January 29, 2014

Wordless Wednesday



It's that time of year again.  Guinea fowl babies.  Stay with me people!

Linking up with Trish.

January 26, 2014

I'm Australian, Mate!

It's Australia Day, and I'm very proud to be Australian. An Aussie! From downunder and all that!

Mate, meatpies, flies, snags on the barbie, such cliches but so true! What's so good about being an Australian?  Well, I'm glad you asked!!

1.  Hugh Jackman - I've said it before, he'd make the best prime minister! Who else could email someone at the Empire State Building in NYC and ask for the building to be bathed in green and gold?  Hugh that's who!



2.  BBQ's - sausages on bread are totally acceptable as a dinner option.  With or without onions, but definately with barbeque sauce.

3.  Beaches, the country, four wheel driving, vegemite and a tonne of things that will kill you, crocodiles, snakes, spiders and jelly fish. The reason why Australia is surrounded by water is to keep these deathtraps in!  But it makes us tough and gives us something to scare the overseas visitors with!


4. Australians are known for being laid back, easy going and very patriotic. Many times when I was in America, I was asked about Australia, kangaroos and "that" accent.  In the middle of New York City, or walking down the magnificent mile of Chicago, the feeling of being an aussie and the knot in my stomach was almost consuming.

5.  Freedom, space, mateship, beautiful weather and the bands, the music....oh the music!  Cold Chisel, ACDC, INXS, The Angels, The Church, Hoodoo Gurus, Midnight Oil, and this song, which I heard when I was overseas and made me feel so overwhelmingly proud to be Australian.


January 22, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

Op Shopping for Vintage - one of my favourite things.


Linking up with Trish.

January 19, 2014

Me Time

This weekend, The Hubbster was working and the kids had a sleepover at Nannys house, so I had some time. Some Me Time.

I worked on Saturday and arrived home mid afternoon to an empty house and not a commitment in sight! So I pottered!  I took care of some little jobs, talked to the Guinea Fowl while I stood at the washing line on the deck, and enjoyed the solitude.

There were some flowers that were crying out for a home, so I washed labels from jars and did some flower arranging.  On a Saturday night!  The jars fit perfectly in my vintage milk bottle holder.

 I've been wanting to do this for ages, doesn't it look divine!




I cooked up a feast of my favourite Lean Cuisine, which took 3 minutes.  Dinner was done with no washing up!


I sat and watched some cage fighting, as one does, purely for educational purposes and possibly for the eye candy!


And then something strange happened.  I found myself cleaning the filters from the rangehood and looking down the hallway to the children's bedrooms, which were empty and quiet.



I am so used to a house full of noisy kids, whether it be laughing or music or loud protesting about why it's bedtime already.

I realised that as much as I love some Me Time, my life is not complete if I don't have my kids around me. It doesn't feel right. I miss them!

Before bedtime, I went into each of their rooms and looked around at the Lego on the floor, at the books and the dollies. And I thought how good it will be when they arrived home the next day, with hair full of sand from the beach, and stories of their weekend away.

And it was.  So good.


January 4, 2014

One Word


Welcome 2014. Be kind to me won't you!

Last year, I chose one word to focus on during the year, instead of making the usual resolutions that I always break. My word was Discover, and when I look back, I think I did a good job.

An okay job.



I Discovered I am the maker of my own path, that choices are my own, and if I want something, no one else is going to make it happen.

I Discovered that even though my children are growing, and becoming more independent, I still struggle with letting them go, just that little bit. They will always be my babies.

I Discovered that Knowledge is Power (actually I knew this already), and how powerful those three words can be. When Mr C (aged 11) was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease just over twelve months ago, I really focused on these words and the more I found out about what we were dealing with, the stronger I felt. It made it easier to cope being able to talk with others in a similiar situation.

I Discovered that I am not Superwoman, and that I can't do everything. Even with the best intentions, jobs don't get completed and things are missed. And of course there's never enough time, the clock is always ticking faster......

I think I can improve though, and there's no better way to move forward than a brand new shiny year with endless possibilities. Which brings me to my new one word..................................................................................................................

Organise

Although we've been in our new house for twelve months, I don't feel organised. I still haven't unpacked everything, I'm still fine tuning each room and every cupboard and the office isn't set up so our filing is a mess!

But I'm going hardcore here people, because I'm looking at routines, meal planning, schedules for chores for the kids and time management so I can get to the things I just don't have the time to do.
Thrown into the mix will be some "me" time, and continued family time, without the pressure of the mundane. I know if I feel organised, and have some sense of order, this reflects in all areas of my life.
So there's the plan and I can't wait to get started!
What about you, are YOU organised?
Linking up with Maxabella loves.
 

January 1, 2014

Hopes and Dreams


Six months ago, I stood in the Times Square Museum and Visitor Center in New York City, and wrote a wish for my children on a small green piece of confetti paper.

It was pinned to the New Year's Eve Wishing Wall, with thousands of other dreams and goals, and will be added to the one tonne of confetti that will rain down on the crowd in Times Square at the stroke of midnight Dec 31, bringing in the New Year.

I wonder what will happen to my green confetti paper?  Will it flutter along with the wind, to be caught by a childs outstretched hand? I'd like to think so.

I've been waiting for this moment for six months, since visiting New York City and leaving a piece of my heart there.  When the New Years Eve Ball descends the flagpole on top of One Times Square, I will certainly cry.  I just know it.

It's so symbolic of new beginnings, of hope and forgiveness, and I'm so excited to be a part of it all.

I've downloaded the App to my phone so I won't miss it. I feel such a connection to the city, that I feel very emotional at times just thinking about my experiences there, and also in Chicago. 

I've been watching back to back seasons of Sex and the City, taking in every landmark and building that I never really appreciated before. I feel giddy when I see the Willis Tower in the background shots of Chicago Fire.

I think I will always feel like this.

So at midnight USA time, when the ball is dropped, and the confetti rains down, I'll feel a special connection to New York City, to Times Square, in all of it's grittiness and swagger.

I'll see you again sometime.