Sunday, October 25, 2015

Best Made Plans and Newness!

Ugh!  Organising myself and this family is becoming so much more of a charge than I originally banked on.  The younger kids and myself are ok, but I'm getting friction and angst from the older kids.  It seems that teenagers do not like toeing the line - who would have thunked it!?!?!  

Besides the family etc I have my tupperware business to try and keep organised and transparent so I know when and where and how long etc etc and then I've also been invited to join a cohort of photographers at The Arcanum which is a great privilege and one I can't really turn down if I want to progress with my photography.. so there's quite a lot going on and that's just for me!!!  

Getting organised is something I NEEEEEEEEED to do...  but I really wish I had a magic wand to do it all at once.  

So best made plans need adjusting, and newness has added a whole new layer of funness (yes I know there is no such word but I'm using it regardless) into the mix.

Oh and apparently I'm on the hunt for a new mate for Trixie-Belle as she is running away to look for other doggy friends and she needs one here to help keep her calm and with company... and sheesh!  One day life will be calm, and settled and organised and and and.... who am I kidding??  6 kids, running my own business, training, study and kids health needs???  Pfft smooth sailing is a pipe dream :/ 

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Up and Down

That's life at the moment.  I am struggling through some things with the kids...  And then Aerynn is currently going through some kind of bug at the same time.  

The kids new paed in Adelaide is confident Toby has autism and has booked him an assessment at the end of November, and Miss A and Mr D are also booked in to see an immunologist as As reactions to vaccinations and illness are abnormal and D's never been tested for his allergies.  

Ahhh life is never boring in this household!  

So end of November I somehow have to find a money tree as the kids appointments alone are going to see me almost $3000 out of pocket! That's not including accommodations, food and transport as all these appointments are 500KM away from home (one way) and spread over 2 days...  

yay!


*sigh* 

I so need to get myself more organised again.  I need to start back with meal planning and working on daily routines - not to mention keeping up this blog to make sure I have some idea on where I am going and have been...

I've also started back with Photo a Day again.  Started on October 1... so far I'm up to day 9 and not skipped a beat - winning!  LOL  

Ok, dinner time.. apparently the kids are starving...  Hamburgers and salad on the menu for dinner as spring has struck with temperatures in the mid 20's and low 30's *Cs and I'm melting!!!  

Friday, May 15, 2015

Admission of....

Pathetic blog-itis...  I think I have a terminal dose of this terrible affliction....  

BUT I'm hoping now I have what appears to be a more stable internet connection at the moment that maybe I will feel more inclined to hit the keyboard, point the camera and have more to share and record for my family memories preservation sake ;)  

Coming up in the coming days I hope to have a little tutorial using a new pattern by Lorelei Jayne - up cycling some old jeans into a cute new bag... also adding more recipes as I find more that I like and have adjusted for our families tastebuds etc etc

Oh and in the meantime, I've not been sitting here twiddling my thumbs..  have been nursing the family through a dreadful dose of a cold...  in all seriousness Aerynn and Toby both developed croup with it, Aerynn was particularly bad and suffered for over a week with her croup :(  but we are all on the mend at long last :)  

ummm not sure what else to add.  Earlier today I had a great idea for a blog post... i've already forgotten what it was hahaha  Ahhh momma brain at it's best ;)  

now I go and prepare for a tupperware open home I have running all day... hoping that maybe I will have some people drop by and at the very least enjoy some yummy tea, coffee and fresh from the new oven scones with jam and cream ;)  :D 

Saturday, April 25, 2015

ANZAC 2015, 100 years on...

War does not end when the soldier returns or the ceasefire is called. 
War lives on in the shadows of memories. 
It is passed down through the generations. 
It touches more than just the individuals who experienced its horror. 
War serves it's purpose, 
but war has a very expensive price. 

This ANZAC day we remember, 
and we honour.
Those who fell, 
Those who returned and 
Those who serve.
 Thank you for our freedom and our country. 

Lest We Forget.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

MENU PLAN: April 16th - 22nd

MENU PLAN: April 16th - 22nd


Friday, April 10, 2015

Where Did I Go Wrong?

In the still of the night the silence is deafening...  
the mind races...  

there are a few constants. 
the little breaths of sleeping children, 
the occasional snores 
and the ringing of cat collar bells
 as they adjust themselves for their nights sleep 
or prowling; 
whichever the case may be... 

all the while,
inside the racing mind one question appears to be on repeat... 
"where did I go wrong?" 

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Menu Plan... April 9th - 15th 2015

MENU PLAN: April 9th - 15th



** Mini Mamabake Saturday and Sunday:   Chicken Stock ConcentrateBeef Stock Concentrate and Vege Stock and  Dry Mixes  (Taco Mix, Gravy Mix, Choc Brownie Mix, Hot Choc Mix and Ovaltine Mix)

Thursday, March 26, 2015

I've Been Sewing Again!!!


A new pattern from Lorelei Jayne and it's a beauty!!!

the BG Bag

The BG Bag was released on Etsy last night and I believe it's going to be a winner for this little cottage business.  I found it very easy to follow and make up.  To be honest the most time consuming and complicated part of the creative process was getting my iron hot enough to iron the interfacing to my selected fabric. Yup it really is THAT easy!!  And besides easy it is versatile. 

Next model will have the magnetic closure
a little higher - personal preference ;)
When you purchase the pattern it not only includes the handbag pattern that I made and have pictured here, but also a beach bag size which can easily be converted for multiple uses...  I'm thinking with the addition of some simple pockets you can have a basic nappy bag, and then with or without pockets you have a WIP (work in progress) craft keeper, knitting/crochet bags with oodles of room to store your projects as well as the pattern, needles, hooks,  additional supplies etc...  As a beach bag there is plenty of room inside for a towel, change of cloths, thongs (or flip-flops, jangles, etc whatever they are called in your part of the world) and sunscreen. 


the BG bag with matching lavender scented Key Fob
The bag is easy to accessorise as well. There are instructions for a magnetic closure.  It is able to be completed to be fully reversible and with a little tweaking you can change the handles to attach with D rings for a little added personality.  I made a little key fob to go with my bag which I filled with some beautiful dried heads of organic lavender - it really does smell divine!!!


In summary I am absolutely loving this design and pattern.  I can't wait to get stuck into making some more and experimenting.  I'm planning to make myself a new handbag after my lovely black and white expensive number recently died.  I'm also going to make something a little less restrained for my teenage daughter and a few craft bags and a nappy bag...  Oh my "to-do" list keeps growing and growing!!!  Actually, I think a trip to spotlight may just be added to my "to-do" list for tomorrow so I can select the perfect fabric for my next BG Handbag ;)

Saturday, January 31, 2015

New Beginnings?

It would appear the sense of unease I was feeling not that long ago may have had a good reason.  My husband of 17 years up and walked out on myself and our 6 children Wednesday just gone.

As of January 29, 2015 I am now a single mother of 6 additional needs children.

I'm scared.

I'm empty.

I'm trying to hold it all together and be strong for the children.

But I know I am going to crumble eventually.

At the moment I am holding on so tight to my new job as a tupperware demonstrator to help bring in some much needed income to our new family and desperate to try and stay as calm and transparent as possible.

We have had no contact with my husband since Wednesday.  He left with a simple text message saying he was coming to pick his things up, and nothing since then.  He didn't even turn up to care for the children when I had to go do my first training demonstration.

I am hurt beyond belief.

My trust is shattered.

My faith is crumbling.

My self confidence is zilch.

Hoping that we come through this in one piece and somehow find some strength and positives inside this new speed bump in our lives path.


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Crossroads...

I don't know what is happening.  

I have a great feeling of unease and I feel it's starting to eat me up from the inside.  I don't know where it's coming from or why...  Just have a feeling that there are some important decisions to make...  but what are they?  What choices to make?  What? where? why???  I just don't know...  

I feel like I'm at a crossroads, but I can't see what way I should be headed, I can't see anything, but meant to be making a decision to take a path... what path?  where? when? why?  I just don't know...  

It does;t even seem to make any sense when I write it down, let alone in the jumbled confusion that is my head at the moment.  

I just know that things aren't as they should be now, and I need to make some choices to set them straight...  

I only wish I knew what the choices were and what the variables are and what is expected of me...  

Like I'm turning up to school for a regular day, only to discover it's the end of year and exam time and I've not even finished the classes, let alone studied for the exam and I'm meant to come out with straight A's as per usual...  

Drowning?  Is that a decent description?  

just mulling things over...  

I mean, there are some options I can see, but not sure if they are real options or if I'm grasping at something because it's just a life bouy dangling in front of a drowning person, tied with a piece of string to the lifeline... but if it is grabbed, it will the string snap?  Is it really the choice or decision life is asking me to consider at the moment?  I just don't know...  

Seriously, this feeling of unease, confusion, unsettledness is churning so much, weighing on my mind... I could curl up in a corner and cry from the pressure to do the right thing when not knowing what even the wrong thing is...  


Monday, January 12, 2015

Menu-Planning: Monday Jan 15th-22nd

MENU PLAN: January 15th - 22nd



** Mini Mamabake Saturday and Sunday:   Chicken Stock ConcentrateBeef Stock Concentrate and Vege Stock and  Dry Mixes  (Taco Mix, Gravy Mix, Choc Brownie Mix, Hot Choc Mix and Ovaltine Mix)

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Planning... planning.... planning...

2015 has already been a bit of a roller coaster.  We have had bushfires locally, been packed ready to evacuate over a couple of days of unrest with a bushfire around 20kms form us which was a very real threat to property and life (it is still burning with flare ups, but contained) and now the post Christmas/New Year depression has hit. 

So trying to get out of this funk with a bit of planning and setting some goals for the year... and failing miserably.  

I don't want to set hard and fast goals, things that are flexible and allow for our complicated family life.  We have no idea what is going to eventuate from Miss A's MRI in March for example so quite simply can not set things too firmly.

I do know that I want to start taking some time for me.  I don't mean that to be selfish, but I seem to have lost myself in being the main carer for the family, allowing the husband to do what he wants and trying to be firm but flexible with the teenage children... in all that i have not allowed myself anything for me!  I did start my diploma of web design, which was novel for the first week when mum was studying, but being able to find an hour where i'm uninterrupted, not being called for, not dealing with a spat, a cut knee, a spilled drink, a meltdown etc etc has proven impossible.  At this stage I don't know if it will be possible to complete my diploma.  Which is probably contributing to the blues I am feeling at the moment. I hate starting something and not being able to finish or proceed.  I hate admitting defeat... I'm probably too stubborn :/  

I also want to sew more.  I'm currently trying to construct a new diary cover.  Complete with card slots for appointment cards, a few hidden pockets for receipts and a closing pocket for other bits and pieces that seem to accumulate in my diary.  The plan is in my head, but putting it into action has been a little more complicated than I though... especially when I usually have Toby trying to help with the sewing machine foot control, And trying to juggle the hot iron so it doesn't burn any curious little fingers or noses (yes noses... no idea why but apparently the smell of the iron is fascinating!!!) 

Scrapbooking is not going to be a thing of the past.  I really want to find my desk and get a layout or three completed.  I have to dig it out from under the toys and storage boxes, but I know it is there.. I'll also need to do a stocktake on adhesives and a few other things I know the kids have helped themselves to ;)  But it's going to be done.  I just want to be able to create again!!

And I also want to keep up with the blog.  Not that I have anything earth shattering to share etc, but it's kinda therapeutic and looking back over time seeing how our family and lives have evolved is important to me.  

So a few things I want to achieve in 2015...  There are some other things I really want to do, like get a preserving kit and become all homesteadish but that's something that may or may not happen.  but for now, these are the aims for 2015 which may actually be somewhat achievable.  Looking at my diary filling up with appointments it looks like it will be tough to fit it all in, but where there's a will, there is alway a way ;)