Who's a gardner?: January 2012

31 January, 2012

A scrappy weekend away

last weekend I had the pleasure of a weekend away in Daylesford with Jasmine Shea, Leonie Neal-Dawson and Melissa Millar...no kids, no husbands, just us and our arts and crafts!

It was great. I always come home tired from these things, too many late nights, long scrappy days, wine and too much food!

But I did do 11 layouts which is pretty standard for me...but about half of them were 8.5 x 11 which is not standard for me...and I must say I think I love the new size!

Can't show you all today...some are samples for next month...but here's what I can show...

Scrapbook Savvy CC puzzle challenge - flag, paper clip, splats, flower, heart

Anna's Craft Cupboard - January Sketch

Scrapbook Savvy Jan Quote challenge

Right well the others will have to wait till tomorrow or some till March...yep I scrapped for March as well LOL!

19 January, 2012

I dare you

I love reading Fox in Flats blog posts. She's a mum of two who had fallen into a fashion rut.

Fox in flats is - a place to share ideas, tips and inspiration on looking stylish and feeling good, even while deep in the trenches of motherhood.

It's created by mums who are going through, or have been through, the fashion challenges associated with taking care of kids.

I've overhauled my wardrobe in light of her 13 wardrobe essentials every mother can't do without and I must say I am never stuck with what to wear each day.

I also follow the 4 minute face when you're fighting for time - best thing ever the eye lash curler!

So this week is the SCARF DARE. Yep so out of my comfort zone, but I gave it a go yesterday...and what a response...comments all positive, from people at work, on FB when I posted my pic

and I must say I felt great, special, like I'd made an effort to look good.

So do you ever wear scarves? No? well then take a risk, check out the DARE or just head on over to Fox in Flats and be inspired to get dressed everyday.

17 January, 2012

what do you think?

of the new format?

suggestions?

criticisms?

16 January, 2012

12WBT

yep I'm doing it!

http://www.12wbt.com

13kgs to lose...which will put me at my lightest in my adult life...I originally was going to go for 8kg but what the heck hey might as well put something there that I REALY want not what I'd be satisfied with.

I've seen a few of my friends do the program and the transformation IN and OUT has been amazing. Not just weight loss, it's also about changing your mindset, eating for the right reasons.

So today is day 1 of Pre-season. But for the past 10 days since I registered I've been slowly changing some habits such as making exercise a priority and watching what I eat. I'm still not completely changed, I still eat stuff I shouldn't but I'm at least conscious of it. And I'm doing the C25K running program and am up to week 3 day 3....it's hard but wow what a workout. We have to burn an extra 500cals a day 5 days a week...and the running doesn't quite get me there so I have to do another 10-15 mins...so 45 mins in total! Plus on a Saturday we have to do 1000cals...so I've joined up with a local group through FB who train at Duncan Mckinnon. I'm sooooo sore after Saturday's session. But feel good too.

Will blog about my progress each week...and at the end we go to Bali, so a huge reward for all the hard work!!!

09 January, 2012

SYL

I recently read Tam Milborn's first post for 2012. I like Tam's blog. She keeps it real and writes about every day stuff that resonates with me as a mum to three young kids.

Her first post was about the 52 weeks to simplify your life challenge.

Do you find yourself dealing with the same issues over and over again year after year?

Do you struggle to get your home organised?

I don't make resolutions each year but those two statements are ME! I'm on a mission this year. To sort myself out, physically, mentally and to do the same to my house and family. We are a good family but I want to set us up physically and mentally to be a great family. Having Isobel start school has got me thinking about what the next 20 or so years hold and I want us to set in place some things to get us on the right path.

So I'm joining in!!

Week #1 Challenge: Create a list of everything that went “right” in 2011

My son, Henry was born. He was a pleasant surprise and now we are complete. I am forever grateful for three healthy, funny, gorgeous, creative, very bright, assertive children who make me think "what did I do with my days before kids?"
Nathan changing jobs. He realised he was underutilized and wanted to move up the corporate ladder. So he moved. I'm so proud of him and far he has come in the last 4 years.
2011 was about a new life in our family. We focused on Henry's birth, Beatrix becoming a real little person - yes she's crazy and a handful but wow she's an amazing person who already knows what she wants. And we focussed on Isobel at Kinder and her growth as a smart, creative, intuitive and very caring person. She had a magnificent year, grew emotionally, spiritually and physically. It was a tough year for me as President of the kinder but we achieved alot and despite some tough times I learnt that I am a good leader.
I have a great job, a place I like going to two days a week, great co-workers, a caring environment for me to work in and a boss who is very supportive of me trying to balance work and family. I enjoy what I do there.
My friends are very important to me, be they on line in in real life. 2011 was a year where some flourished and others faltered. That happens as you get older and move into different stages of your life. I don't have any regrets but I did learn some valuable lessons along the way.

So 2011 was a good year, but 2012 is going to be a great year, filled with many firsts, lots of smiles, laughter, tears (I know I'll cry when Isobel starts school) and many memories. Hope you'll join me for the ride.

Oh and please bear with me as I overhaul my blog...not all links/pages/tags work yet...I'm still getting there.

Have a great day....Mal

07 January, 2012

today I

did the latest sketch at STUCK! sketches

pretty happy with how this turned out.

Gorgeous butterfly from Twiddlyebitz and lovely flower from Charms Creations.

Off to work on my Kraft it Up Jan page.

06 January, 2012

I've made a decision

An important one too. Well to me. You might not think it's important. I know my mother in law and my sister in law won't. But to me it is.

Every year I say I'm going to stay on top of something and every week I fail, not every month not every year but every week. It piles up and up and up. Until it constantly looks like this.

Yep the ironing.

So I've decided. I'm not having an ironing basket. I've put it all away. I've hung it up. All 30odd pieces of ironing. Clothes we haven't worn in months. The only thing left, hanging in the laundry are Nathan's shirts which he irons either on a Sunday or each day.

I feel like a massive weight, a huge pressure has been lifted off my shoulders. No longer is ironing on my daily to do list. When we need something to be ironed I'll iron it.

My laundry is uncluttered. And I feel great.

Have a great day....Mal

05 January, 2012

All gone

Yep christmas is all packed up at our house.

It was a nice Christmas. I wasn't stressed or rushed. That was good.

Now to get Nathan to put all the boxes in the roof. Sometime in the next week!!!

Next christmas we're getting a real tree. We all decided that we love the smell of a real tree. So a real tree next Christmas it is!!!

Before then I need more of these

I got them from one of those mags that get left on your porch. Great for holding all the lights. Makes putting them on very easy, no tangles.

Right now on to putting all the xmas presents/toys away....where do I start?

Have a great day....Mal

02 January, 2012

My top 10

for 2011... did I do 10 layouts in 2011! Of course I did, mind you most of them were when I was pregnant with Henry so they don't even come into consideration....what happens to your scrapping when pregnant....shocking!

So my top 10 are, in no particular order

When they asked me...