Real Life is Tough

image from http://www.kumailplus.com/2011/07/23/18386

I know that in life we are never dealt more than we can handle but I don't know how much more I can take.  I feel I'm on that downward spiral and there is no ending in sight.  I can't go into it too much on the blog but right now I'm glad that I have a lot of support from friends and family.  I'll be taking [another] little break from blogging - hopefully this time it won't be as long as the last break!

Pain is my new best friend...

Yesterday I took the plunge and went along to a group fitness session.  I cannot believe I actually jogged!  My goal was to be running by Christmas so my jaw just about dropped when our instructor (Kirstin) told us to run across the field and back as a warm up.  It wasn't even that far but I have far more jiggly bits than the other girls.  But I did it.

Today my body is aching BUT it feels good.  Although I feel quite sore, I feel refreshed.  The pain makes me realise how long it's been since I've actually used some muscles.  So my new goal is to lose 35kg before I hit 35.  Possible?  Should be since it gives me 9 months to do it in.

Pretty Mail

Christmas Challenge

I have been really slack this week.  I don't think I even started on anything except this:

I'm about to wash this since the sun is shining - my 1 hour FQ picnic blanket using vintage sheets.  Basic but useful.

Xmas Tree Alternative

Have the kids paint one

We have limited space in our townhouse and I don't really want a fake Christmas tree taking up much needed room so I had Elijah paint me one at kindy today.  He's looking forward to hanging it on the wall come December ready for gifts.  I'm so glad he is the sort of kid that appreciates handmade.  I'll be making the most of it before his school friends change all that!

The Christmas Challenge - Week One

We have come to the end of the first week of November already.  Is it just me or did that go incredibly fast?  I have to say I'm starting to get a bit panicky about Christmas.  I want everything to be just right this year.  My sewing list isn't long and I'm hoping to have it all finished by Dec 1st.  You can see my list up there - press the Christmas Challenge tab.

I did a little this week but was easily sidetracked.  After success making my first sock monkey (a Rugby World Cup 2011 monkey for my little rugby fan) I had a go at making a smaller version.  It didn't work for me.  It was frustrating that I couldn't get it perfect.  Elijah wasn't impressed that I used his socks - apparently they were his favourite.  I think he is lying, actually pretty sure they're not his favourite.

stubborn monkey

Then thinking about Christmas decorations I whipped up some bunting - not on my list (again, I am easily sidetracked)

You'll have to imagine this on the wall

The thought of sewing a whole lot of triangles didn't appeal (I have done it before) so I went with something I found on pinterest (oh how I am loving pinterest)

On to the gifts I'm supposed to be making!  I literally whipped up these two bag bags using teatowels and a piece of ribbon - easy.

Three skirts for the little girls in my family - two are made with vintage sheeting and the other with new fabric I had in my stash.



So while I still have a few weeks of November left, I know it's going to be busy.  I also have to think about a gift for kindy as it will be Elijah's last day at the end of term.

Blog giveaway wins & request for ideas

I feel very lucky today.  On opening my email this morning I discovered not one but two giveaways I'd entered requesting my postal details!  What I like most about blog giveaways is that the majority of them are handcrafted - and knowing that a lot of care and thought goes into them makes them just that little bit extra special.

If you haven't already seen Rhiannon's Month of Costumes then you need to check them out.  I can tell she had a lot of fun putting them together and has a far bigger imagination than I have. 

stolen from Rhiannon's blog Remarquable Junque

I was lucky enough to be her swap partner in the Vintage Baby Swap organised by Stella so I'm quite looking forward to a surprise arriving in the mail.  Elijah still plays with the fishing set that Rhiannon made and the crochet ball sits with baby toys brought out when littlies come to visit.

The next email was from Suzy who hosted a giveaway on Strung Art.  We get to choose which photo we would like printed.  I thought this:



photo taken from http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolwench



would suit my sister perfectly.  So now all I will have to do is frame it and that'll be her Xmas present done.  She is impossbile to buy for.  If you have a crafty friend or family member then I suggest you check out the etsy store - you can buy the wool and I guess if you ask nicely Suzy might sell you prints of her wool (she spends a lot of time displaying them, definitely worth having a look) but I am only just guessing.

It's Monday so that means washing day - I have four loads (three of them bedding) and Auckland weather is doing what it usually doesn - rain, sunshine, rain, sunshine - cannot complain though because my little garden is looking great. 

ETA - I almost forgot what I was meant to post - I am about 20 posts away from 400 so I will be hosting a giveaway.  What I would like to know is what you think I should giveaway.  Have a browse of my blog then let me know what you think.

Felt Xmas decorations & thoughts about Xmas

I'm still undecided on whether to buy a tree this year or just find a branch that will serve as a makeshift Xmas tree.  Really it is only for Elijahs benefit and although I'd love a real (or even artificial) Xmas tree, we really don't have the room for one.

I started to hand stitch some decorations from the tree.  I'm not 100% sure where I got the crocheted flowers.  There are really only two possibilities: thrifted or from the lovely Cat who kindly gave me a good pile of fabric a while ago.  I think they look pretty cute if you can see past my stitching.

I'm picturing a different kind of Christmas this year.  I get half the day with Elijah and his father will have him in the afternoon.  This means we won't be able to leave Auckland but oh well, lucky my family is here!

The goal this year is to make a lot of the presents using what supplies I already have.  So far so good, thanks to the Christmas Challenge.  I have three handmade presents ready to wrap.  I have loads of vintage sheets so if I get my A into G I should really get some bunting sewn up - something I've been promising myself for hmmm well over a year!

I miss the Christmases we had as kids, going away in the house bus to the Coromandel and staying at Simpson's Beach (don't think they own the land any more?), swimming in the creek that ran out to sea.  Isn't it funny that of all the things you remember about Christmas: all the family together for lunch, the smell of the tree, the sparkly tinsel, the ridiculous amounts of food (pavlova and trifle a must), the sunburn (oh yes back then it was just a way of life), the rain (it always seems to rain on Xmas day if only a shower), the crackers, the gift wrap - it seems gifts are way down on my list.  I can only hope that I make Xmas as exciting as possible for Elijah.  He has asked me if he can make some Xmas presents tomorrow - I have no idea what he has in mind but have agreed anyway.

What are some of your most special Christmas memories?  How are you planning to spend Christmas this year?

Things I'm Loving - The Boy Edition

He is the boy who loves to be outside pottering in the garden

He is the boy who has a mind of his own when it comes to posing for photos

He is the boy that will support anyone who needs it

He is the boy who, even after being puked on, will teach his little cousin to crawl on all fours

He is the boy who, given any opportunity, will draw with anything, on anything

He is the boy who will part with some of his favourite toys to make some pocket money

That's my boy!

I'm linking up to Paisley Jade's Things I'm Loving

Christmas Challenge Success #1

I can now cross these off my list.  These are tea towels I bought two years ago with the intention of making them into plastic bag holders.  Super quick (about 5 minutes each), straight line stitching and a bit of elastic and ribbon is all that is needed to make these.

I'm taking part in the Christmas Challenge organised by Polka Dot Daze

My Creative Space: RWC Sock Monkey

Today, I am attempting to make one of these:

Sock Monkey Tutorial kindly put together by Sarah of Cotton Kiwi for Good Magazine

So far I have this:

So onto the bit I dislike most - hand stitching.

ta-daaaa

I'm linking up to Our Creative Spaces

Wordless Wednesday - party pooper

This kid can sleep anywhere.  I guess two 21st parties in two weeks was just a little too much.

My Christmas Challenge List

Making a list, checking it twice...

This year the majority of my gifts will be handmade (or thrifted) so I decided to join the Christmas Challenge set by Polka Dot Daze.

I have a couple of lists floating around on bits of paper and no doubt I will have forgotten someone so may end up tweaking the list a little.  But so far it looks a little like this:

2 x bag bags (the ones you keep old plastic bags in)
4 x applique tea towels
3 x skirts or dresses (for the littlies)
1 x vintage sheet picnic blanket (oh yeah this one is for me!)
2 x reusable sandwich wraps
1 x sewing bag (with fabric & other sewing bits inside)
3 x softies (two for boys and one for a girl)
4 x inspiration kits (I don't want to elaborate on this one as they are for friends)

And while the list looks short I haven't included family members that I will bake for.  Our (extended) family has grown so large and it would be impossible to buy for everyone so this year we are sticking to mostly immediate family.

So wish me luck I can get through the month in one piece!

:: Meet Me At Mikes : Good Stuff For Nice People: :: 307 Handmade Christmas Gift Tutorials!

Pip from Meet Me At Mikes has just made my (and possibly yours) Xmas list-making a whole lot easier! And she'll teach you how to crochet too.

:: Meet Me At Mikes : Good Stuff For Nice People: :: 307 Handmade Christmas Gift Tutorials!: Yes. You can ignore the looming festive season. I do not mind a bit. I understand how you feel. It feels too early, too busy, too impending...

Produce Pronto - a quick review

Last week I stumbled across a local Kiwi site selling fresh fruit & veg online with free delivery.  Being car-less for a couple of months means buying groceries can be a bit of a chore, calling one of my sisters or Mum to take us to the supermarket.  Not wanting them to then take us to a separate fruit store (on the other side of Albany) I was getting the staple fruit & veg from the supermarket.  Expensive.  Not fresh.  Didn't last.  The fruit shop a five minute walk from us has the occasional fresh bit of produce but I mainly buy coriander and ginger from there.  So....

I decided on a trial run of this service - Produce Pronto (link will open in a new window)

I ordered my produce late on Wednesday night and it was booked in for delivery on Friday that same week. 

The box arrived as promised - via courier between 10am and 5pm on the stated delivery date

Also, as promised, it was packaged in 100% recyclable paper and cardboard (although the cardboard box is pretty sturdy - I might need that to store some of my junk fabric scraps).

Look!  Nothing was damaged in transit.  A good thing because I think we're about as far north as they deliver.  What I liked best was the ability to order per piece of fruit/veg - good when I know how many apples Elijah eats in a week.  Everything was a lot fresher than in the supermarket especially the apples.  I had been put off apples after eating the powdery, stored in the fridge for months apples they sell you.  These were crisp, tasty (a little bit sour just how I like them) and cheap.

The verdict: (told you this was going to be a quick review)

Would I recommend these guys to my best friends?  Absolutely.  Especially those with kids.  Instead of ferrying them around the supermarket, butcher and fruit shop, you can knock one visit off your list.

PLUS if you order through my referral you will recieve 20% off your first order.  With prices already low this should be an extra incentive to give it a go.  They deliver all around Auckland from Papakura to Torbay, Howick to Titirangi but do check your delivery address before placing an order.

Disclaimer:  These views are purely my own.  I was neither requested nor paid to write a review, however if you order through my referral I will receive a credit on my account.





Things I'm Loving

Warmer weather is on the way!  Proof of that is the garden I planted three or so weeks ago, it's really starting to grow now. 

I only bought seedlings of the veges I love and would use on a daily basis: lettuce, spring onions and coriander - loads of coriander (10 or so plants) along with calendula, apple mint and pineapple sage (sound yummy don't they?) so there will be lots of refreshing drinks this Summer.  Our strawberries are on to their third flowering season - I have them in an old bbq so they are easy to move around.

Elijah and I have been slowly working on the back garden/patio.  When we moved in it was covered in onion weed - blerk!  I tried my best to kill it but to no avail so we've decided to cover the whole lot in weed mat and cover it with some sort of stone - we're expecting the landlord to drop something off in the next couple of weeks.  

Since this is my first 'Things I'm Loving' in hmmm.... forever!  I've decided to take inspiration from the host PasileyJade and give Elijah a moustache

Linking up with:

Blogger Stats

I never really noticed the Stats area of blogger and it wasn't until someone mentioned it on their blog that I went looking.  I know I don't have a large readership but I was surprised to see yesterday I had five times the page views of the previous two weeks.  My readers come mainly from KMB (Kiwi Mummy Blogs), Networked Blogs (I don't really understand this but it seems to tweet and facebook my posts so I must have done something right) and We Love To Sew (an online directory of sewing-based blogs) but I noticed there was also traffic generated from my friends' blogs - Chocolate Fishies, The Mummy Chronicles (this girl was the one who got me into blogging in the first place!) and Life is a Highway.

BUT look at what people are googling before they arrive at my blog

*gasp in horror*

I should tell you that this 'bad attitude' comes sporadically (thankfully) and that generally he is a polite, well-behaved wee boy.  But he is getting to the age where things must be done his way.

Have you looked at your stats lately?  Let me know what people search before they arrive at your blog

Homemade Yoghurt (without having to use Easiyo!)

I use a lot of plain unsweetened yoghurt - about 1kg a week or sometimes more.  While living out West I had easy access to Gopala products, but since moving to the Shore it's become a little harder to find especially since I'm without a car at the moment.  I knew it was possible to make yoghurt at home - my Mum used to have a Easiyo maker but I hated the taste of that stuff.  I also knew that a lot of Indian families make their own yoghurt from scratch.  So a quick search (thanks Google) led me to a Youtube video and I'd like to share it with you (I'm all for saving you money)

Find the written recipe on Show Me The Curry

I actually used Lite Milk (I think it's 2% fat) and I left it in the oven overnight.  It's a lot runnier than the one they make but since I only use it in curries and raita it worked just fine.  My next job will be to attempt to make paneer or soft cheese, however I'm putting this off because we don't eat a lot of cheese.  I would love to know if you've had success making your own cheese and/or yoghurt at home - I didn't think it could be so easy considering supermarket prices - I was paying almost $6 for a kilo of plain unsweetened yoghurt!