Boo! Still here but changes a plenty!

 

Hello!  It's me, I'm still here........ I can't believe it has been 5 months since I last blogged.  It has been the longest break since I first started blogging three years ago and I feel so RUDE for not dropping in earlier and explaining my long absence.

It is true when bloggers say "the longer you are away the harder it is to get back into blogging again".

I have received some really lovely messages asking if everything is ok.  I know I feel a bit miffed when a blog I really enjoy reading suddenly drops off the net (Ivy Nest where are you???).

We have had huge changes around here - all good ones though.  Not long after my last post Mr H was offered a great job............ out of town.  We had 5 weeks to up sticks, leave current jobs, friends and family and move a little further North.  Our view is no longer countryside and grapevines but, a lake, snow capped mountains and the suburbs.  We are still in a small town (yay), just a little more inland.

The move has been a great change for us.  We have bought a house (a big chunk of a thing - 5 bedrooms and built in the 1970's) - we have renovations to tackle and I'm so looking forward to soaking this house in (subtle) retro tones.  We are walking distance to shops and the lake which is such a new bonus for us. I'm also madly eyeing up the garden and can't wait to get planting, and installing a vegetable garden.  Our dog and cat came with us, but I had to give my beloved chickens to our neighbour.  We have a great plot of land big enough to house some more chickens though.

Bell, Tom and George have settled easily, despite first day nerves on their first days of school and Kindy.  Tom loves being able to scooter to school as we had to jump in the car to go anywhere before - George and I slowly meander behind - Mr H is busy with his new job and for the last six weeks since we settled on our new house I have been unpacking and getting my bearings and making sure the family is settled and happy.

I'm not working and plan on running a business from home (watch this space) to work around Mr H's busy role and the task of keeping up with three children.

It wasn't until I sat down to write this post that I realise how much I have missed blogging.  I haven't read any other blogs in the last 5 months either, so I'm looking forward to catching up.

I have one dilemma that I would love your advice on.  What do I do about my blog name - I wasn't initially going to continue blogging but now I think I still want to.  Should I start a new blog or rename this one?  We are no longer in the country but I'm still determined to hold onto those ideals and plan on stamping a little country into our new life in the suburbs.

So there you have it - a quick update from me and more to follow I'm sure.

What have you all been up to?  Tell me EVERYTHING?!

 

 

 

 

Send a little love

 

 

 

I joined in recently with another great swap arranged by Tracy from Mad About Bags blog.   A parcel to be sent and received by Valentines Day.

Something heart shaped or themed

Something deliciously edible

Something handmade

Something red

 

I was partnered with Sandra from Mason Mumblings blog.  A new to me blogger and a fellow Kiwi.  I received a beautiful package of treats.  Sandra sent me a lovely zippered pouch.  The chocolate will be demolished in no time (I love that it's dark chocolate, as no one else will want to eat it but me, so I won't have to hide it).  The DIY pin cushion is such a great idea and I can't wait to make it.  Also sent was a heart shaped cookie cutter, hand cream, buttons and a pendant.

This is the second time I have joined in with Tracy's "Send a little love" swap - a great time of year to receive some treats as Mr H and I don't really celebrate Valentines day.  We give each other cards but the rest of the day is all about wee Tom and his Birthday.

I always love putting together swap parcels and I hope Sandra enjoys her parcel.  I sent cream and red cotton tea towels, a crocheted (bought at a craft fair) face cloth, heart shaped soap, heart printed fabric, washi tape, chocolates and a heart pendant that I made.  I wish I had remembered to photograph it before I wrapped it all up!

If you haven't joined in with a blog swap yet, give it a go - you don't have to be a blogger to join in.  You get to "meet" some really lovely people and it is always nice to get happy mail instead of bills.

Thank you to Tracy for organising this swap and to Sandra for being such a lovely swap partner.

30 goals for 2015

Fellow bloggers are sharing their 30 goals for the year, and I decided it would be a great idea for me to get motivated for the year.  I thought I was going to struggle writing down 30 goals for 2015, but this list came together kind of easily.  I added, changed and removed goals over the last week or so.  I happy with my list now and a few of the goals are things I think about often, so it's good to get it down in writing.

It's a goal list, a wish list, a to do list of sorts.  What ever you wish to call it, it's my list and something to look back on through out the year and hopefully cross off as I go.  If you wish to join in, choose the number which best works for you, it doesn't have to be 30.

1. Make self-care a priority.... you know, colour hair more regularly, shave legs, wear make-up.
2. More date nights with Mr H.  Once every whenever isn't good enough.
3. Spend more one on one time with Bell.......before she stops wanting me.
4. Keep giving our boys a simple, easy and carefree childhood.
5. Learn to crochet.  Please crochet gods be kind, nothing fancy.  Just a simple square will do.
6. Read, read, read books and more books.
7. Early nights during the week, even night owls need to get to bed early sometimes.
8. Exercise more often.....ahem.
9. Use my diary and family calendar.  So I don't forget things.....ever.
10. Complete my Handmade Adventure. Sew, sew, sew.
11. Keeping growing and expanding our kitchen garden.
12. Post off parcels for Birthdays and blog swaps well in advance (on time).
13. Think more about op shop purchases.  Do I REALLY need it.
14. Drink more water!
15. Plan a family holiday.
16. Watch and photograph a sunrise.
17. Keep taking photos of the kids even though I'm not participating in this years 52 project.
18. Write down grocery lists and meal plans.
19. Spend less time online in the evenings - and limit online time while the kids are around.
20. Be organised for Christmas.  I start out early, then stall.  No more Christmas Eve wrapping!
21. THINK before I open my mouth.  I'm starting to sound like my mother.
22. Let go of things I know I will never wear or use again.  Cull my wardrobe (baby clothes???)
23. Save more. Spend less.
24. Set things out and start school lunches the night before. Plan and be organised.
25. Nurture friendships.
26. Try a yoga class....I'm still not convinced.
27. Learn Te Reo Maori.
28. Update family photos around the house.
29. Plan a wedding or at the very least look at setting a date.
30. Keep blogging.  It is such a great creative outlet for me.

Have you made "a list" for the coming year?

Pyrex, op shopping and meeting Kimberley

 

 

I found some Pyrex!  I love Pyrex but don't come across good pieces very often.  The pieces I do see are usually scratched and chipped, the really amazing Pyrex only seems to be online, but it is always so expensive.  I always hope that I will come across some pretty Turquoise pieces........I will keep dreaming.

 

Op shopped goodies found lately - wooden egg cups which made there way to the boys outside kitchen.  And an old (ish I think) tea tin with still vibrant colours.

 

And last week I had the pleasure of meeting up with fellow blogger Kimberley from Creative Chaos.  She was in town with her family for the holidays so we met up for some op shopping and lunch.  She was just as I thought she would be.  So lovely, funny, passionate about her job and boy can she shop.  She has some superior shopping skills!  She gave me a bag of "confetti" products to match up with what she sent me for the Christmas Cracker swap.  Thank you Kimberley!

 

It was so good to finally met her, after all the emails, blog comments and the many blog swaps we seem to always get paired up for.  I hope we get to meet up again soon one day.  And next time I won't be too chicken to pull my camera out and take some photos!

 

It is still the school holidays here in NZ.....I don't return to work for another couple of weeks (yay).

 

It has been so hot, not "Australia" hot but hot enough.  Stinking hot is what we Kiwis would call it.  Tom has been asking when Winter is coming........oh dear, it's a wee while away yet.

 

More swimming is on the agenda and catch ups with friends.  I hope these next few weeks take their sweet sweet time.

 

Found anything great while (op) shopping lately?

 

Have you ever met up with a fellow blogger?

 

 

 

 

From Julie

 

This amazing retro tablecloth arrived in the post today along with a beautiful handmade card.  Sent to me by Julie from the blog JulieLou.

 

It feels like a heavy brushed cotton and the colours are still bright and vibrant.  Blue has always been my favourite colour - and I can never say no to a retro flower.

 

It is very me.  I love it and it fits perfectly over the round table in the (wine time) corner of our garden - perfect for an afternoon tea set up I think.

 

So thank you Julie for thinking of me when you found this and sending it my way.

 

 

 

 

A cracker of a Christmas swap

I joined in with two swaps for the festive season.  I love these bloggy swaps - and it's always good to get some Happy Mail.

Tracy from the blog Mad About Bags hosted a Christmas Cracker Swap.  I was partnered up with Kimberley from Creative Chaos.  We had a good laugh about this as we have been partnered up for so many swaps.

Below is what I put together for Kimberley.

I filled the inside of the cracker with Chocolates and some Christmas craft pegs and wrapped it up with a Jamie Oliver tea towel (I know from her blog posts that she loves Jamie Oliver and tea towels).

Using the other tea towel I made up a parcel of treats that included a felted stocking decoration that I made, ginger biscuits, tissues, a wooden bird decoration, Christmas peg bunting and a recipe for fudge that I love to make.  I decorated the cracker and parcel with a artificial pohutukawa stem (native New Zealand flower) and mesh flower.  I hope she loved it, as I much as I enjoyed putting her Christmas Cracker and treats together.

Below is what Kimberley sent to me.  She knows me well and put together a really lovely cracker.

I love the reindeer decoration and heart magnets.  I'm thinking a girlie tea party with friends may be in order so I can put to good use the cup cake cases, mini flags and straws.  The stationery and stamps are sweet.....I will be hiding those as Bell has been eyeing them up!

 

 

Thank you Kimberley for being such a great swap partner (again!).  Even with the busy festive season it is always really nice to make time to do a couple of swaps.

 

Did you join in with any over December?

 

Do you know of any good ones out there in blog land at the moment that would be fun to join in with?

 

 

 

 

Keeping calm and carrying on.............

Hello lovelies!  I wanted to sit down and have a catch up with you - I've posted plenty over the last few months, but there will always be things I don't share - one thing in particular I wasn't going to but a message from a friend today has made me have a change of heart.

I started a part time job in June - before I began I thought it would be a good idea to go and have a few things sorted that I had been putting off like visits to the dentist and doctors.  I did both, all went well and I thought nothing of it until a letter arrived.

My smear results came back abnormal..........follow up visits to the hospital with a specialist resulted in me finding out I had early stage cancer cells in my cervical "canal".  Gobsmacked.  And extremely relieved due to the fact that it had been caught early and was only on the outer tissue layer and had not spread.

After a couple of treatments that included tissue removal I was given the all clear in September.  Phew!  I choose to keep the results and my hospital treatments to myself apart from Mr H of course, two family members and my boss due to the fact I needed to take time off work.  I'm not good with sharing info like this and have always preferred the "Keep calm and carry on" approach.  I'm the same way with most things.  I have ups and downs like everyone - I just tend to "suck it up" and keep going.  A not entirely healthy option I'm sure.

After I was given the all clear - I did casually mention it to a couple of friends.  One of them sent me a message today saying she went for her smear after I told her and has found out she has abnormal cells and is about to start going through the motions of removal and further tests.  She was grateful I had told her, as it made her pick up the phone and make a very overdue appointment.

So beautiful ladies.  Early detection is key!  I am so grateful it was found early and that I will be around for my children.  I hate going to the Doctors for "Lady Checkups" but the alternative is much worse.

 

We need to look after ourselves first so we can be around to look after those we love.

 

xo

 

 

 

 

"Send us Christmas" Swap

I know.........(insert eye rolls).  Don't panic - there is still plenty of time till Christmas.  But you know how much I love Christmas and a good swap to go with it.

Kimberley over at Creative Chaos is putting together a Christmas Swap.  Click on this link here to take you through to Kimberley's blog so you can read all the details of the swap and to sign up.  I will be, so don't be shy.

Just to let you know - sign ups close November 10th and parcels must be sent off by

December 10th at the latest.

This is open worldwide - you can let Kimberley know if you would like to post internationally or locally (where possible).

 

 

Go on!  Sign up, you know you want to!

 

 

 

 

A little bit of colour

We are into the first week of the school holidays here and it has been a really relaxing and enjoyable first few days (touchwood / crosses self).  May it continue into week two.

The grey and cold has set in but there have been a few colourful treats around these parts.....

50% off Orla Kiely, couldn't say no.  Scored this beautiful tin - and it's huge!  I love her homeware's but once the prices are converted into NZ dollars her items are a tad on the expensive side so I like to keep an eye out for sales - my friend L always messages me when she spots one.

I joined in with Miriam from Create Hope Inspire for her Little Bit of Colour swap.  I was sent a parcel of treats from Kimberley of Creative Chaos - I'm hoping my recipient has received her goodies.  Kimberley and I had a good laugh about this as we always seem to get partnered up, I'm not complaining as she always sends such amazing things.  Thank you Kimberley! xo

The knitted dishcloth now sits under my Coffee Pot, it's too pretty to wash dishes with.

And I found more of the Forest Glade vintage Crown Lynn Dinner Set......13 pieces!  I saved a search on Trademe and  a couple of days later these turned up.  About 30 minutes after I pushed the BUY NOW button, Mr H was having "a moment" in the kitchen over all my crockery and thinks I need to start collecting something that doesn't take up so much room.  Bloody cheek!  He hasn't seen these yet as he is away.  I'm going to set the dinner table with the set tomorrow night.  Can't wait to see his face as he never misses anything, ha!

Flowers picked up with the groceries, for the mantelpiece and table.  Love a little bit of pretty colour about the house.

Have a great week!