send it off to be quilted or to give it a go myself...

4. Mai and Micks 40th wedding anniversary quilt - for the inlaws! I know she'll love it but these aren't fabrics that particulaly appeal to me so I get sidetracked easily when working on it! This one will definitely be sent off to be quilted!

5. The Butterfly Quilt - I had visions of a pretty litle butterfly bedroom for Ciara - though that was not to be as she was determined to have a mermaid room. I think I will gift this single bed quilt to a special little family friend of ours for Christmas this year, Zara. That also means that I need to make her brother a quilt which leads me to...

6. The Rocket Quilt - I bought this fabric to make a quilt for my step sisters little man but she wanted different colours.....so I will put this together and add some fabrics to make it a single bed quilt and give it to Samuel for Christmas.

7. This Sarah Fielke kit "Bless You" will be for my sister and her partner. I have a feeling there might be a special celebration this year so want to be ready for it!

8. The Owl Kit - bought from my LQS and I love it. Doesn't go with a thing in my house so I think I will use it as a picnic rug as it goes perfectly with our picnic set. Any hints on what makes a good inner and backing for a picnic rug?

9. Whoopsy Daisy kit - gorgeous Prints Charming kit that I bought from the quilt show in Sydney a few years back. Not quite right for our bedroom but I love it so much I don't care!!!!! This will be our Christmas gift!

10. Christmas Table Topper - yessiree I am the kit queen! This one from The Fat Quarter Shop and I initially bought it to take to Ireland as a gift but that never quite happened! So not sure where this will end up but it is calling out to me to be put together!
11. And one extra for luck. Ciára's Mermaid Quilt - must get that finished for her for this year for her very blue mermaid room!

So there you have it. Still on my teensy tiny little brother machine, hoping that he will be upgraded when I turn 40...and I should have my sewing room sometime next month ... No excuses not to power my way through this list!! Good intentions and all that hey!

2011 Reading

Not quite as many as 2010, or as many as I would have hoped. Trashy reading, heavy reading and books I could not put down. It was a mixed bag but generally I enjoyed them all!

22. A Stolen Life - Jaycee Dugard
21. The Price of Life - Nigel Brennan, Nicole Bonney & Kellie Brennan
20. The Help - Kathryn Stockett
19. Gone Baby Gone - Dennis Lehane
18. Red Dog - Louis de Bernieres
17. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
16. Manhattan Dreaming - Anita Heiss
15. Madeleine - Kate McCann
14. Armani Angels - Cate Kendall
13. The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul - Deborah Rodriguez
12. The Boleyn Inheritance - Philippa Gregory
11. The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
10. The Truth about Diamonds - Nicole Richie
9. 3,096 Days - Natascha Kampusch
8. Disgrace - JM Coetzee
7. Undercover - Keith Bulfin
6. The Captive Queen - Alison Weir
5. Some Girls: My Life in a Harem - Jillian Lauren
4. Worst Case - James Patterson
3. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
2. The Wedding - Nicholas Sparks
1. Almost French - Sarah Turnbull

2012 ? What? So soon? Yikes!

Where on earth did 2011 go?

What happened to my normal life?

What happened to blogging?

Renovation renovation renovation - seemed to be the word of the year for 2011. To say that the renovation consumed me, would probably be an understatement. Real life was put on hold. Reading slowed, craftiness was almost at a standstill, exercise was totally inconsistent, some nights I think the kids only just got fed (well, that could be a slight exaggeration!).

2012 is the year of ME!

Time to get back into routine, back into consistent exercise, lose that blasted 5kgs I have talked about for years, and time to craft! With the internal renovation just about finished (the new section that is) and the smallest one of the family off to school, 2012 will be the year of recovery, re-igniting passions and getting back in the game!!!

As we have started to unpack the garage I have come across tubs and tubs and tubs of fabrics and amongst these many WIP's! The lovely AJ over here at AJ's Antics has kicked off a WIP 12 month challenge which you can read about here. Oh me, oh my!! So perfect for getting back onto the quilting bandwagon and ploughing through some of the WIP's that have been hanging around for years and years. In fact, January's WIP is to put together some hand stitched blocks that were my first ever foray into quilting! See below for more on that! Over the next couple of days I will photograph my WIP's and blog my list! I still have a couple of tubs to look through (hangs head with red face!)

To help me get back into the swing of things I have signed up to round 1 of Michelle Bridges 12wbt. A 12 week body transformation program. And I am going to kick butt. Pre-season starts in 9 days and I can not wait!

I will also start my 2012 book reading challenge up again. I am currently reading Tracey Wickham's autobiography and am really enjoying it. I have also joined a book club. An old high school friend who now lives in London has started it up, there are a few of us and we are spread all over the world - London, Sydney, Munich, Hong Kong, Wagga Wagga. Where else? I am sure there were other places as well. We are going to do it all by email. I am super excited as I have always wanted to join a book club but with Dave's travel and having to rely on sitters when he wasn't around I was always a little nervous about letting people down. This way I can actually do it. We have all ordered our book and will post more about that once we get into it!

I will also blog more frequently than I did last year. So please leave me a comment so I know I am not talking to myself!

For now I am off to keep on hand stitching my January WIP. I went to a quilting class way back in early 2006 when I wanted to learn to quilt. I just picked some pretty fabrics and then realised it was all to be done by hand! So I am going to hand stitch the 4 blocks together, sandwich and hand quilt, machine sew the binding on, stitch it down, pop the label on and then who knows what I will do with it. It matches nothing in my house and I am not sure if I even like it much. BUT as it was my first attempt those few years back I feel I should hang onto it. We will see!!

Craving time

I have had no time. The house renovation, now that we have 6 weeks to go has kept me flat out. It has consumed me for a few weeks now. I am enjoying it, but craving time, quality time with my family, time to craft, time to exercise properly, time to get my head together, time to get organised.

I did take 6 hours on Sunday and did the Seven Bridges Walk, what a wonderful 27km walk it was. (pics to follow). The blisters on my heels are giving me grief, but it was worth it!

Next Friday I am taking 3 days out, flying to Brisbane and heading off for 3 crafty days with a lovely group of gals.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, there is a break coming up, and I am really looking forward to it. I do not like to wish my life away, but I am looking forward to 2011 being over, the house being finished and life being back to normal again!

Hooked

I am loving crochet. I am not good at it, and I am yet to move beyond the granny square... ut there is plenty of time for that. I wanted to work with something not so woolly and thick as the DK I bought for my first efforts (that blanket is coming along beautifully though there is still a way to go) so I bought some 100% mercerized cotton. It is super slippery but I love the look. I am going to make a throw for our new bedroom out of these colours. I am loving the "antiquey" look it has about it! Stay tuned, but but don't hold your breath...I won't get back to this until my little list of WIP's for the remainder of 2012 are done and dusted. With a 3 day crafty weekend coming up next month, I know I will make a substantial dent in that list! Bring it on girls!

Successes and Failures

I feel on the reno front we are finally winning. The builder is aiming to have the house finished for Christmas (garage, pool, front and back yard will follow in 2012 and be finished by mid year).

Yesterday was an insanely hectic day. At 7am, my phone pinged with a text message. The builder had the baths sitting on his truck and wanted me to inspect them before they struggled with the weight of them into the upstairs section. And then it didn't stop the entire day. By 3pm I had a splitting headache. I had negotiated with a number of suppliers on prices and ordered taps, toilets, the remaining appliances and basins. I did walk throughs with the electricians and plumbers. I talked with the builder about staircases, balustrading, moving doorways, placements of fittings in bathrooms. I watched the 6.5 metres of sliding doors go in as well as being delighted to see some windows were installed. The kitchen guy came to measure up and finalise everything. At 3.30pm I took beers out to the boys and told them they were not to call me, text me or ask me any more questions as I was over it for the day. I then met up with a neighbour and her kids over at the park to take some time out. I am really loving this process and feel proud of the success I have had with project managing it, and what I have learnt but yesterday was full on...

With all of this going on, my dear husband away for 2 weeks, us being away plus it being school holiday my 12wbt has totally fallen off the radar. I have not exercised in a week, too many treats (the break out on my face is a dead giveaway) and I feel like a hefferlump! I am trying so hard not to beat myself up and be realistic about the situation but I really am a routine girl at the end of the day, and if that routine is thrown out - then all the wheels fall off! I have a 10km run coming up on 6th November that I need to train for , this afternoon I will head out to pound the pavement for a few k's just to get back into the groove and then I need to knuckle down and do some training for it. A couple of weeks ago I went to a run clinic and that was super interesting. I have scheduled an appointment with the running guru Kaz of Mind Body Motion Fitness to delve deeper into my running and how I can improve it to do a ...wait for it.. half marathon next year. I was hoping for May but it looks like we will be in Ireland and Malta for a few weeks around that time so I will be aiming for September ...how can I fail when I have a whole year to plan and train! Next year I am hoping to join a run club somewhere near by to train with others.

So, the plan of attack is tomorrow afternoon to take my few hours to schedule and shop, smash at least 1000 cals, remeasure and weigh myself and to jump right back on the wagon and start again. You see, what would make me a real failure is if I don't start again and just carry on the way I have the past week or so. I am looking forward to my routine and feeling fabulous again! I still have 8 weeks to make a real difference!

Happy weekend everyone x

Embroidery Love

Yesterday I finished 3 of the 7 Prints Charming embroideries on my to do list. These will be made into little "lavender puff thingys" for teachers etc and teamed with hand cream for Christmas gifts. Need to be on the ball this year and not leaving it all to the last minute!

I love the design, colour and texture that these are once they are stitched up. So many possibilities and fun to do!

Depression

This is a difficult post to write, I know I will not articulate it well, and I also wondered whether I should even write it.

Recently we were hit hard by depression. A dear friends dad committed suicide due to this terrible terrible illness. An act that six months ago would have been totally out of character and something we would have all believed an act he would never even consider let alone actually do. We had known this wonderful man for many years because of our friends and were very fond of him. I had no idea of the dark hole he was living in post a heart attack some months ago that triggered the depression. The immense sadness my friend and her family will live with forever breaks my heart. Last night we talked alot about it, there were many tears, lots of hugs and a few laughs.

If you think you might be feeling more down than you should, if it is hard to get out of bed in the morning, if you want to sleep the day away, if there is any negative change in your behaviour or you suspect anyone you know is suffering in any way from depression, PLEASE I BEG OF YOU, ask questions, don't stop asking questions, talk about it, be honest, let's break the stigma and help these people.

A loss such as my friends dad brings a grief that is beyond imagination, something that can never be fully recovered from. It is an unnecessary end to a life worth living.

Information can be found and donations made at Beyond Blue

A Finished Quilt

I love the colours of this strip quilt. Emma, as per usual, did a stirling job jazzing it up with the actual quilting and you can read about it here.

This quilt is destined for the UK. A very special family friend, recently moved home after 20 odd years living down under. We miss her very much but know she has fond memories of the times she spent with us and will sometimes think of them as she snuggles under this lap quilt on those very cold English winter nights!

I had hoped to gift it before she flew back in late August and Emma's turn around time on the quilting was super quick but the reno got in the way that week and the binding just didn't make it on in time!

Feels so good to get something finished! Today will be spent doing laundry, some pretty embroidery on my Prints Charming decorations, the label on this quilt and a trip to the PO to send it off and if there is no rain, a visit to Vespa at our favourite car wash. I just love school holidays and how the days are dictated by us, and not the school bell!

Fabulous finds

For years there have been a number of "housey" things that I have dreamt of owning.

The Gladstone Bag that recently came to live with us was one of those items. On the way home from my parents place last week I dropped in here. Usually a bad move as I rarely come out empty handed. It is months since I visited. My brother in law lives just around the corner and I have to show considerable restraint when ever we are visiting them as I get the urge to run around the corner to take a peek at this wonderful emporium of antique, old and vintage yumminess!

On this last visit, I was "fortunate" enough to become the proud owner of the following;

1. Gladstone Bag
2. Cast iron and brass Kitchen Scales circa 1900
3. Bakelite phone circa 1940's

Fancy that, all 3 hankered after items in one fell swoop!

As we are very limited with storage space at the moment the store was kind enough to store them for us until we are at lock up stage (hopefully only another couple of weeks) but I did manage to take a happy snap of the phone before they packed it up, I was not quick enough with the scales!

Decisions, decisions!

My head is full of paint colours, tiles, caesar stone, marble, window locks, internal doors, appliances, tap ware, lights, sinks and toilets.

We had a pretty definite idea of what we wanted when we embarked on this renovation, but within that there are SO MANY choices. Phwoar, it makes for a hectic life right now. Busy, but fun!

There are little piles of folders, catalogues and samples on top of our filing cabinet. As things are chosen and ordered, samples are returned to suppliers or filed and then we move onto the next thing. The list at one stage seemed endless and I wondered how on earth would I ever choose anything, but we are getting down to the business end of things and we are happy with what we have chosen so far! This week I will finalise the new appliances, tiles, taps and toots and then all that needs to be done is choose carpet, outdoor pavers, waterline tiles and finish for the pool, a new letterbox and determine floor board stain. The tiles need to go back to the supplier as the builder has all required info. The man of the house is insisting on a new tv and surround sound system, but I am staying well out of that one, he can take care of that!

Thankfully, said man of the house and I are totally on the same page when it comes to finishes and decoration of this house, so he has really only gotten involved if I am unsure of something or it is a budget issue (well to be fair he does have an accountancy background!). We are still sitting within budget 8 months in so I have been able to get all of my first preferences to date....we will see how this goes as we get further along towards the end!

See you tomorrow xxx

Blogtoberfest

Wow, is it that time again?? Tinniegirl hosts blogtoberfest annually and I am in total denial that it us actually the 2nd day of October! Where is this year going?

So what is blogtoberfest all about? Basically it is a challenge to blog every single day for the month of October. I am a bit slow off the mark, and am starting on Day 2! I will make up for it somewhere along the way! In 2010, I managed 16 posts and in 2009 I think I was an unofficial participant and managed a measly 4 posts. My effort for 2011 will be greater than previous years, of that you can be assured.

You see, I am going to get involved this year so that it motivates me to get moving on some of my WIP's that I committed to completing before the year is out. It also gives me an excuse to take some time out to surf blogs, something I rarely do any more.

To kick it all off I am going to share with you a recent purchase, here is my Gladstone Bag I purchased just a few days ago to stash my wool in, I have wanted one of these fab bags for sometime but wondered what I would do with it. A new yarn obsession seemed to be the perfect excuse to finally make the purchase, and I found one in the very first antique store I looked in! It needs a good scrub up with some boot polish and it will be as good as new. (I will save for another day to tell you about the bakelite 1940's phone in as new condition that I also bought)..


Remember my dramas with learning to crochet? Well check me out. I am loving how this granny blanket is coming together!! I will just keep going on it until I run out of the wool! A few balls to go yet! I find it easier and easier as time goes on, it is far from perfect but it will be made with love by me for my lovely little family to snuggle under on the wintery evenings on the lounge! I have to say I am loving crochet, it is portable and easier to pull out than all the quilty bits and bobs...(well until the girls bedroom becomes my sewing room anyway!!!!)


See you tomorrow x

My Dream Bed

That's All...

Reading

With all that we have going on this year my reading time has only really been for a little while before I turn the light out each night and usually I find myself too tired! The next night I often have to go back a few pages to re-read and catch up again! So it is slow going for me and books in 2011, not enough quality time!
With all the hoopla over the movie, I decided to read the book first, so off I went to our fabulous local bookstore and picked up a copy of "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I am the first to admit that I am not one for writing a decent book review so all I will say is I loved it and I can not wait to see the movie!!

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about it;

Plot summary

The Help is set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi and told from the perspective of three women: Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter. Aibileen is an African-American maid who cleans houses and cares for the young children of various white families. Her first job since her own 24-year-old son was killed on his job, is caring for toddler Mae Mobley Leefolt. Minny is Aibileen's confrontational friend who frequently tells her employers what she thinks of them. Her actions have led to her being fired from 19 jobs. Minny's most recent employer was Mrs. Walters, mother of Hilly Holbrook. Hilly is the social leader of the community, and head of the Junior League. She is the nemesis of all three main characters.

Miss Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan is the daughter of a prominent white family whose cotton farm employs many African-Americans in the fields, as well as in the household. Skeeter has just finished college and comes home with big dreams of becoming a writer; her mother's big dream for her is to get her married, although Skeeter is not interested. What does interest her is that Constantine, the maid who raised her, is nowhere to be found: Skeeter's family tells her that Constantine abruptly quit and went to live with relatives in Chicago. Constantine had been writing to Skeeter the whole time she was away at college and the most recent letter had promised her a surprise upon her homecoming. Skeeter does not consider Constantine's unexplained absence a good surprise and wonders what happened, but nobody will discuss Constantine.

During the weekly bridge club that Skeeter attends with Hilly, Mrs. Walters, and Elizabeth Leefolt, Hilly discusses her belief that all homes should have separate bathroom facilities for the "colored" help. This discussion awakens Skeeter to the realization that her friends' maids are treated very differently from how white people are treated. She decides that she wants to reveal the truth to the world from the maids' perspectives by writing a book about it. Written in the first person from the perspective of Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter, the struggles Skeeter experiences to communicate with the maids and gain their trust is revealed, as well as the issues of overcoming long-standing barriers in customs and laws by all of the characters. The daily lives of Southern homemakers and their maids during the early 1960's in Mississippi are explored. The dangers of undertaking writing a book about African-Americans speaking out in the early '60s hover constantly over the three women.

I Heart Prints Charming

Way back in June, my friend Nic organised a night learning to embroider at the totally fabulous Prints Charming studio (which has now closed as the wonderful Cath and Kirsten concentrate on their fabric lines rather than retail - phew they are still doing workshops!!). Jen and Amy joined us as well as some other lovely ladies and we proceeded to learn embroidery stitches whilst supping red wine and nattering away! And we are all making this lovely cushion. Typical as ever of me, it is 3/4 finished...
... and I moved onto the next thing....which happened to be another Prints Charming embroidery work shop, this time on their Christmas decorations.
I am struggling to find the time to get any quality time to craft at the moment so I am really enjoying the few hours time out here and there to sit back, relax and stitch away! We are also having a catch up in late October so I must remember to put the crochet down for a while and get some embroidery done so I have some show and tell! Oh yes and the lovely Nic, hosted Jen, Amy and I in her beautiful home way back at the beginning of August to get some crafty/chatty time in. I took along my Pies and Tarts but was late joining in as I had been out the night before with the school mums and was feeling a little dusty.....need I say more?I hope to catch up with these lovelies more regularly as I really enjoying whiling the day away with them! Thanks goodness for SIT as that is where I had the pleasure of first meeting them all!

The Happiest Hooker

It clicked, it fell into place and I am on the way to making a big Granny Square throw for our new lounge in the family room once the reno is complete. I take it with me just about EVERYWHERE I go, and even considered taking it to the movies today to hook away whilst the kids watched The Smurfs - though I did decide to relive my childhood and actually watch the movie! My technique is far from perfect, my tension is all over hte place but I am Love Love Loving it and am nervous about what will become of this obsession!

Not a Happy Hooker

My gran, bless her, tried on numerous occasions to teach me how to crochet. Granma (who I adored and still miss terribly, even after nearly 11 years since she passed away) was the ultimate domestic goddess, she baked, cooked, sewed, knitted, crocheted, you name it and she knew the crafty stuff...and when it came to me she usually had the patience of a saint. But not when it came to teaching me how to crochet. I am left handed, Gran was right handed. I always thought this was the problem...until today.

Weeks ago I was delighted that the beautiful little shop Calico and Ivy was running a beginners crochet class. Yippee, I signed up and was delighted to get a spot. Off I toddled after school drop off this morning, chose my yarn (a gorgeous combo of charcoal, olive, red and off-white), got my hook and was ready to rock and roll. It turned out I even knew the teacher from when she used to work at my local quilt shop.

What a disaster. I just ended up frustrated and well and truly ticked off. I just couldn't get it! There was more tension in my shoulders than there was in my work!

I will not let it get the better of me though. We meet again for the 2nd part of the workshop in 2 weeks. I will absolutely have accomplished something and accomplished it well by then! Even if I choose never to crochet again, I will be making a granny square throw, and it will be beautiful and it will be made totally by me!!!! Stay tuned!

Anyone for Pole Dancing?

This is what our living room looks like. When the roof came off, this part of the ceiling dropped. The builders are not concerned as when we move into the new part, they will move into the old part to restore and renovate. Once the upstairs joists have gone in these will be removed as the ceiling will be considered secure again.

More Pies Progress

20 pies completed and appliqued onto their backing + 20 tarts put together.

Ready to move onto the next lot!




For reasons unbeknownst to me, blogger keeps turning my pics!!!

Mindful Eating

Again taken from Rachel Dickman @ Real Life Fitness

Questions to ask every time we go to put food in our mouths

1. Will this cleanse or clog?
2. Will I feel proud of myself after I eat this?
3. Why am I eating?

When we practice mindful eating we become aware of our choices and live in the present instead of being driven by old emotions, beliefs and patterns.

Progress

The roof of the original part of the house was due to come off today but it is raining...this is the 2nd time it has been put off. The forecast for next week is fine, so here is hoping....In the mean time we are slowly but surely making progress and whilst we are so far behind due to the bad weather, the builder is still hopeful we can be in for Christmas!

This is standing in the entertaining area looking in...

The staircase the builders made so they have easy access to the 2nd story. My girls were very disappointed that it was not the stair case to their new bedrooms!

Standing in the family room corner looking to the kitchen

Standing in the dining room, looking out

Entertaining area looking to window seat and where pool will be

TODAY is the DAY

I have not kept a journal since an unfortunate incident when I was 15 and someone else read what I had been writing. The consequences of someone reading my innermost thoughts, my feelings scarred me and I stopped putting pen to paper. I believe everyone is entitled to a private place to offload and I felt this was taken from me at that point. I no longer need to be concerned about that, I live in a house where we practice respect, and that it is ok to have private space just for you... So with this in mind I bought myself a journal to start writing again. Wow, it is an amazing feeling and I wish I hadn't waited over 20 years to start up again!

Last night I sat down and thought about my goals, and what I want to achieve between now and the end of year. One of those things is to become more in the moment, more mindful.

So, today is the day.

Words to Live By...

City to Surf 2011

My City to Surf Results are in! Given I did no training and my dodgy knee, I was pretty happy. I managed to jog about 12.5km out of the 14km, and my lovely husband stayed with me the whole way. Note in the pic how I am dying and he looks like he has just started out!!! Shows who the runner is in this marriage!



Nett time 145:18 (AVERAGE PACE: 07:31)

42,089 of 68,901 TOTAL finishers.

16, 602 of 34,354 Female finishers.

5,647 of 9,686 Female 30-39 finishers.

Next year's goal is to run the whole thing without stopping - then we will work on times from 2013 onwards!

Dave and I walked around to Bronte post run and had a lovely lunch then caught the bus home! It was pizza and ginger beer for dinner. After burning 1600cals with the run and the walk around to lunch I thought that was ok!

Make Shit Happen

Yes, siree, that is such a good reminder for me!

I have done a few bootcamps with Rachel of Real Life Fitness and i love the sessions, a lovely bunch of girls. Rachel is so smiley and happy and positive, and I enjoy the post training coffee but most of all I just love the way she writes! I am not sure if the above was written by Rache, but I love it, and it serves as a good reminder for this journey. (cope and pasted right from Rache's site, thanks Rache). I am having a few issues with my right knee so have missed out on boot camp a couple of times, but from this Saturday I plan to get back into it and just adjust accordingly. No more excuses!!! (BTW, I should have more of an idea this week after my chiro and GP appointments what the story is with my knee).

Holiday Fun...and Sewing...

My lovely little family and I have just spent a wonderful 5 days staying here in Smiths Lake. Ah, the serenity. It was wonderful. We felt like we were the only people there. Zeus even got to come with us.25m left great coffee, 25m right a playground, all around us gorgeous lake views. We watched DVD's. We played board games. We did sticker mosaics. We played Twister. We walked by the lake. We went up to Forster. We blew bubbles. We collected shells. We danced to the Mary Poppins CD a hundred times. We went to "The Recky" for dinner. We went for a run or two. We rolled down the sand dunes at Blueys Beach. We hung out. We had an absolute ball!

In amongst all the family fun, I got to indulge in some sewing. YAY for me!

I finished Abby's Quilt. Now to pop it in the post to Emma for her apply her amazing talent and quilt it for me, ready to gift in early September.


I made some of the blocks up for my inlaws 40th weding anniversary quilt. I am struggling with this one. It is a kit and I chose it specifically, thinking my mother in law would love the fabrics and the colours, but it is just not something I would normally choose. I am finding it hard work, rather than enjoying it. Dave is heading to Ireland, via a conference in Munich in late September so I have a little time up my sleeve to get it done. It will also be going off to Emma to be quilted when I get it finished.

I also got a start on Sal's Farewell Quilt. Sal is a very dear part of our family, a wonderful family friend and Zoe's godmother. we have spent many special times with Sal (in fact she was at the birth of both my girls), and after many many years living in Australia she has decided to make the move back to the UK. I am devastated to say the least, but to what better way to send her off with lots of love and best wishes than to make a quilt?!!! It is just a very basic strip lap quilt but the colours are fabulous and I can't wait to see what Emma does with it when I send it off to be quilted!

I also pottered along on my pies and tarts - finishing 1 block as well as 2 extra pies and tarts to be appliqued onto their block of fabric.

Jack's Quilt

So simple in design, it took me so long to complete, yet I love it. Hope my gorgoeus little nephew Jack does as well!

New York and Bermuda

As I write this I am sitting on a balcony in sunny Bermuda. Yep that's right folks, Bermuda....as in the Bermuda triangle, as in the Beach Boys song from the movie Cocktail..(Bermuda, Bahama, c'mon pretty mama) Not a place that is a holiday destination from Sydney however when your husband works for a New York based company sometimes we get to go to these random destinations that we would never even consider for a holiday. Bermuda is a 2 hour flight from New York...and we all know how long it takes to get anywhere from Australia!!!

We arrived into Bermuda late last night but we have not left the resort as yet. We are so TIRED!

We flew on Sunday, Sydney-LA-New York, jumped straight in a cab and headed into Manhattan, got into the hotel freshened up and hit the town....dinner, walking up and down, up and down, took in some sites and sights and ended the evening at 1am up the Empire State Building. Monday was a public holiday, for Memorial Day, and we were crazy enough to hit Macy's at Herald Square to take advantage of the exceptional exchange rate. 4 hours later we emerged after stocking up on clothing and manchester and shoes.
We walked back to the hotel to get ready to head out again to meet friends who live in Connecticut. They met us in Manhattan and we had a sensational night catching up with them, first at a roof top bar with views to the Empire State and Chryslers Buildings and then to a great Asian fusion restaurant in the Meat Packing district.

Yesterday was spent walking all over Manhattan again, spot of shopping on 5th, a stroll through Central Park, across to Central Park West to see the Dakota Building (where John Lennon lived and died), lunch in a diner and then back to the hotel to freshen up, jump in a cab, head to JFK and fly here to Bermuda.

We are knackered, but NYC is the city that never sleeps and as we were there for only 2 days this time we had to make the most of every moment. NYC has the most amazing vibe. I just adore this city. I am not a city person generally when travelling but any opportunity to visit NYC and I am sooooo there!!There so many iconic sights to take in, the shopping is sensational, it is so easy to navigate and get around. It has such a buzz. All this aside though, my husband and I were child free and it was all so liberating (having said that though I am missing the girls dreadfully!!!!). What a blast we had!

I am sitting here, listening to the water (and the sweet sound of my husband snoring while he takes a quick mid morning nap) and I feel so relaxed. I had no idea how wound up I was in Sydney. With the hecticness of every day life, all of Dave's travel and the renovation I really was feeling very uptight and I hadn't realised. coming away like this, on this fabulous break has done me the world of good already and we still have another week until we are home. I will be sure to embrace this state of relaxation and take it home with me!!!
I am looking forward to heading out in an hour or so to start exploring this little island. The event we are here for starts tomorrow evening (and these yanks know how to throw a great gig) so this trip will definitely be worth the pain of the flight!

Stay tuned for more!