Sunday Stash - The Holiday Edition

I arrived home on Friday afternoon after five glorious days away, to find a few fabulous little parcels awaiting me.

I put a call out to my quilty friends in a couple of FB groups, and the lovely Anorina came through for me!  I needed some Sugar Flower scraps for a wedding cushion, and given that it's not my usual style, and I only needed a teeny bit, I am very grateful for the generosity! xxx

You may remember my post from a week or so ago, when I proclaimed I needed more Terrain after delving in to my scrap stash?  Well, I went on a bit of a search, and these delicious fat quarters and a little yardage arrived too!  SOOOOO thrilled!

And just because it's AUSTRALIA DAY today - I'm sharing with you some snaps of our little getaway last week.  It's a beautiful part of the country/world.  My husband has been holidaying in Sandy Point for his whole life.  I've been lucky enough to share it for the past twelve years.  If you haven't heard of it before, it's about half an hour from Wilson's Promontory - the southern most part of Australia!

I'm sure that when we tell people we are heading down to the beach house, they have grand illusions of a big white house on top of a sand dune!  Nope.  This delightful little three bedroom home is just perfect, nestled amongst the trees in a quiet little hamlet.  The kids can ride their bikes around the streets without us worrying about them getting hit.  And our little Chloe learnt to ride sans training wheels this trip!

In all the years we've been down there, not once have we ventured to "The Prom".  Well, I lie.  We went the first time I visited - heavily pregnant with Chelsea.  Andrew and I planned to do a walk, but as soon as we got there, it pissed down with rain, so we turned around and went back home!  Anyway - we took the plunge and headed there this time - and what a day.....

Wilson's is a huge national park, which means it is protected from all the crap humans do to the rest of the unprotected parts.  It is a truly pristine destination.

There were some pretty nasty bushfires there in 2009, but the rejuvination is amazing.

We had never bush walked before, so it was a bit of an adventure.  We chose an "easy" walk - the Lilly Pilly Gully walk.  The first part was all flat, and included this gorgeous boardwalk through a rainforest section.

All Chloe wanted to see were some animals.  She had to make do with wombat burrows and poo......

After breaking for lunch, we headed off in the direction that pointed us towards the car park.  3.2km it said.  After about 500 metres of uphilling it, we realised the entire 3.2km would be the same.  Chloe climbed aboard Lochie's shoulders, and he took her the whole distance.  We made it to the top......

And were rewarded with this spectacular view of the coastline!

And straight after the walk, we jumped in the car and headed to Squeaky Beach.  Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

My favourite part of our trips to Sandy Point are the days when it's not too hot or windy, and we can head to the shallow inlet.  As you can see, we hit the jackpot on our second last day!  Perfection.  No waves for me to worry about the kids, and Andrew brought the fishing rods and attempted fishing before they all became bored with that and continued swimming!

And my favourite shot from this holiday.  My beach babe.

With only three more sleeps until the kids return to school, and four sleeps until Chloe begins Prep - I am well and truly rested, and have thoroughly enjoyed these school holidays. I'm now looking forward to returning to our regular schedule and routines - and a clean house!

I'm linking up with Sunday Stash - You can too!

Blah....blah blah!

I've been a busy little beaver (so childish that every time I hear that word I laugh?) this last week or so!  Apart from the fact that it's school holidays here, which itself is enough to generally send me in to a spin - I've also well and truly got my Sew-jo back!    The last few months have been mind-blowingly maniacal, and I'm still recovering.  But our renovations are ALMOST finished - just one bloody toilet door to be hung!  Our house is feeling like a home - mostly due to the amount of crap that everyone feels comfortable leaving lying around.  My Dad is recuperating from his generous stint in hospital and scaring the shit out of us all.  The sun has been shining at least a few days a week, lulling us Melbournians into a false sense of Spring.

Things are looking up in the world.

I took my two working week-days off work last week, and spent it hanging out with my two primary school kids.  It was actually refreshingly lovely.  I also took Saturday off work, for the AFL grand final.  But we won't talk about that........bloody Swans.

When Chelsea asked me yesterday if we could go and watch "Hotel Transylvania" at the movies, I said yes (if you've seen it, you will now understand the post title!).  I sms'd her bestie's Mum, who also happens to be my friend, and arranged a weeknight date.  Unheard of.  We took Lochie along too.  Had a fabulous laugh at a really great film, and was later introduced to HARRAJUKU CREPES!!!  What rock have I been hiding under????  FAR OUT!  I didn't order one because I really wasn't sure what on earth they were all about.  But I made sure to help both Chelsea and Lochie (and my friend) to eat theirs.  Now all I can think about is a return trip.  Nom nom nom......

I've also been chatting to the girls at The Handmade Library!  And just yesterday they unveiled an Amaze-balls give-away!  Which you can check out AND ENTER HERE.  I am very happy to be a sponsor of the give-away - so head on over and tell them I sent you!

And today?  Well, today I'm having another chat, and a cuppa, with Clare from Clare's Craftroom.  Clare is running a series of morning teas with a bunch of lovely crafters - so I'm wrapt to be included!

Oh - and I'm off to work!  So that's it for now.  I will leave you with some of the results of my return to the sewing machines.......

All of these goodies can be purchased from Thursday 18th October when I hold my Out To Sea Market Night!  HERE is where you will find the details.

What have you all been up to in my absence??

WTF - Another What The Friday!

Lots going on this week! When isn't there?  I've had some very amusing and weird things happen, as well as GREAT moments that I think I will always remember.  Here's just some of them....

I'm always trying to make the process of washing, drying, folding and putting away clothes easier and less time consuming. Yes, this is what my life has come to.......  I have ALWAYS folded the clothes as I take them off the line (and have successfully trained both my husband and Lochie to do the same!).  This week I've found another way to cut down time - take one person's clothes off the line at a time!!!  Then all I have to do is take a clump of washing out of the basket - already in a pile and put the friggin things away!  Or, leave them on the dining table for a few days until someone gets sick of eating around them.....

I went for a "personal" appointment last weekend.  Yep - waxing.  Another horrifying conversation to confirm to me that I am, indeed, getting old.  Or maybe I'm just sane?  The lovely 19 year old torturing me with hot wax was discussing with me all the different ways people request to be waxed.....ie. all off, landing strips etc etc.  She then conveyed to me that a 13 year old came in and asked for a brazillian!!!!  I was so shocked I didn't even feel the hair ripping from my BROW.  WTF??  She very maturely chose to tell this 13 year old that there was no way she was doing that, and that it was against the law.  Apparently said 13 year old was unimpressed.  Next shocking story was of a "Mother" who brought her 14 year old in to have her NIPPLE pierced!  WTF??  What on earth in going on???  Thank God for some sanity and common sense on behalf of this salon.  They straight up refused.

We received our sponsorship package on Wednesday for our lovely new daughter/sister Keniya!!  I showed Chelsea who immediately grabbed a little card and wrote to her.  This fills my heart.  And I think it will continue to do so.  I received a lovely message on my business page today from a customer/reader who said my blog post last week has inspired her to sponsor a child.  Thanks again go out to Eden who has started a chain of goodness.

My stoopid migraine that set up camp last Sunday has left me with the glorious migrainer hangover all week long.  I was going to go and see my Mr Miyagi for some more torture today, but it would mean missing out on Cadyn's jumper presentation for footy tonight.  I emailed my husband about this and was somewhat humbled brought down to earth with his reply.  Apparently my quirky little 7.5 year old commented to his Dad "I can't wait to play basketball, because Mum watches basketball".  It made me stop in my tracks.  I miss most of his cricket season due to work, and also miss half of his footy season for the same reason.  Needless to say - I popped some pain relief and suffered in silence to cheer him on as he received his footy jumper tonight.....

I had a really good conversation with my Mother-in-law this week.  We've had them before, so no surprise there, but she gave me some really good advice as well as some insight.  I still need to process it before I do anything with it, but am grateful....

I've been convinced we need another frickin pet!  Yep, she of the "we're never getting another frickin pet" bandwagon, is getting another frickin pet.......  I'm a sucker for punishment.  New said pet will come in the form of a kitten.  And will be a birthday present for Chelsea who started this strange turn of events by batting her eyelids at her Daddy and begging.  Timing is impeccable and it turns out a lovely friend of mine has a sister with a kitten needing a home.  We pick her up next week.  Stay tuned - for I am sure I will have plenty to say about this in the near future.....

Major excitement yesterday!  Prince's concert dates were released!  I'm so damn excited.......  The Diamonds & Pearls Tour was the first concert I ever went to - back in 1992 I think?  And I still class it as THE best concert I've been to....and I've been to lots!  Friends and I have organised to go in May - it will just be a case of fastest fingers Monday morning to try and get the tickets online!  Hooray!!

Remember THIS post?  The bit about the exciting news??  Well, I'm still excited.  But things came to a bit of a grinding holt.  Wanna know what's going on???  Do ya?  I'll tell you next time!

What's been happening with you this week?  Spill!

So much

So much going on in my little world at present.  I don't even know where to begin.  But I'll make a start....

It's school holidays.  Half way through the first week, and I've confirmed that starting on some sort of medication for my sanity is a very good idea.  Enough said on that.....for now.

I worked my first full 3 day weekend last week, probably since the start of the year.  It was not easy.  Though, it was not hard.  I am continually torn as to how to juggle my employment around my family.  February and March were made MUCH easier for me.  I used a whole lot of annual leave which meant I had nearly every Friday and Saturday off.  Which meant I had no children home on Fridays, and I didn't miss anyone's sporting events on Saturdays.  I could breath.

My little business has picked up speed again.  After Christmas and the New Year, I wondered whether the momentum it had gained prior, would ever happen again.  It seems it will.  And is.  It makes me smile.  But it also makes me very busy.  Well, busier than the very busy I was before....

My little family (or rather large family to some) has some very exciting things unfolding.  It's been killing me to mostly keep it to myself.  And I have been a little cryptic on my FB page, leading to some private messages questioning my cryptic updates!  But I don't want to spill until all is set in stone.  Let's just say life is looking very good.  I often wonder how life keeps getting better?  When I think things are perfect, they just get perfecter (I know that's not a word, but it's fitting!).

Anyway, that's just some of it.  And even as I sit here typing about what's going on in my world, I'm still thinking about Eden, and the amazing journey she is embarking on at present.  I just read the latest post HERE.  And am feeling guilty about the little rumble in my tummy, and my want to get up and find something to quieten it.  Eden's ability to get on a plane (well, many planes) to travel halfway across the world, to raise awareness of a HUGE unfolding crisis has me thinking.  Thinking that I have been slack in my ability to make a difference.  At least once every year, I state I am going to sponsor a child.  And still, in 2012, I have yet to follow through.  I am committed this time round.  And will follow through.  And I am now accountable to you all!  I promise I will have the proof.  Thank you Eden. xxx

A whole lot of randomness

Lots of thoughts running through my head today.  Not unusual.

Why is it that when little boys play video games, they feel the need the continually commentate every move, jump up and down and act like complete fools?  Yet girls will just sit there quietly playing...

Why is it that my husband (is it only my husband?) is so very capable of tidying and cleaning the kitchen after dinner - yet the pots/pans seem to always be left sitting in the sink?

Why do I bother folding clothes and putting them in to neat piles, only to find them shoved in to drawers or thrown on floors?

How is it that my toilet always smells of wee??  No amount of cleaning, bleaching, pulling the damn thing apart and soaking relieves me.  Well, I just spent $50 on a piece of ENJO brilliance in the hope that it will help.  I used it yesterday and nearly vommited.....

This expensive piece of hardware gets in under the rim - like. nothing. else.  Use your imagination, as I cannot
describe what was discovered or I will likely gag.....

I spent $180 on a bed linen set yesterday.  Unheard of.  But it got me - the window display.  And my husband agreed when I oohed and ahhed.....so I marched straight in and bought it.  Thoughts?

Love

SIX MORE SLEEPS - until school returns!  They're all still alive - and it's a miracle...

One of my dearest friends is coming to stay for two nights, with her 3 month old bundle of joy.  And then it's back to London for them.  It still astounds me that she and I have only ever lived in the same state as each other for a whole six months.  And yet, we are still so close.

My three year old just came out and asked me to put a necklace on her.  "So I look like a person".......ummmmmm, ok.

That's it.  All that is flowing through my mind.  Have a wonderful day! xx

I had to say "Yes" didn't I?

My gorgeous husband came up with the genius idea to purchase a PS3.  Sort of a pressie for himself, for starting his new job.  I begrudgingly agreed to said purchase because:

a)  He works ridiculously hard and long hours to provide us with a great life

b)  He is a "gamer" at heart and since we got the iMac and iPad - apparently the games you can get on them just aren't the same as what he got on normal PC

c)  He promised me I would still see him and he would not live in the back room

Now, his original genius idea had the PS3 living in our bedroom.  Yehhhh.......nahhhhhhhhh.  Cut that one down quick smart.  Visions of lying in bed watching some stupid game on the tv, or waking in the middle of the night to the ever-so-delightful blips of a video game was not ideal in my eyes!  So I agreed it could live out in our back lounge room.  The same room that the Wii lives.  The same room that the kids watch tv in.  And NOT the same room that I have all of my foxtel shows set up to record on IQ.  That was MY genius moment.

So yesterday he goes out, whilst I'm at work, and purchases said game console.  I come home to find a very happy gaggle of children along with an extremely pleased with himself husband.  Master 7 comes out with this beauty - "Mum, did you tell Dad he could buy it?"   Ahhhh.....he's been taking note of how this household works....

Fast forward to today.  When husband returns to work.  Master 7 is not even awake two minutes when he asks if he can play the PS3?  No. The remainder of the afternoon, after a morning spent at the park goes something like this:

Kids jump straight on to PS3 when walking through door

Arguments about who is playing first, second, third, fourth, fifth (you get the picture) 

start almost immediately

Arguments, tears and yelling continue for approximately four hours

I threaten to pull the whole bloody thing out of the wall and take back to shop

Kids pull their heads in - somewhat

I retreat to computer and ignore them successfully

Don't get me wrong - I have absolutely no problems about kids and video games, televisions or anything even remotely classed as "not good parenting" hehehhe....but, I'm going to be having words with the husband about his ability to introduce this new play thing - and disappear to work!

Anyone else out there have a thing or two to say about video games?  Or children?  Or school holidays? Ten more sleeps....

A quick Holiday post!

Hello to you all from the sunny Gold Coast!  I have been MIA......and to be perfectly honest, this is the first time this year I have popped in to my blog!  I thought I would give you a quick update on our holiday adventure.....

It didn't start off so well - our 12.20pm flight was cancelled at approximately 12.10pm!  Thanks Jetstar!  We got on to a 3.40pm flight....but that was also then delayed for over an hour.  So our 1.20pm arrival on the Gold Coast actually ended up being a 6pm arrival!  Needless to say, I am thrilled we are returning to Melbourne on a Virgin flight.....

The kids after a long day spent at Melbourne Airport, and finally arriving in Queensland!

Arrived to our beautiful little abode that we now call home, a gorgeous house within walking distance from the divine Broadwater.  I am extremely lucky, and grateful, to still have wonderful friends from childhood here on the coast, so we are staying at one of my friend's Mum's house!  She has it set up beautifully for all six of us, and the kids loved all the personal touches she has added for them.  Read: x-box, dolls house etc etc.

Day one of our holiday saw us trek to Seaworld......seven hours later, we trekked home.  Kids had a blast, and the husband and I were wrecked.

Day two was rather relaxing.....wandered down to the broadwater for a swim, had some lunch at home and then off to another friend's house for a swim in their pool.  My Dad also came over that evening for a visit!  Needless to say, I don't see him often living two states away, so it was nice to sit down over a meal.

Day three was Movieworld day, aka exhaustion central.  Long queues, and very warm sun made for a long day.  We bribed the kids to leave early with a promise of a swim at the beach - which we did follow through with!

Day four (dragged ourselves out of coma state) Wet N Wild.  Probably the best day amusement wise.  Our youngest son, who we have found has an aversion to anything mildly steep, speedy or fun, finally found h is theme park niche.  Water slides, it seems, are not asthreatening as other amusement park rides.  Phew.  We left resembling drowned rats approximately five hours after arriving.

Today.  I very sneakily (ie. didn't tell boys my plans) took the two girls with me to meet up with one of my cousins (well, not a blood cousin, but cousin all the same) who lives in Paris, and happens to be on the Coast at the moment.  I haven't seen her for around 20 years, so we organised a rendevouz over FB.  Drove the half hour to Currumbin beach, wandered between the flags where she said she would be, and gave up looking for her after 20 minutes.  Girls had a wonderful swim and play in the sand, whilst I got sunburnt because I failed in my search attempts to remember to apply sunscreen to myself.  Currently feeling the results of this now as I sit at computer typing!

Not much else planned for the last few days of our journey.  Oh, except for a beach bbq with lots of friends tonight, perhaps a day at Seaworld's water park tomorrow, a christening on Sunday (I'm going to be a God-Mother!) and flying home Monday.  Yeh, not much planned.....

I hope you are all thoroughly enjoying 2012 so far.  I will need a holiday when I return to Melbourne.  But the odds of this happening are zero!

Post Market Post

It is Monday....again.  Why oh why is this year going so fast?  I can't keep up with the rolling weeks and how quickly the Mondays seem to roll around!  Is it just me?  Or does everyone feel 2011 has been the fastest yet?  Is it something to do with getting older, or is it just because?

Yesterday was my second appearance at Mulgrave Makers Market.  The two weeks prior were filled with sewing, sewing and more sewing.  My Journey Collection of little girls clothing was finished in time and I was very excited to get out amongst the public and see how I went!  This is what it all looked like:

Another stunning Melbourne September day appeared, and my little stall was ready to rumble.  And I am pleased to say I had another pretty satisfying day!  There were probably three times as many stall holders with little girls clothing, so customers had plenty to choose from.....and luckily some of them chose mine!

I still have plenty of this collection remaining, so have opened up the Album to my faithful Facebook followers, and a few of them have already been snapped up!  So with any luck all the above beautiful dresses, skirts and tops will find lovely new homes.  If you are reading this and have not seen my Facebook page.....look me up!  MsMidgemadebyme  

Ok, off to rangle these children of mine - school holidays is another way to say CHAOS!

Starting again.....

I know in my last post....quite some time ago now....I said I was going to take this blog in another direction - well, didn't I do well? I'm afraid I'm just going to start all over again! Well laid plans and all....

So today's post is "just because". Just because I'm sitting here in front of the computer aimlessly looking through Facebook pages, wasting time. First day of school holidays and my darling cherubs have actually been really good - so far. There's still a few hours to go in this day, so I shall have to wait to see if it's a fluke or not. And then I only have to get through another 13 days before school starts back! I sound keen don't I?

So what am I going to write about today? Well, I read a post on Muddled Up Mumma's blog this morning, and it compelled me to send off an email to a dear friend of mine. She wrote about friendships, and how sometimes they are just left to fall by the wayside. It made me think about my darling friend and the fact that she had moved a few hours away with her family, and I had no idea how she was going or where, in fact, she had actually relocated to. So I sat myself in front of my inbox and tapped away giving her a quick catch up on all the kids, hubby and myself. And I am now finding myself refreshing my emails waiting for her reply!

I think over the years I have let some friendships drift, but I think I'm pretty good at re-connecting when the time arises. Just last week, I added a "friend" to Facebook that I had purposely cut off many years ago. She had been one of my closest friends during my final years of high school, and one of those friends that drifted in and out of my life in the years after school finished. We picked up again just after my first marriage broke down, and she moved in with my son and I - not only to help me out, but also to help her out. Anyway, to cut a long story short - living together didn't quite work out, and eventually I asked her to move out. It didn't end on good terms, and I begrudged the fact that I was owed money and was never given an explanation or apology.

A month or so ago, I saw this friend had joined Facebook and "added" a handful of my friends to her page. It took me a month of umming and ahhing to decide if I should add her or not, but I came to the conclusion that I'm not a grudge holder, and she looked like she had gotten her "shit" together, so I would add her and see what happened. Much to my relief (nobody wants to be turned down on fb!) she added me and it was like nothing had ever happened! I'm rather proud of myself for just "letting go"......and possibly - growing up!

Anyway, that is it for today. Rather a pointless little write, but therapeutic all the same! I will see if I can keep up the therapy in the days to come.....actually, there's the subject of my next blog post - therapy. I'll be back....