Grateful for..... a chance to be creative

With harvest dragging on so slowly, we have spent a lot of this week at home, giving hubby lots of moral support and cooking up delicious batches of whoopie pies, cakes and slices. And instead of busy nights sewing custom Miss Goodie Two Shoes, I have had the chance this week to leisurely create some new designs and sew some pretties for my friends. 

Tonight while perusing my fabric stash it occured to me how grateful I am for this chance to relax and recuperate from such an insanely hectic 2011. In sewing I have found my new love, my little niche in life. I get immense joy from crafting and creating for little girls (and big girls alike!). It is with great excitement that I plan the release of Miss Goodie's new collections and new designs.

But for now, I am so very grateful for the chance to sew at whim and for the special little people in my life. To catch my breath and prepare for another incredible year of Miss Goodie Two Shoes.

I hope you too are having a week to be grateful for, I'm playing along with Maxabella Loves. Why don't you pop on over and join in too.

This week I am grateful for.... a healthy living challenge

Earlier this week, I blogged about an exciting offer from Soup Marketing to take part in a new program hosted by the Heart Foundation. Mums United is encouraging Mums across Australia to unite in their quest to raise a healthy, active family. This project couldn't have come at a better time and for that I am very grateful! I have been ummmming and aaaaaahing for months now about returning to a healthier and happier lifestyle. With a burgeouning business and two little cherubs I just haven't been able to set a date and commit. Oh how simple in form motivation can sometimes be!

When my Soup pack arrived I excitedly set a number of healthy living challenges for myself and my family for the month of November. Starting with me, and my dream for months now: getting off the couch and into running 5kms. The C25K program is very simple in premise, and amazingly simple in execution. Start with 20 minutes, three times a week and alternate 60 seconds of running with 90 seconds of walking. The program follows the concept of interval training and promises to have you running 5 km in just nine weeks. 

If you're like me and feel a little allergic to running, I guarantee you will be surprised! I downloaded the C25K iPhone app (there's many, I chose the one from Bluefin software) and it gives me handy prompts while pumping out my favourite tunes. Early Monday morning I pulled on my trusty joggers and set out for my first run in........ erm five years....? By Wednesday I was already addicted to the rush of early morning exercise. Ahhhhh adrenalin, how I have missed thee! Week 2 of C25K is much the same as Week 1 and I'm secretly hoping that this fresh burst of exercise will help me in my ultimate goal of shedding some unwanted kilos just in time for summer.

I hope you too are having a week to be grateful for. Why not pop on over to Maxabella Loves and share in the fun xx

Mums United and a healthy heart challenge

Life, in the most part, has been overtaken lately with a flurry of fabric, needles and thread. Miss Goodie Two Shoes has been a life changing and exciting challenge, but as my business has evolved my healthy living has been the first to drop off the list. Gone are my early morning walks and weekly sessions at the gym, to be replaced with bleary eyes, a strong coffee and evenings spent sewing arms and legs. Healthy lunches for the family have been slowly replaced with muesli bars, peanut butter sandwiches and arrowroot biscuits... beans and spaghetti have featured on the dinner menu more often then I would like to admit. With the weather warming I have been promising myself a return to healthy eating and daily exercise, but where is the motivation and enthusiasm when bedtime is rarely before 1am?

Then came a very exciting offer from Soup Marketing to take part in an exciting new challenge hosted by the Heart Foundation. Mums United is encouraging Mums across Australia to unite in their quest to raise a healthy, active family. Through my project with Soup I have been asked to set some healthy living challenges and to report on my progress, the perfect opportunity to remain motivated! We got off on a good start today, replacing our usual sugar laden morning tea with some sliced fruit and these delicious raspberry muffins from the Heart Foundation website.

Raspberry Muffins

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup caster sugar

1/2 cup blueberries

60g (1/4 cup) margarine spread, extra

1 cup (250mL) reduced fat milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla essence 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a 12-cup non-stick muffin tin with muffin cases.

2. Sift flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a bowl. Mix in sugar and blueberries. In another bowl, combine margarine, milk, egg and vanilla. Mix the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined, using no more than 16 strokes. Spoon mixture into prepared tin. 

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out cleanly. 

I hope you too are having a healthy start to the week. Be sure to keep an eye on my blog for details of how you can join me in Mums United, and be in with a chance to win $350 in Myer giftcards thanks to Soup!

This week I am grateful..... that spring has sprung

Spring has sprung and noone is more excited then me! The first day of spring marks one of the most exciting days of my life, the birth of my little boy Oscar. How can he be three already?

 Spring also means our farm is a burst of colour with vibrant signs of life. What better way to celebrate an extra special birthday and the first day of spring then with a frollick and some fun in the gloriuous sun.

 I hope you had an enjoyable start to spring, and you're getting some of this gorgeous weathe. I am playing along with Maxabella loves, this week hosted by the lovely Emily from The Beetle Shack. Why don't you pop on over and share in the fun xxx

Bathtime fun

Where has the time gone? This month my little princess is turning one, and a few days later my little prince will be three. 

Three of the most amazing years of my life.

There isn't a moment I don't reflect on how truly blessed I am (and yes, even when I'm up at 2 am, or spending two hours convincing a toddler to go to sleep!).

This week I am grateful for. . . . . my family and friends

May is my favourite month of the year, I get to celebrate my wedding anniversary, mama's day and my birthday. This year I was extremely spoilt for all three occasions. My gorgeous hubby took me on a blindfolded treasure hunt for our anniversary, with the end surprise a beautiful hand made card and an eternity ring. We celebrated our night with a bottle of 2001 vintage black dog shiraz and an evening of laughter and reminiscing. 

 On mama's day I was awoken to the sweet voice of my little man wishing me a very special day. I enjoyed french toast and coffee in bed before dozing off again for another two hours. Oh what bliss!

I celebrated my birthday on Wednesday, and was showered with love and best wishes by family and friends. I am so very grateful for the special people in my life, who never cease to make me feel loved, appreciated and so very blessed. The icing on a fabulous May was toasting my new business with a glass of Chandon in the Royal Doulton champagne glasses I was given by my mum.

Did I mention also that I might be a little bit spoilt... *blush*? 

I hope you too are having a week to be grateful for. I am playing along with Maxabella Loves, come along and join in the fun!

Our fourth wedding anniversary

 Today my gorgeous husband and I are celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary. I feel so blessed that our love is even stronger today, then it was on that magical autumn day.

    

I'm playing Wordless Wednesday with Faith, Hope and a Whole Lotta Love, pop on over and add your special memory xx

Morning glory

I have so much to be grateful for this week; not least my beautiful mum, my gorgeous babies, and the time I have spent relaxing and re-energising. When I return home to the comfort of my Mac I will recount all my blessings and tend to my neglected blog, but in the meantime I wanted to share a snippet of my joy. Something that guaranteed a smile every morning this week.

There is finally a chill in the air! It's crisp and fresh, smelling of dewy grass and an early morning sun. Blink and you will miss it, but for those sublime few moments each morning, Oscar and I have been able to dream of winter. And pretend it's nearly upon us.


I hope you've had a delightful week too xx

Today I am grateful for. . . . . a trip to mum's

It's been such a long time since I visited my mum. We see a lot of each other, but it's usually mum coming to the farm and filling our freezer and tummies with scrumptious food. I treasure her regular visits, they enable me to catch my breath and some lost sleep.

It's not the same as visiting my haven though. There's nothing like a week away from all the hustle and bustle and responsibilities. A whole week to relax, read books, cook, shop and, this time, start a new hobby.

My mum is a brilliant seamstress, and one of my greatest regrets is failing to learn her craft before I left home. My desire to sew has become very strong since I joined the blogging world. I realise that I miss the enjoyment of making beautiful things by hand, which used to be a big part of my life growing up.

Mum and I have been excitedly planning our week, which will include purchasing a new sewing machine, some gorgeous fabrics and bringing out all the old patterns that have become mum's treasures.

I'm so very excited, and can't wait for the moment I finish my very first sewing project. I wonder what it will be?


I hope that you too had a week to be grateful for. I am playing along with Maxabella Loves, come along and join in the fun!



Blogged on the go using Blogpress for iPhone


My image of the beautiful antique sewing machine is from here 

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: my loves

My little Miss Mathilda Ruby

is growing into the cheekiest little possum

My little Mister Oscar Jaxon

needs to learn to go to bed at night!

I'm playing Wordless Wednesday at Faith, Hope & a whole lotta love, pop on over and share your special photographic moments too xx

Some things I have learnt over the past few days...

On this delirious morning as I peer over the steam of my coffee cup, I feel the need to share a few epiphanies with you...


1.  Always check your blow up mattress before venturing out camping. Sleeping on a rock hard ground, peppered with gravel, sticks and stones does not make for a comfortable night sleep. Nor a very good back in the morning.


2.  10pm and midnight are not appropriate times for a 2 1/2 year old to finally go to sleep. Practise your best voice of persuasion BEFORE you go camping. And no matter how much they profess they don't need a sleep the next day, they are very very wrong!


3.  Be sure to limit the amount of water you drink before bed, and during the night. A very full bladder coupled with two sleep deprived babies climbing all over you in the morning = pain.


4.  Always pack with you a good sense of humour, loads of patience and an open mind when venturing away from home!


5.  Be sure to step out of your comfort zone every once in a while. The precious memories will always outlive the pain.

I hope your weekend was a little more comfortable, but just as much fun as ours xx

Kissing cousins

In the lead up to our holiday in Melbourne, my sister Kate and I talked excitedly about the fun our two little cherubs would have playing together. Their last visit was a short two days, and they spent their time in a whirlwind of dancing, singing, playing chasey and sharing biscuits and sips of juice. They were truly adorable together and played without a single squabble nor a tear. We wondered what two weeks with each other would bring. 

We needn't have worried. Oscar and Amelie greeted one another like old friends. Their giggles of delight resonated throughout the house, and when we saw one, we knew the other wouldn't be far behind. They were inseparable, and like kindred spirits, they knew they were special to one another. There were a few more tears and tantrums this time, but ten times as much love was shared.

I think our babies' relationship is testament to the one we share as sisters. I hope that Oscar and Amelie grow up to be as close friends as we are.