29 October 2012

Week 42: Grateful for a holiday

I am a little late in publishing my grateful post for last week, so here it finally is.

My family & I have just returned from a relaxing beach holiday to Port Stephens. It was so nice to get away from Sydney and the day-to-day routines, the house (along with the endless housework) and have hubby all to ourselves.

After having such a crappy few months, it was nice to have some fun together and relax.

We all had a wonderful time and enjoyed being at the beach. I particularly loved going for walks by the water in the morning and taking in the views of the beautiful clear water.

It was "Cherub's" first holiday, and first time at the beach, she took a couple of visits to get used to the cold water, but by the time we were ready to leave, she had become our "beach baby", who loved playing on the sand with her sister "Popette" and being dunked into the water.

 
"Popette" loved building sandcastles, collecting shells and jumping up & down in the water.

So this week I am grateful for being able to go on a holiday.

I am grateful to take a break from the everyday tasks such as routines, appointments, housework, and daily stresses that two little cherubs can bring.

I am grateful to have returned home feeling refreshed and my batteries recharged.

I am grateful for getting a nice little tan, and that none of us got sunburnt!

I am grateful for the memories we made on our little holiday.

What are you grateful for?

I am linking up with Maxabella Loves over at Kidspot Village Voices.
 

27 October 2012

New Kids craft page

Do you like art or being creative? I love being creative in all forms, whether it's painting, drawing, taking photo's, scrapbooking or my latest hobby, making decorative birthday cakes for my girls.

Egg carton caterpillars craft

When I was little I would spend hours sketching, or copying illustrations out of my favourite fairytale books. I also loved painting, and sitting at the table where I'd make things out of bits & pieces.

Art was my all-time favourite subject at high school, so when I left in year 10, I knew I wanted to persue it further at TAFE and completed a Fine Arts certificate. Over the years I have studied different forms of design (Fashion, Desktop Publishing & Web), so still in the creative field.

For now I get to share my love for craft & art with "Popette", and later hopefully "Cherub" will also show an interest. "Popette" loves it when we do craft together or as she calls it "crafting", or when we get the paints out and do some painting.

What I love most about our little crafting sessions is the special time I share with "Popette", and watching "Popette's" little imagination working away.

On the blog I have published several craft projects "Popette" and I have made. These posts can now be found under the new "Kids craft" page that's recently been added to the blog.

I will be adding new posts here from time to time, so make sure you check the page out regularly.

If you think you might be interested in sharing any of your own craft projects please contact me. If I get enough interest I might later add a craft linky to the blog!

19 October 2012

Week 41: Grateful for Big (and little) Adventures

Hubby is currently on holidays for two weeks. It's been a while since he's had a decent break from work, so apart from a much needed holiday that we had planned, we decided to take the girls on a "Big Adventure - Little Ted style", and on Wednesday took "Popette" and "Cherub" into the city.

As "Popette" had been talking non-stop about treasure and treasure maps lately, we decided to take her to the Pirates exhibition at the National Maritime museum.

"Popette" and I spotted a trail marking the way to the exhibition, so in my best pirate voice, I let out a couple "Argh me maties", and "Shiver me timbers" (Hubby thought I had well & truly lost my mind!) and we made our way.

With our treasure map in hand we went in search for clues, and finally located our treasure in the pirates cave. "Popette" loved the exhibit, and was already to walk through it again when we persuaded her to stop for lunch (our girl loves her food!)

After some calamari and chips, and gentle persuation on our part, we headed off to the Powerhouse Museum for "The Wiggles" exhibition.

The girls loved the exhibit, particularly Dorothy on her swing and her little cottage, where "Popette" and I made Dorothy some paper flowers. We didn't get to see it all, as we ran out of time, so will have to plan a return visit.

Afterwards, we caught a tram back to Star City, where we picked up some macarons from Zumbo's (Mummy & Daddy's treat) then headed off to Rozelle for a quick play at a friends before heading home.

We all had a great day, especially "Popette" who couldn't thank us enough, which was so gorgeous.

So this week I am grateful for going on adventures; big or small, and for the time we spend together discovering places that are new to us or somewhere were we haven't been for a long time and forgotten how much fun it can be.

What are you grateful for today?


Going on holidays

Yay, we are going on holidays today!! I can't wait! (Can you tell I'm a wee bit excited). I am packing a mixture of clothes, the camera, and a new bikini top and board shorts I bought. I'm hoping the weather will be warm enough for a dip! Of course I'm including a bundle of craft and kids activities to keep Popette busy for when Cherub is having a nap, or in case of rainy days.



It's been nearly 2 years since we've had a family holiday, so we are looking forward to relaxing at our favourite holiday park located at Port Stephens up the NSW mid coast. It will be nice to get away from Sydney and all the appointments, sickness, and routines we have had lately and to have some well deserved R&R...maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to fit in a well deserved massage too.

This is the first time Cherub has been to the beach, so we are hoping the weather will be warm enough so we can take her for her first splash. Popette is very excited, and can't wait to build some sandcastles and collect shells on the beach.

While I am away please visit my latest 'grateful' post, and look out for a new "Kids craft" menu being published on the blog. Under this page you will find craft posts that have previously been published.

Do you have a favourite holiday spot that you love to go to each year?

13 October 2012

Week 40: Grateful for a cuppa

Today I caught up with a friend over a cuppa. It had been a couple weeks since we last saw each other so we had a bit to catch-up on. As someone who sometimes gets anxious when talking I find the words flow easier when I'm enjoying a cup of hot steaming tea or coffee. It just seems to relax me, and let me talk without thinking too much!

 



Although I love tea (English Breakfast is my favourite) I love a good coffee. So yesterday afternoon I was little upset when I noticed that we had run out of coffee. Hubby who was working nearby, kindly bought me a coffee from the McCafe on his way home, it was certainly welcomed and was nice after the day I had with the girls.

So this week I am grateful for:

- the coffee my Hubby bought me on the way home from work,
- that first cuppa of the morning, it's so good
- the cuppa I had while chatting to my friend and
- the times I've chatted with Hubby over a hot cup of tea and a bikkie or two when the girls have gone to bed for the night.

What are you grateful for today?

I'm linking up with Maxabella Loves over at Kidspot Village Voices.

09 October 2012

Craft: Manilla Folder Girl

"Popette" and I made this cute paper girl out of an old manilla folder a while back. I thought I'd share it with you, it's so easy and fun to make with little ones.



All you need is:

Manilla folder
Glue
Scissors
Pipe cleaners
Buttons
Strands of wool
Pieces of coloured paper
Glitter pen

First cut out a girl's (or boy's if you wish) head and body out of the manilla folder.

Then cut out an outfit from any pieces of coloured paper you may have lying around (we have a tub full of different coloured paper). We cut out a dress with long sleeves, which we then glued to the manilla folder.

Your child can then decorate the dress however they wish, we used some buttons, which "Popette" glued to the dress.

I then cut some small strands of wool, which "Popette" then glued on the head to make a mop of hair.

"Popette" then glued on some buttons for the eyes, and for the mouth made a smile using a glitter pen.

We also cut out some paper bows which "Popette" stuck onto the girl's head.

I then twisted some pipe cleaners into little arms & legs, which I stuck onto the manilla folder with sticky tape, along with some string for hanging up the girl in "Popette's" room.

Ta-da, and there you have it, a manilla folder girl.

05 October 2012

Week 39: Grateful for positive things

Did you know that October is Positive Attitude Month? I only just found out this week. As much as I try to be positive, there are days when things or life gets me down.



What hasn't helped is that we've had a horrible year with both my girls being really sick (you name it, they've had it), plus my Dad is battling cancer and been in & out of hospital 3 times in as little as a month which has been hard on Mum.

Then an old friend of mine recently died of terminal cancer, which came as a complete shock to me. I hadn't been in touch with her for a very long time, so I took the news hard.

I know there are people who are worse off, but it just seems that things keep knocking me down, and making life difficult, which then makes me feel tired, stressed and not feeling at all positive.

As I wrote in yesterday's post ("30 things I love about myself") I haven't been happy with my attitude for some time and need to make some changes.

So my first step is to be grateful for the positive things that have occured in my life recently:

I am grateful for:
  • The 1st birthday party we had for "Cherub", which turned out lovely.
  • "Cherub" who is finally crawling (I know it's strange to be grateful for this, as it means she'll be in to more stuff!) but she's been a bit slow with some milestones, so it's great watching her crawl around the place.
  • The gorgeous spring weather we've been having. It's been so nice sitting out on our back deck eating lunch with the girls and watching "Popette" jump on her trampoline and blow bubbles.
  • My Dad who is finally at home, although he's not 100%, he's got enough strength to walk around on his own.
  • An upcoming holiday that's been booked for later in the month, I can't wait, I'm counting down the days until Hubby is off work!

What are you grateful for today?

I am linking up with Maxabella Loves at Kidspot Village Voices.

04 October 2012

30 things I love about myself

Do you ever take the time to think about the type of things that you love most about yourself or your life? I must admit, I don't frequently think of what I love about myself. Lately I've been focussed on the things I'd like to fix with myself (ie. weight, my appearance, attitude, mood etc) or how I would like things to be (ie. more time for myself) instead of being happy with what I have right in front of me.

Do you wear your heart on your sleeve?





If I think about it, I'll admit that I haven't been happy with my attitude for some time. The person I used to be before having my girls (probably even before I got married) was a fun loving, happy, bubbly type of person.

But over the last couple of years I've slowly changed. I'm not going to detail it here, as it is something for me to deal with personally, but it's something I hope to change...I need to change...if not, I will continue to be unhappy with myself (which I don't want), and probably hurt the people I care about (another thing I don't want to happen).

Recently I read a post on Debra Dane's blog (Home Life Simplified) about "30 things that I love about myself", which inspired me to sit and have a hard think about what it is that I love about myself and what makes me unique.

What makes me the person I am (flaws & all) and how I can improve myself and make me a better me. Someone I am happy to be.

So here's my list in no particular order.
  1. I am a mother
  2. I am creative (I love being creative on my own and now with "Popette". It's something I've loved ever since I was small and I hope my girls will grow a love for it too!)
  3. I am a good listener
  4. I am a good friend
  5. I am a loving wife (My hubby & I will be married 16 years this year, he is my best friend and I am so happy to have met him)
  6. I am a good daughter (My parents did so much for me growing up, so I think its only fair that I'm there for them when they need it)
  7. I am good at thinking outside the square (When I was working I was paid to think outside the square, and come up with designs or concepts for marketing material which I loved.)
  8. I am patient (Although there are times when I've been pushed to my limits by a wingy toddler!!)
  9. I am resilent (This year has been the hardest with my girls being terribly sick, my Dad's cancer coming back, and both my brothers moving away leaving it up to me to support my parents, amazingly I'm still standing)
  10. I am trusting (I always thought being trustworthy was a good trait, but often I feel taken advantage of by so called friends and aquaintances)
  11. I am a lover of coffee (Not against tea at all, but I love a good coffee)
  12. I am a dreamer (Growing up I was always daydreaming about doing something with my career or becoming something, I still have those sort of dreams but unfortunately have stopped chasing them. I hope my girls dream big.)
  13. I am strong (Not so much physically, but have had to be emotionally going through a traumatic birth with "Popette" who was born at 29 weeks + 3 days, and in the NICU for 50 days)
  14. I am genuine (What you see, is what you get. I don't pretend to be something I'm not.)
  15. I am compassionate (I care when someone tells me a problem they have had, or if something has happened to a friend or person I know)
  16. I am sensitive
  17. I am an artist (I love art, and love to paint and draw, although its something I haven't done much of recently)
  18. I am a world traveller (I have been very lucky to have travelled overseas, can't wait to do more once the girls are bigger)
  19. I am a lover of good wine and food (We don't go out as much as we used to, but hubby and I both love to dine out at a nice restaurant once in a while).
  20. I am a good cuddler (There's nothing I love more than cuddling or snuggling my hubby, and wrapping my arms around my girls and giving them the biggest hugs and kisses)
  21. I love to learn new things (Lately, I've been learning how to decorate cakes using fondant, and scrapbooking)
  22. I love to read (I haven't read a novel in a while, must buy one for our next holiday!)
  23. I love movies (Just watched "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" for 2nd time other night, is the best movie I've seen in a long time!)
  24. I am a writer (Writing is something I have been working on with this blog, one day I'd love to write & publish children's books)
  25. I love spending time with family (My hubby & girls mean the world to me. I love and treasure everyday I have with them...although there are days I'd like a break :))
  26. I love to bake (Last week I made "Cherub's" 1st birthday cake, which featured "Buzzbee" from The Hive and some flowers & butterflies)
  27. I love taking photos (I like to capture special occasions and moments, which I can look back on)
  28. I love making people in my life happy (Especially my hubby & girls)
  29. I am a battler (When I was young I had petite mild epilepsy, and required physio/therapy for developmental issues. There were some things Doctors thought I would never do (like drive a car) but I proved them wrong)
  30. I am thoughtful

Have you written a similar sort of list? I'd love to hear about it if you have.