I cant remember whose digi elements I used in these pages, but some credit goes to Cathy Zielske, Jessica Sprague, Paisley Press and Ali Edwards for various items and inspirations.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
25/11/08 Layouts
Here are a few more pages I have created in the last little while.
I cant remember whose digi elements I used in these pages, but some credit goes to Cathy Zielske, Jessica Sprague, Paisley Press and Ali Edwards for various items and inspirations.
I cant remember whose digi elements I used in these pages, but some credit goes to Cathy Zielske, Jessica Sprague, Paisley Press and Ali Edwards for various items and inspirations.
Didn't you just love the 70's
I have been having a bit of fun this morning, I've been scanning photos from my old childhood photo album. I wanted to scan everything so that it is all in one place in case of emergency, and so that I can scrap some of my old photos digitally, as I am now addicted to digi and unlikely to do much paper scrapping in the forseeable future.
During my exploits I uncovered this gem...
Go ahead, laugh... I did.
The long straight hair, the hair ribbon, the freckles, the dress (that dress reached to my ankles, and my little sister had a matching one).
The one really great thing about looking at old photos from the 70's is it makes the photos I take these days look like masterpieces.
Until later
xxx
During my exploits I uncovered this gem...
Go ahead, laugh... I did.
The long straight hair, the hair ribbon, the freckles, the dress (that dress reached to my ankles, and my little sister had a matching one).
The one really great thing about looking at old photos from the 70's is it makes the photos I take these days look like masterpieces.
Until later
xxx
Friday, November 21, 2008
A page from the past
Remember when you were in highschool and you thought you were cool, and anyone who wasn't doing what you were doing just wasn't that cool?
Then you become an adult, and you look back on the things you used to do and you cringe ;-D
Well back when I was in high school my friends and I were all a little addicted to the movie Grease, some of us went so far as to make our own pink jackets so we could be modern day Pink Ladies. Oh Dear!
Heritage scrapping at its very best lol
Then you become an adult, and you look back on the things you used to do and you cringe ;-D
Well back when I was in high school my friends and I were all a little addicted to the movie Grease, some of us went so far as to make our own pink jackets so we could be modern day Pink Ladies. Oh Dear!
Heritage scrapping at its very best lol
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
What happened to Spring?
Every year it happens, but every year my optimistic little nature hopes that it wont lol, after a gorgeous weekend with temperatures hovering around 26-27 degrees we have been thrown back into winter for a day or two.
Its windy, cold and not particularly pretty. Thankfully it's forecast to return to Spring by the end of the week.
I am really loving the green hues right now. During winter in Canberra it tends to get dried out and brown looking in the surrounding hills, but right now in the mornings when we are out walking in the early light there are patches of green pushing through the brown, and the leaves on the trees are really verdant. Everything just feels so alive.
We have to make the most of it, because once the temperatures heat up we move from a lush green to a more washed out olive looking green as the plant try to weather the heat and dry.
For all my whining about the cold here I totally love the fact that the seasons are so distinct, and it is possible to really enjoy each season individually.
Until later
xxx
Its windy, cold and not particularly pretty. Thankfully it's forecast to return to Spring by the end of the week.
I am really loving the green hues right now. During winter in Canberra it tends to get dried out and brown looking in the surrounding hills, but right now in the mornings when we are out walking in the early light there are patches of green pushing through the brown, and the leaves on the trees are really verdant. Everything just feels so alive.
We have to make the most of it, because once the temperatures heat up we move from a lush green to a more washed out olive looking green as the plant try to weather the heat and dry.
For all my whining about the cold here I totally love the fact that the seasons are so distinct, and it is possible to really enjoy each season individually.
Until later
xxx
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Luckiest day of my life
Hi there, I know, its been ages and I cant really explain why other than to say that I needed a break, and I needed to get some perspective on a few things. I cant say I have found all of the answers I was seeking, but I feel like I am moving in the right direction.
Last weekend something happened to us that really pin pointed a need in me to make changes. Real changes, not just the ones that I talk about a lot, do for a little while then run out of steam with. The story will probably get long, and there will be pictures, so settle in if you are interested ;-)
Background.
13 years or more ago my husband and I went to a Camping Show and I started collecting brochures about Camper Trailers. In the following years we gathered a huge range of camping equipment, and I religiously checked for updates on Camper Trailer sites and attended Camping Shows. You might say I was a little obsessed about it :-D
I love camping, and we go often. We have survived for ages with our various tents, but I have always hated setting up and packing away, thus my obsession with camper trailers.
Anyway last month, after much deliberating and searching we bought a camper trailer. It was pre loved, and exactly what we needed. Can you spell H A P P Y, that was me!
Last Weekend.
The weekend just gone was the Labour Day weekend in NSW, so we had a public holiday on the Monday. For the past six years we have gone camping with a group of friends for this weekend. This year was no different. We drove to Jervis Bay on the beautiful NSW South Coast, and we set up our camper trailer for the first time. It was awesome! so much quicker and easier than the tent.
We cooked tea, we settled in with our friends for some of the usual camping fun, drinking wine, eating cheese and crackers and talking. Good times.
At about ten I decided it was time for bed, so said goodnight and trundled off. Sometime later my husband came to bed too, and we both fell asleep.
At 3.15 am I was woken by the most horrible noise:
a loud cracking
the screeching of metal
tearing sounds
and the sound of my husband screaming
The trailer was buffeted back and forth, and we were tossed sideways in bed. Then everything went quiet, and I found myself gripping onto my husband while we asked each other if we were all right. Then I asked him what happened?
He told me that a tree had fallen on us.
Well he was half right, it was actually a branch, which weighed about half a tonne not the entire tree, and it had hit his arm as it had fallen. Thankfully he was only badly bruised and his arm is OK.
I helped him rip the canvas open further and he raced out to see if the children were OK. I stayed where I was until I knew, I did not want to find them if the worst had happened.
My youngest daughter had set her tent up right beside the camper trailer and her tent was flattened, but thankfully she had opted to share her sisters tent at the last moment before going to bed, and both her sister, and her brothers tents were untouched. My children were safe, and the girls didn't even feel curious enough to come out of the tents when they heard the noise, in fact they both said they didn't hear anything, and they only woke up when all the people started arriving around us.
People arrived from everywhere. One of our friends helped me out of the trailer, then we all stood just staring in shock. Almost everyone there commented that they couldn't believe we escaped unscathed.
We moved the children to another tent away from the scene, then needless to say none of us could sleep so we sat together for the remaining hours of night. My husband and I were both in shock unable to believe what had nearly happened.
Many people told me to buy a lottery ticket, because it must be my lucky day, my response was that a million dollars would never have the same value to me as the moment I had been able to hold my whole family knowing how close we had come to meeting our maker.
It is possible after this kind of experience to feel angry, to say Why Me? and to dwell on the negative aspects. For me I am looking at it as the luckiest day of my life, the day I could have died but didn't. The day my husband could have died, but didn't. We are very very lucky.
It has given me pause to look at my life, to evaluate my past my present and my future. It has given me reason to think about living with purpose, about living every day as if it were my last, because I know now how easily it could be.
I have some photos, but blogger wont let me upload them right now, I will try again later, you can see the tree the branch fell from, you can see the mangled metal frame of our trailer tent, and the ripped canvas, and the smashed kitchen. Its a mess. The trailer though is still intact and completely unharmed, we cut off the canvas and towed it home and are beginning the process of rebuilding. If we had been in our old tent we would definitely be dead. The metal frame of the trailer although now resembling a pretzel took the weight of the fall and protected us from harm. The only damage was my husbands left arm where the branch hit him as it came past, this was why he screamed, he knew the branch was falling on us and when it hit him he was terrified and didn't expect to make it.
I think my heart may have stopped beating for a millisecond.
Last weekend something happened to us that really pin pointed a need in me to make changes. Real changes, not just the ones that I talk about a lot, do for a little while then run out of steam with. The story will probably get long, and there will be pictures, so settle in if you are interested ;-)
Background.
13 years or more ago my husband and I went to a Camping Show and I started collecting brochures about Camper Trailers. In the following years we gathered a huge range of camping equipment, and I religiously checked for updates on Camper Trailer sites and attended Camping Shows. You might say I was a little obsessed about it :-D
I love camping, and we go often. We have survived for ages with our various tents, but I have always hated setting up and packing away, thus my obsession with camper trailers.
Anyway last month, after much deliberating and searching we bought a camper trailer. It was pre loved, and exactly what we needed. Can you spell H A P P Y, that was me!
Last Weekend.
The weekend just gone was the Labour Day weekend in NSW, so we had a public holiday on the Monday. For the past six years we have gone camping with a group of friends for this weekend. This year was no different. We drove to Jervis Bay on the beautiful NSW South Coast, and we set up our camper trailer for the first time. It was awesome! so much quicker and easier than the tent.
We cooked tea, we settled in with our friends for some of the usual camping fun, drinking wine, eating cheese and crackers and talking. Good times.
At about ten I decided it was time for bed, so said goodnight and trundled off. Sometime later my husband came to bed too, and we both fell asleep.
At 3.15 am I was woken by the most horrible noise:
a loud cracking
the screeching of metal
tearing sounds
and the sound of my husband screaming
The trailer was buffeted back and forth, and we were tossed sideways in bed. Then everything went quiet, and I found myself gripping onto my husband while we asked each other if we were all right. Then I asked him what happened?
He told me that a tree had fallen on us.
Well he was half right, it was actually a branch, which weighed about half a tonne not the entire tree, and it had hit his arm as it had fallen. Thankfully he was only badly bruised and his arm is OK.
I helped him rip the canvas open further and he raced out to see if the children were OK. I stayed where I was until I knew, I did not want to find them if the worst had happened.
My youngest daughter had set her tent up right beside the camper trailer and her tent was flattened, but thankfully she had opted to share her sisters tent at the last moment before going to bed, and both her sister, and her brothers tents were untouched. My children were safe, and the girls didn't even feel curious enough to come out of the tents when they heard the noise, in fact they both said they didn't hear anything, and they only woke up when all the people started arriving around us.
People arrived from everywhere. One of our friends helped me out of the trailer, then we all stood just staring in shock. Almost everyone there commented that they couldn't believe we escaped unscathed.
We moved the children to another tent away from the scene, then needless to say none of us could sleep so we sat together for the remaining hours of night. My husband and I were both in shock unable to believe what had nearly happened.
Many people told me to buy a lottery ticket, because it must be my lucky day, my response was that a million dollars would never have the same value to me as the moment I had been able to hold my whole family knowing how close we had come to meeting our maker.
It is possible after this kind of experience to feel angry, to say Why Me? and to dwell on the negative aspects. For me I am looking at it as the luckiest day of my life, the day I could have died but didn't. The day my husband could have died, but didn't. We are very very lucky.
It has given me pause to look at my life, to evaluate my past my present and my future. It has given me reason to think about living with purpose, about living every day as if it were my last, because I know now how easily it could be.
I have some photos, but blogger wont let me upload them right now, I will try again later, you can see the tree the branch fell from, you can see the mangled metal frame of our trailer tent, and the ripped canvas, and the smashed kitchen. Its a mess. The trailer though is still intact and completely unharmed, we cut off the canvas and towed it home and are beginning the process of rebuilding. If we had been in our old tent we would definitely be dead. The metal frame of the trailer although now resembling a pretzel took the weight of the fall and protected us from harm. The only damage was my husbands left arm where the branch hit him as it came past, this was why he screamed, he knew the branch was falling on us and when it hit him he was terrified and didn't expect to make it.
I think my heart may have stopped beating for a millisecond.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Long time no layouts
Yes I know its been a while, I've been busy.
So here are two more pages created in Photoshop Elements 5.0 during my course with Jessica Sprague. All papers embelishments etc courtesy of JessicaSprague.com
I start another course this week, so there should be more digital goodness to upload soon.
So here are two more pages created in Photoshop Elements 5.0 during my course with Jessica Sprague. All papers embelishments etc courtesy of JessicaSprague.com
I start another course this week, so there should be more digital goodness to upload soon.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Some randomness about me
Nicked this one from Zanna, just a few things about me.
1. What is in the back seat of your car right now? Crumbs, lolly wrappers and other stuff that clues a person into the fact that I am a taxi service to my kids.
2. When was the last time you threw up? About a year ago after mucho red wine - not good.
3. What’s your favorite curse word? Probably the F one, although have been known to use others.
4. Name three people who made you smile today. Does grimacing in an attempt to portray patience count? My kids of course ;-)
5. What were you doing at 8am this morning? Convincing the baby that she wanted to go to school today.
6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Reading emails.
7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now? The after school madness, snacks, homework, etc.
8. Have you ever been to a strip club? Yes, never laughed so much in all my life.
9. What’s the last thing you said aloud? OK, I'll check it out, bye. (to my husband on the phone)
10. What is the best ice cream flavor? Hard to beat chocolate.
11. What is the last thing you had to drink? Coffee.
12. What are you wearing right now? Red and grey fleece, black gym pants and my uggs.
13. What was the last thing you ate? Salt and vinegar chips (cringe).
14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? No
15. When was the last time you ran? Properly, two and a half years ago, before the knee incident.
16. What’s the last sporting event you watched? Friday night AFL - my son played under lights last week. They won 106 to 28. Good stuff.
17. Who’s the last person you e-mailed? My five friends from high school, we are trying to organise a weekend away together, but finding a date to suit all of us is proving tricky.
18. Ever go camping? Yes, every summer as often as possible.
19. Do you have a tan? Yes, it never seems to go away.
20. Do you drink your soda from a straw? No.
21. Are you someone’s best friend? Yes - the lovely Sohpie.
22. What are you doing tomorrow? working for Magnum PI (well Jim the PI actually, but he has got a mustache like Magnum so that's what I call him ;)
23. Where is your mom right now? In Sydney, most likely sewing.
24. Look to your left. My husbands "filing" system lol, I try not to look at it too often.
25. What color is your watch? Black and silver.
26. What comes to mind when you think of Australia? HOME.
27. Would you consider plastic surgery? Undecided.
28. What is your birthstone? Topaz.
29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive-thru? So rare to go there.
30. How many kids do you want? I've got 3 and that's plenty.
31. Do you have a dog? Yes - the irrepressible Milo.
32. Last person you talked to on the phone. My husband.
33. Have you met anyone famous? No.
34. Any plans today? Keeping warm.
35. Ever go to college? No.
36. Where are you right now? Sitting at the computer at my desk at home.
37. Biggest annoyance in your life right now? My lack of healthy eating motivation maybe (I just copied Zanna's answer here, cos it's true for me too)
38. Last song listened to? Holy Graile - Hunters and Collectors.
39. Are you allergic to anything? Bandaids.
40. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Black Colorados with chunky soles that I have had for more years than I care to remember.
41. Are you jealous of anyone? No.
42. Who is your favorite actor/actress? - Jennifer Garner - her smile is so infectious I feel like I would really like her in real life too.
43. What time is it? 12.46pm Monday 2nd June 2008
44. Do any of your friends have children? Oh yes
45. Do you eat healthy? Ask me again tomorrow (see answer to question 13!
46. What do you usually do during the day? Work.
47. How old will you be on your next birthday? 41
48. Have you ever been to Europe? Yes.
49. Name one thing you’d still like to do. Travel extensively in Australia and overseas.
50. Favorite colour? Green.
There you go, some random bits and pieces about me.
xxx
1. What is in the back seat of your car right now? Crumbs, lolly wrappers and other stuff that clues a person into the fact that I am a taxi service to my kids.
2. When was the last time you threw up? About a year ago after mucho red wine - not good.
3. What’s your favorite curse word? Probably the F one, although have been known to use others.
4. Name three people who made you smile today. Does grimacing in an attempt to portray patience count? My kids of course ;-)
5. What were you doing at 8am this morning? Convincing the baby that she wanted to go to school today.
6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Reading emails.
7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now? The after school madness, snacks, homework, etc.
8. Have you ever been to a strip club? Yes, never laughed so much in all my life.
9. What’s the last thing you said aloud? OK, I'll check it out, bye. (to my husband on the phone)
10. What is the best ice cream flavor? Hard to beat chocolate.
11. What is the last thing you had to drink? Coffee.
12. What are you wearing right now? Red and grey fleece, black gym pants and my uggs.
13. What was the last thing you ate? Salt and vinegar chips (cringe).
14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? No
15. When was the last time you ran? Properly, two and a half years ago, before the knee incident.
16. What’s the last sporting event you watched? Friday night AFL - my son played under lights last week. They won 106 to 28. Good stuff.
17. Who’s the last person you e-mailed? My five friends from high school, we are trying to organise a weekend away together, but finding a date to suit all of us is proving tricky.
18. Ever go camping? Yes, every summer as often as possible.
19. Do you have a tan? Yes, it never seems to go away.
20. Do you drink your soda from a straw? No.
21. Are you someone’s best friend? Yes - the lovely Sohpie.
22. What are you doing tomorrow? working for Magnum PI (well Jim the PI actually, but he has got a mustache like Magnum so that's what I call him ;)
23. Where is your mom right now? In Sydney, most likely sewing.
24. Look to your left. My husbands "filing" system lol, I try not to look at it too often.
25. What color is your watch? Black and silver.
26. What comes to mind when you think of Australia? HOME.
27. Would you consider plastic surgery? Undecided.
28. What is your birthstone? Topaz.
29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive-thru? So rare to go there.
30. How many kids do you want? I've got 3 and that's plenty.
31. Do you have a dog? Yes - the irrepressible Milo.
32. Last person you talked to on the phone. My husband.
33. Have you met anyone famous? No.
34. Any plans today? Keeping warm.
35. Ever go to college? No.
36. Where are you right now? Sitting at the computer at my desk at home.
37. Biggest annoyance in your life right now? My lack of healthy eating motivation maybe (I just copied Zanna's answer here, cos it's true for me too)
38. Last song listened to? Holy Graile - Hunters and Collectors.
39. Are you allergic to anything? Bandaids.
40. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Black Colorados with chunky soles that I have had for more years than I care to remember.
41. Are you jealous of anyone? No.
42. Who is your favorite actor/actress? - Jennifer Garner - her smile is so infectious I feel like I would really like her in real life too.
43. What time is it? 12.46pm Monday 2nd June 2008
44. Do any of your friends have children? Oh yes
45. Do you eat healthy? Ask me again tomorrow (see answer to question 13!
46. What do you usually do during the day? Work.
47. How old will you be on your next birthday? 41
48. Have you ever been to Europe? Yes.
49. Name one thing you’d still like to do. Travel extensively in Australia and overseas.
50. Favorite colour? Green.
There you go, some random bits and pieces about me.
xxx
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Two Reviews
Firstly, over the past few weeks we have been watching Underbelly on DVD. We missed the start of it on the television due to karate, so we decided to wait until DVD and watch it without the ads. For those of you who don't know it is based on events in Melbourne between 1995 and 2004, in particular the "Gangland killings" featuring the Moran family, Carl Williams and others.
Having been a Sopranos devotee for a long time, and also not being very impressed by a lot of Australian TV I wasn't really expecting much, but I have to say I have been really surprised and impressed with this production. Anyone who is into that mafia, wiseguys type thing should check it out. Its quite horrible in parts, very violent, and probably not for the weak of stomach, but even so, I am really enjoying. We only have three episodes to go, and I am really looking forward to watching. The only downside is once we have seen them, that's it. Its over.
Very nasty stuff, but one of those guilty pleasures I guess. Anyone else seen it?
The second movie we saw on the weekend was No Country for Old Men. I hated it. End of review.
Maybe I am just not intellectual enough to understand it, maybe I am out of touch with what a good movie is, but honestly did anyone else appreciate it?
Having been a Sopranos devotee for a long time, and also not being very impressed by a lot of Australian TV I wasn't really expecting much, but I have to say I have been really surprised and impressed with this production. Anyone who is into that mafia, wiseguys type thing should check it out. Its quite horrible in parts, very violent, and probably not for the weak of stomach, but even so, I am really enjoying. We only have three episodes to go, and I am really looking forward to watching. The only downside is once we have seen them, that's it. Its over.
Very nasty stuff, but one of those guilty pleasures I guess. Anyone else seen it?
The second movie we saw on the weekend was No Country for Old Men. I hated it. End of review.
Maybe I am just not intellectual enough to understand it, maybe I am out of touch with what a good movie is, but honestly did anyone else appreciate it?
Friday, May 9, 2008
New Directions
Helllooo!!!
Ahhh chooo!
Hmm it’s a bit dusty around here. I guess it has been a while. So where do I start?
I have been off the blogging radar for a while, I am still reading, sometimes commenting, but I just haven’t been able to muster up the energy to update my own blog. Its not that there has been nothing going on in my life, it just hasn’t been all that interesting for anyone else except for me.
Plus, and I feel so stupid saying this, but I've been a bit embarrassed about coming back. You see I started down the path of intuitive eating, I read heaps, I discussed it here a bit, I contributed to blogs and web sites that endorsed it. But I feel like a desperate failure at it. I feel torn, because I have been trying to implement it, but all the while I have been gaining more and more weight. I jumped into IE with gusto, but in a lot of ways missed the real point of it somehow. I think there are a lot of people who go the same way as me, and I know some of the books I read claimed that to start with you will probably gain some weight when you start IE, but I am just not willing to gain anymore while I work my way through my emotional eating. I just cant go there.
Until yesterday morning, I had not stepped on the scales in 2008. I feel like that is a victory, because the scales have messed with my head so badly in the past. My clothes are getting tighter and tighter, and I have had to buy new clothes in bigger sizes. Even that I could sort of deal with, I have been becoming more accepting of myself as I am. I no longer wail and moan about having to wear a size 16, its just the way it is right now.
BUT, I feel like crap - all the time. I am lethargic, my joints ache, I get headaches, stomach aches, I have no get up and go, my sex drive has got up and gone, and I am just not happy.
So Wednesday morning I bit the bullet. I stepped on the scales. I was fairly realistic about what I would see, and my estimate was close. I came in 1.3 kgs less than the 90kgs I was expecting. So there it is 88.7kgs. Which means I have gained 5 kgs since December last year, or approximately a kilo a month. Shit.
I am happy to say that it didn’t send me into a melt down, I didn’t go straight to the pantry to feed my sorrows. In fact I am less concerned about the number than I thought I would be. I don’t plan to step on the scales now until the end of the month, but I do plan to do some other things.
Firstly, I am committing to exercising more regularly. This year exercise has been left in the "if I get time" category, and I am moving it into the "must be done first" category. I think that alone will help me to feel better.
Secondly, I am cleaning up my eating. I am not planning to diet. That for me is starting down the slippery slope of obsession, and I don’t have time in my life to obsess about anything these days, but, there are some simple changes I can make that should help make a difference.
I have spent too many years fussing with eating plans, counting points, cutting carbs etc for no long term gain, and lots of emotional upheaval. I have denied myself things I love when I want them, only to binge horribly on things that I don’t really want all because I feel resentful about missing out. So I am concentrating on moderation for now. Plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, lean meats, chicken and fish, cereal and bread, and the occasional small treat.
Sounds like common sense doesn’t it, but if there is one thing I have learned in the last ten years it is that I have nothing resembling common sense when it comes to food.
Anyway that's probably enough for now. I have started a new blog 40FitFab which will be devoted to my health and fitness, so I will post all updates on such over there. This blog will still be here, but for now I want to keep my occasional ramblings separate from my food and fitness.
Until later
xxx
Ahhh chooo!
Hmm it’s a bit dusty around here. I guess it has been a while. So where do I start?
I have been off the blogging radar for a while, I am still reading, sometimes commenting, but I just haven’t been able to muster up the energy to update my own blog. Its not that there has been nothing going on in my life, it just hasn’t been all that interesting for anyone else except for me.
Plus, and I feel so stupid saying this, but I've been a bit embarrassed about coming back. You see I started down the path of intuitive eating, I read heaps, I discussed it here a bit, I contributed to blogs and web sites that endorsed it. But I feel like a desperate failure at it. I feel torn, because I have been trying to implement it, but all the while I have been gaining more and more weight. I jumped into IE with gusto, but in a lot of ways missed the real point of it somehow. I think there are a lot of people who go the same way as me, and I know some of the books I read claimed that to start with you will probably gain some weight when you start IE, but I am just not willing to gain anymore while I work my way through my emotional eating. I just cant go there.
Until yesterday morning, I had not stepped on the scales in 2008. I feel like that is a victory, because the scales have messed with my head so badly in the past. My clothes are getting tighter and tighter, and I have had to buy new clothes in bigger sizes. Even that I could sort of deal with, I have been becoming more accepting of myself as I am. I no longer wail and moan about having to wear a size 16, its just the way it is right now.
BUT, I feel like crap - all the time. I am lethargic, my joints ache, I get headaches, stomach aches, I have no get up and go, my sex drive has got up and gone, and I am just not happy.
So Wednesday morning I bit the bullet. I stepped on the scales. I was fairly realistic about what I would see, and my estimate was close. I came in 1.3 kgs less than the 90kgs I was expecting. So there it is 88.7kgs. Which means I have gained 5 kgs since December last year, or approximately a kilo a month. Shit.
I am happy to say that it didn’t send me into a melt down, I didn’t go straight to the pantry to feed my sorrows. In fact I am less concerned about the number than I thought I would be. I don’t plan to step on the scales now until the end of the month, but I do plan to do some other things.
Firstly, I am committing to exercising more regularly. This year exercise has been left in the "if I get time" category, and I am moving it into the "must be done first" category. I think that alone will help me to feel better.
Secondly, I am cleaning up my eating. I am not planning to diet. That for me is starting down the slippery slope of obsession, and I don’t have time in my life to obsess about anything these days, but, there are some simple changes I can make that should help make a difference.
I have spent too many years fussing with eating plans, counting points, cutting carbs etc for no long term gain, and lots of emotional upheaval. I have denied myself things I love when I want them, only to binge horribly on things that I don’t really want all because I feel resentful about missing out. So I am concentrating on moderation for now. Plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, lean meats, chicken and fish, cereal and bread, and the occasional small treat.
Sounds like common sense doesn’t it, but if there is one thing I have learned in the last ten years it is that I have nothing resembling common sense when it comes to food.
Anyway that's probably enough for now. I have started a new blog 40FitFab which will be devoted to my health and fitness, so I will post all updates on such over there. This blog will still be here, but for now I want to keep my occasional ramblings separate from my food and fitness.
Until later
xxx
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Good hair day
You know some days you spend ages drying and styling and adding product to your hair to get it to sit right. today was not one of those days. Today it was a quick dry and style, and voila - good hair.
You cant help but have a good day when this happens ;-)
Hope you are all having a good hair day too.
xxx
You cant help but have a good day when this happens ;-)
Hope you are all having a good hair day too.
xxx
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Ooops
Turning forty has obviously been a turning point for my little old brain. Today is my wedding anniversary, and I forgot all about it! LOL. Married 13 years.
Thankfully I wrote it in my husbands diary at the beginning of the year, and put a post it note in to remind him to get flowers for me, so he at least can pretend that he remembered ;-)
Back soon.
Thankfully I wrote it in my husbands diary at the beginning of the year, and put a post it note in to remind him to get flowers for me, so he at least can pretend that he remembered ;-)
Back soon.
Monday, March 3, 2008
One little word, and a quick review
Yes, I am still here, I have been madly trying to organise things around here, and spending a bit of time catching up IRL with some people who are special to me.
Really enjoying only working three days a week, although I have been finding that I am achieving next to nothing most days. Its time for me to get a plan happening to make the most of the time I have been gifted with.
Last year I chose a word (a la Ali Edwards) for the year, my word was "create" my aims were to create more in my life. At the beginning of the year I had to choose a new word, and the word that popped into my head immediately was "time".
Last year time was at a premium, especially time for myself, me time. All of a sudden this year my work days have been cut down from five to three per week. I have been unexpectedly gifted with time. Time to do whatever I want with. This just confirmed to me that my choice of word for 2008, was the right choice.
I don't want to waste this time, it is too precious, something that I have really learned over the last 12 months. There is so much I want to do, to achieve. And it is really cool to put last years word and this years word together create + time. I am working on a plan that will create time for me and my family this year. It involves a lot of boring stuff like being organised, planning, having a schedule etc, but it makes me so happy when I do this and find that I have time to spare for the things and people I love. Plus by having more time, I am able to create more too!
I have just finished reading two books that have changed my way of thinking about my scrap booking. The Organised and Inspired Scrapbooker and The Big Picture. Anyone who scraps should check these out.
Also I finished reading The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by the Amazing Shauna, and the main thing I want to say about this right now is, if you haven't read it, do yourself a favour and DO IT! I wrote a book review in my head whilst lying in bed the night I finished it. The review was great, I commented on Shauna's bravery, her amazingness, her humour, her fabulousness, how her story touched me so deeply, but, when I woke up I just couldn't recreate it, and do it justice, so I will just say I LOVED IT! and you should read it.
xxx
Confused? S'ok just go with the flow, ;-)
Really enjoying only working three days a week, although I have been finding that I am achieving next to nothing most days. Its time for me to get a plan happening to make the most of the time I have been gifted with.
Last year I chose a word (a la Ali Edwards) for the year, my word was "create" my aims were to create more in my life. At the beginning of the year I had to choose a new word, and the word that popped into my head immediately was "time".
Last year time was at a premium, especially time for myself, me time. All of a sudden this year my work days have been cut down from five to three per week. I have been unexpectedly gifted with time. Time to do whatever I want with. This just confirmed to me that my choice of word for 2008, was the right choice.
I don't want to waste this time, it is too precious, something that I have really learned over the last 12 months. There is so much I want to do, to achieve. And it is really cool to put last years word and this years word together create + time. I am working on a plan that will create time for me and my family this year. It involves a lot of boring stuff like being organised, planning, having a schedule etc, but it makes me so happy when I do this and find that I have time to spare for the things and people I love. Plus by having more time, I am able to create more too!
I have just finished reading two books that have changed my way of thinking about my scrap booking. The Organised and Inspired Scrapbooker and The Big Picture. Anyone who scraps should check these out.
Also I finished reading The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by the Amazing Shauna, and the main thing I want to say about this right now is, if you haven't read it, do yourself a favour and DO IT! I wrote a book review in my head whilst lying in bed the night I finished it. The review was great, I commented on Shauna's bravery, her amazingness, her humour, her fabulousness, how her story touched me so deeply, but, when I woke up I just couldn't recreate it, and do it justice, so I will just say I LOVED IT! and you should read it.
xxx
Confused? S'ok just go with the flow, ;-)
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Who is in "Who"
All you Aussie readers, make sure you grab a copy of Who Magazine, there is a story on none other than the fabulous Shauna aka DietGirl!!!
I ran outside to show my husband "look look, someone I know from the internet, and she is so awesome... and she's in WHOO LOOOOOOOK!!"
He just looked at me like I was crazy, but I know you guys will get it ;-)
I ran outside to show my husband "look look, someone I know from the internet, and she is so awesome... and she's in WHOO LOOOOOOOK!!"
He just looked at me like I was crazy, but I know you guys will get it ;-)
You know what I hate?
When you have a great post in your head, you get it half written and then blogger eats it!!
Then when you go back and try to recreate it, it just doesn't work anymore, what sounded really great the first time around is so muddled, and in trying to remember things the ideas tumble one on top of the other and the message is just disappears...
Oh well, change of subject ;-)
You know when you watch movies, and you see people undercover, doing surveillance, spying on the bad guy? It all looks really cool and exciting. What a lie that is lol. I work for an investigator, we are currently doing a surveillance job (not me personally doing the surveillance, I work in the office collating the surveillance reports and the photos and video footage), man those reports are so boring!! "wait outside subjects house, light turns on in living room, light turns off in living room, light turns on in bathroom, dog barks..." All those years watching Magnum PI, I was lied to! but my boss does have a moustache just like Magnum so maybe there was some truth to it lol.
Enough rambling from me, have a good day. xxx
Then when you go back and try to recreate it, it just doesn't work anymore, what sounded really great the first time around is so muddled, and in trying to remember things the ideas tumble one on top of the other and the message is just disappears...
Oh well, change of subject ;-)
You know when you watch movies, and you see people undercover, doing surveillance, spying on the bad guy? It all looks really cool and exciting. What a lie that is lol. I work for an investigator, we are currently doing a surveillance job (not me personally doing the surveillance, I work in the office collating the surveillance reports and the photos and video footage), man those reports are so boring!! "wait outside subjects house, light turns on in living room, light turns off in living room, light turns on in bathroom, dog barks..." All those years watching Magnum PI, I was lied to! but my boss does have a moustache just like Magnum so maybe there was some truth to it lol.
Enough rambling from me, have a good day. xxx
Monday, February 4, 2008
More about food shopping
Just further to my last post, I never got around to photographing the fruit and veg, got too busy on Saturday afternoon, but I only spent about $45.00 as we have quite a bit of fresh fruit and veg from our garden at the moment, so no need to buy zuchini, herbs, tomatoes or plums this week, and a friend gave us a huge bag of grapes from his vines on the weekend as well, so we were mostly covered this week.
The money that I spend does cover everything, we dont buy lunches, do canteen/tuckshop or get takeaway (rarely anyway). My husband and I might eat out together once every few months, but otherwise all meals are prepared at home
The money that I spend does cover everything, we dont buy lunches, do canteen/tuckshop or get takeaway (rarely anyway). My husband and I might eat out together once every few months, but otherwise all meals are prepared at home
Friday, February 1, 2008
What the world eats
This morning I did the grocery shopping, the bill came to $281.78, this is for food for two weeks, no vegetables, and no meat included. I buy veggies at about $50-70 per week and meat at about $100 per month from the markets and the butchers not the supermarket. We also buy more milk throughout the week, usually we use 2.5 litres per day.
This afternoon I got an email titled Food for Thought, showing how much an average family in various different countries in the world spends on food per week, and what they actually got. I cant post the info from the email here, but I managed to find a site that has the same info on it here , some of the links are a bit dodgy, if anyone finds it or knows of it anywhere else please let me know.
Lets just say it gave me food for thought.
For your viewing pleasure here is a photograph of what I came home with this morning for basic comparison. I will do fruit and veg tomorrow, so will get another photo to add more balance.
Interesting...
I estimate that we spend approximately $250 - $300 per week on food for a family of five aged 44, 40, 12, 9, 6, depending on circumstances, if we entertain its closer to $300, if it is just the five of us around the $250.
I am really curious to know how much you spend and what you get for it and how many you feed.
This afternoon I got an email titled Food for Thought, showing how much an average family in various different countries in the world spends on food per week, and what they actually got. I cant post the info from the email here, but I managed to find a site that has the same info on it here , some of the links are a bit dodgy, if anyone finds it or knows of it anywhere else please let me know.
Lets just say it gave me food for thought.
For your viewing pleasure here is a photograph of what I came home with this morning for basic comparison. I will do fruit and veg tomorrow, so will get another photo to add more balance.
Interesting...
I estimate that we spend approximately $250 - $300 per week on food for a family of five aged 44, 40, 12, 9, 6, depending on circumstances, if we entertain its closer to $300, if it is just the five of us around the $250.
I am really curious to know how much you spend and what you get for it and how many you feed.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
First words
out of his mouth when I picked him up from the bus stop;
"High school is so much better than primary school"
Sigh... thank God!
He had a fantastic day, has hooked up again with his best friend from three years back who moved schools, and is totally looking forward to what the rest of the term has to bring.
School for the little girls went really well too. I will sleep well tonight.
PS to Brandi, thanks for your comments, but maybe I better not post again for a few weeks now, cant get too regular here after all ;-) lol.
"High school is so much better than primary school"
Sigh... thank God!
He had a fantastic day, has hooked up again with his best friend from three years back who moved schools, and is totally looking forward to what the rest of the term has to bring.
School for the little girls went really well too. I will sleep well tonight.
PS to Brandi, thanks for your comments, but maybe I better not post again for a few weeks now, cant get too regular here after all ;-) lol.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
High School Student
I thought these things were supposed to get easier as time went by, but it seems I was wrong. Last night was a long night for me, I lay awake for ages thinking (I am trying to convince myself I wasn't worrying) about my son's first day of high school.
This morning I felt very similar to the way I felt when he first started kindergarten, apprehensive, excited, and hugely aware of just how much I love this child. Every year he is becoming that little bit more independent, which, lets face it, is one of my goals as a parent, to raise independent, strong, happy individuals, but that directly correlates to me having less control over the circumstances surrounding him.
This is supposed to be good right? Maybe I am just a control freak lol.
I wanted to tell him everything I could about how to deal with the things that may pop up today, I wanted to go to school with him, and sit with him all day and make sure things were good for him, but I knew I couldn't, it was time for me to let go a bit and let him take these steps for himself.
Thankfully none of my fears were transferred to him, he was slightly nervous, but mostly just totally looking forward to it. He set his alarm last night, his bag was packed, he was up on time this morning, ate his breakfast, and got himself ready to go, he took total responsibility for everything he needed to do.
I am so proud of him, and I am praying that he gets off the bus this afternoon with a smile on his face, and that his first day of high school is a positive experience.
This morning I felt very similar to the way I felt when he first started kindergarten, apprehensive, excited, and hugely aware of just how much I love this child. Every year he is becoming that little bit more independent, which, lets face it, is one of my goals as a parent, to raise independent, strong, happy individuals, but that directly correlates to me having less control over the circumstances surrounding him.
This is supposed to be good right? Maybe I am just a control freak lol.
I wanted to tell him everything I could about how to deal with the things that may pop up today, I wanted to go to school with him, and sit with him all day and make sure things were good for him, but I knew I couldn't, it was time for me to let go a bit and let him take these steps for himself.
Thankfully none of my fears were transferred to him, he was slightly nervous, but mostly just totally looking forward to it. He set his alarm last night, his bag was packed, he was up on time this morning, ate his breakfast, and got himself ready to go, he took total responsibility for everything he needed to do.
I am so proud of him, and I am praying that he gets off the bus this afternoon with a smile on his face, and that his first day of high school is a positive experience.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
I cant believe it has been so long
I just noticed the date of my last post 20th December 2007!! That was ages ago, so yes Cranky I am coming back to blogging, but I can see why it looked like maybe I wasn't.
The past six weeks have just been kind of ... busy. Lets recap,
End of school year - every year I love it, but I hate it. This time the kids finished school on Friday 21st, which gave them next to no time before Christmas day to go shopping, sort and toss all of their old school stuff, unwind and relax before it was actually Christmas. I hate that they don't break up from school until so close to Christmas day. So that week was hectic to say the least.
Christmas Day - for once it was really relaxed, we spent most of the day at home, we had a sleep in, opened presents, had a leisurely breakfast, then spent a few hours setting up the new W!i, and learning to play "Happy Birthday" on the new keyboard. A light lunch, a long walk, then we headed to my brother in laws for tea and some light socialising. It was a really enjoyable day.
My DH was home for the next week, and we all just hung out together in the backyard. The kids also got a table tennis table from DH's parents, so there was a day in putting it together, then the competitive streak came out in all of us, and the tournaments commenced lol. As kids we had a table at my parents house, it brought back lots of good memories spending time with my own kids playing table tennis. Good clean (mostly anyway) family fun without the aid of electricity! We even managed to teach the dog not to eat the ping pong balls, and we can now leave them anywhere and he wont touch them.
January - visits from my parents, my best friend (finally living on the East Coast again YAY), good friends here in Canberra, then packing for a two week coastal camping trip, then actually going camping, then back home for Australia Day, BBQ's with more good friends here, cobbling together items for the kids return to school, and trying to organise my extremely disorganised house. Is January over yet ;-)
Which brings me to today, the last day the kids are home. Tomorrow they are all back off to school. First born is off to High school, the girls are in 4th and 1st grades this year. So that is a quick up date on the last six weeks. Tomorrow I can begin in earnest for the year, starting with a post on my feelings on First born beginning high school, which I am almost as apprehensive about if not more so, than when he started kindergarten.
Stay tuned
xxx
The past six weeks have just been kind of ... busy. Lets recap,
End of school year - every year I love it, but I hate it. This time the kids finished school on Friday 21st, which gave them next to no time before Christmas day to go shopping, sort and toss all of their old school stuff, unwind and relax before it was actually Christmas. I hate that they don't break up from school until so close to Christmas day. So that week was hectic to say the least.
Christmas Day - for once it was really relaxed, we spent most of the day at home, we had a sleep in, opened presents, had a leisurely breakfast, then spent a few hours setting up the new W!i, and learning to play "Happy Birthday" on the new keyboard. A light lunch, a long walk, then we headed to my brother in laws for tea and some light socialising. It was a really enjoyable day.
My DH was home for the next week, and we all just hung out together in the backyard. The kids also got a table tennis table from DH's parents, so there was a day in putting it together, then the competitive streak came out in all of us, and the tournaments commenced lol. As kids we had a table at my parents house, it brought back lots of good memories spending time with my own kids playing table tennis. Good clean (mostly anyway) family fun without the aid of electricity! We even managed to teach the dog not to eat the ping pong balls, and we can now leave them anywhere and he wont touch them.
January - visits from my parents, my best friend (finally living on the East Coast again YAY), good friends here in Canberra, then packing for a two week coastal camping trip, then actually going camping, then back home for Australia Day, BBQ's with more good friends here, cobbling together items for the kids return to school, and trying to organise my extremely disorganised house. Is January over yet ;-)
Which brings me to today, the last day the kids are home. Tomorrow they are all back off to school. First born is off to High school, the girls are in 4th and 1st grades this year. So that is a quick up date on the last six weeks. Tomorrow I can begin in earnest for the year, starting with a post on my feelings on First born beginning high school, which I am almost as apprehensive about if not more so, than when he started kindergarten.
Stay tuned
xxx
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