mumble bumblings

New year - One little word

2011-12-31T19:36:00.001+11:00

Instead of a new years revolution I've decided to go with Ali's one little word. My word for 2012 is 'DO' no more procrastinating just get up and do it!Image from http://pathofthebutterfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/just-do-it.jpg

Our Christmas

2011-12-30T20:02:00.001+11:00

This was not planned but on Christmas eve we started preparing for our lawn - This pic was taken on the 27th when it finally was finished

Josh decided he'd help

So onto christmas - Josh's first daycare xmas decoration

After Santa's visit and in the morning...

and of course the hail storm!

Josh's into my stamp pads already!

2011-12-20T15:53:00.001+11:00

Thumbprint reindeer gift tags

Cake Pops

2011-12-15T15:36:00.002+11:00

With Josh's first birthday coming up I thought I'd have a go at making cake pops.

Guess what? We're not having cake pops at his party. The cake balls seemed too heavy for the lolly pop sticks and slowly dropped off or down the sticks. I'm not sure what went wrong.

Hand print bauble

2011-12-03T14:53:00.001+11:00

See how we made it here

1st Santa visit

2011-11-21T11:41:00.001+11:00

We took Joshua to visit santa on the weekend.

This photo's not so great - It's pretty hard to take a pic on your phone while trying to make Joshie smile.

At least he didn't cry!

Rest assured the proper photographer photo is much better!

Tasmania

2011-11-13T09:22:00.001+11:00

We spent the long weekend in Hobart. It was Joshua's first plane trip.

He had lots of fun exploring the hotel room,

meeting tassie devils and kangaroos,

pretending to drive the hire car, eating lots of new food and of course ice cream.

There was also a trip too Richmond, Port Arthur, and the Houn Valley

Oh and two visits to Sweet Envy

And on the crafty front we made it to ...

Salamanca markets - I was expecting more handmade stalls but we still managed to find some things to buy.

Ruby's room - so many goodies, of course the things I wanted really weren't suitable to bring back on a plane.

There was also a shop just across the road (on Macquarie st) called Store & Co - they had great stuff too!

One other little shop I liked was Love and Clutter in Murray St, I picked up a few little things there but could have got much more if I was after girly things!

Chadstone clothes shopping with a stylist

2011-10-26T08:06:00.000+11:00

Normally I just delete the special offer / coupon emails but one grabbed my attention a few weeks back.

It was for a personal stylist session - and seeing as though I had had no luck winning one of the Westfield session competitions that have been appearing on blogs I read, I jumped at the offer.

I had my session at Chadstone on the weekend, and it was great.
I can't believe how many things I came home with. I've got some great ideas on what to look for now. I've realised I have been wearing my clothes way too baggy!
Here's my stash! (sorry for the poor picture)

I'd definately do it again, I tried on and bought things that I'd never have considered on my own.

9 Months

2011-10-24T13:12:00.003+11:00

first fathers day

2011-09-09T10:13:00.000+10:00

Happy fathers day!

Joshua even made a present at daycare - a photo frame with lots of glitter

August - 7 Months

2011-09-04T09:52:00.000+10:00

Concentrating

Baptism 14-08-2011

Discovering his chain

hmmm....

I wonder what this tastes like?

Yum Paper!

At the park

Bounce, bounce bounce!

I love shopping (sometimes)

Looking very chubby!

July - 6 months

2011-09-04T09:34:00.001+10:00

Josh started daycare this month, and I went back to work :(

Ready for daycare

1st time at the park

Pyjama day at daycare

Yoghurt Yum!

Chicken!

Catch me if you can!

Go Bombers!

Shopping

First painting!

June - 5 months

2011-09-04T09:15:00.000+10:00

Pumpkin

Potato

Helping with the washing

Avocado

Reading with daddy

I don't like carrot

Sweet Potato

Love you daddy

May - 4 months

2011-09-04T08:51:00.000+10:00

Being a good boy at SU convention

With Nanny and Jade

Getting used to the bumbo

Starting Solids - Rice Cereal

Mmmm

I don't want to sleep!

But I need to.

Joshua's Easter

2011-04-29T13:19:00.000+10:00

Easter bunny left a book and a Poppet Bunny

Tastes just as good as a chocolate bunny

Happy easter!

2011-04-22T18:01:00.000+10:00

March pics

2011-04-07T19:02:00.001+10:00

Cousins

Holding his rattle

Lovin' Spike the dinosaur

My first Ipad

Cheeky!

He loves sitting up high on the baby seat trolley

Joshua's face once he realised I was taking pics

Trying to get a photo with mummy.

Joshua's first prints.

2011-03-27T19:04:00.000+11:00

February pics

2011-03-07T13:43:00.000+11:00

Some more pics

2011-02-12T11:25:00.000+11:00

Photo for Daddy when he went back to work

Photo's by GFP Babies, taken at the hospital just before we came home.

Joshua Stephen

2011-01-16T20:42:00.000+11:00

1st photo

1st Bath

2011-01-14T16:17:00.002+11:00

Joshua Stephen
Born 11-1-11
6.40pm
3030g

Pics coming over the weekend

Be right back...

2011-01-10T06:30:00.001+11:00

...just having a baby

Sock Owl Mobile

2011-01-08T15:30:00.001+11:00

I finally completed this sock owl mobile

Now before anyone asks - no we don't know what we are having (aside from a cheeky baby!) this one is for someone else - I'm waiting until next week so I can pick pink or blue socks!

The pattern is by Craft Schmaft and it's been on my to do list since I got the pattern at the Craft and Quilt show back in July. I had to get it finished and posted before this baby arrives as I might have kept it if we ended up having a boy.

38 weeks

2011-01-07T19:35:00.000+11:00

38 Weeks today - sometime monday I should be a Mum! (gosh that sounds strange)

Bags are packed, everything organised (I hope)

New year goals and plans

2011-01-03T08:47:00.002+11:00

Well let's see how we did in 2010

This is what I posted at the beginning of 2010

2010 goals and resolutions

Pay off credit card (have a date in mind to achieve this by) - done
Continue running every 2nd day - It worked until around April - baby kind of put a stop to this
Get weight down by 5kgs - again baby kind of put a stop to this one too
Start and keep stocked my made it shop - didn't happen
Finally get floorboards - done
Have vegies growing all year round - nope, don't even have any for summer!
Save for stuff in 2011 (I have some dollar amounts set for a few particular things) - yep done
No buying any magazines or cookbooks - 1 cookbook and 2 magazines only
Keep filing up to date - well it wasn't regular but it was all filed by the end of the year
Develop and stick to cleaning plan - nope, but have started it this year!
Save $2 coins for Kitchen Aid mixer - done

So for 2011

Get to meet & have a healthy baby

Stick to cleaning plan

Save and go to Stampin' Up! Convention in May

Do more SU workshops

Put stock in my made it shop

Loose baby weight

Start running again

Save to get some things done around the house - blinds, levelling yard, screen doors, shed, and water tank

Save money for savings account and to put towards mortgage (I have amounts in mind)

Happy New Year!

Week 37

2011-01-01T20:37:00.000+11:00

37 weeks now and we will be meeting this little bump very soon ; )

We've been given a birth date!

(unless the Dr's change their minds at next weeks appointment)

Now I really need to finish everything I wanted done before the baby arrives - if only I could remember what that was lol

We tried to set the car seat up today, but need to get an extension strap.

I've finished pre washing the cloth nappies - just waiting for the last lot of boosters to dry.

I need to make nappy liners, paint and cover the lamp/shade for the baby's room.

Finish packing the bags for the hospital.

plus all the crafty and decorating things I was planning on doing once David went back to work - now I'm not sure how many of those day's there will be.

Week 36

2010-12-28T09:22:00.000+11:00

Week 36 - not too long now!

Busy washing baby clothes and trying to work out my hospital bag.

Making pee wee tee pee's - Now I don't know if we are having a boy or girl, but I made a set for my cousin who is having a boy and made an extra set for the gift cupboard. (if I don't need them).

You can get the instructions here

Hope you've all had a great Christmas.

35 weeks

2010-12-19T22:04:00.001+11:00

35 weeks

3 days left of work

Christmas presents still to buy - been shopping the last two days but keep buying stuff for us or the baby instead of the presents we need to get.

Lots of things I want to get done (still haven't even thought about xmas cards yet)

Need to pack my hospital bag (before the Dr ask's me again this week)

34 weeks

2010-12-12T21:48:00.000+11:00

34 weeks now!

Will be meeting this little one very soon.

Only a week or so to go of work.

Started doing some sewing / craft projects (nothing finished to share yet)

Christmas shopping nearly done just a couple more to go - the hard ones!

baby update

2010-11-27T21:11:00.000+11:00

Rearranged some nursery furniture tonight (after a quick trip to Ikea to get the red table and bin and a shelf that's still to go up above the chair)

It's starting to look like a babies room now.

The quilt on the chair is from Etsy seller The Red Pistachio

Still need to add some wall decoration - was thinking something similar to 'writing on the walls' from Anna Maria Horner's book Handmade Beginnings and of course some bunting. Oh and I still need to paint and recover the lamp.

Here's a close up of my cloth nappy stash - I get my rumparooz yesterday and love the owl print one!

And here's the 32 week bump!

sorting baby clothes

2010-11-21T21:21:00.000+11:00

So how many do I need and what size do I buy?

I've read to allow 2-3 changes a day so that means I've got 2-3 days of 0000 and 000 - so I'd be washing every day or if I'm lucky every 2nd.

On the other hand my cloth nappy stash is growing - I've got another 12 Rumparooz G2 on their way next week.

30 weeks

2010-11-13T21:08:00.001+11:00

Checking in here again - I'm 30 weeks

Baby kicking lots.

Excuse the tired looking eyes - I spent the day at Stampin' Up! regionals today.

I've been diagnoised with Gestaional Diabetes, so have been trying to get my sugar levels right for this past week - i need to find something filling for lunches - a tomato and cheese sandwhich doesn't fill me at all but if I eat anything else it makes my sugar to high. Oh and I'm no longer doing shared care as I'm no longer low risk.

I still need to get some clothes and some more cloth nappies - only have 12 so far. i think I've got enough 0000 but I probably need a few more 000 incase it does end up being a large baby (hopefully I get my blood sugars undercontrol and bub will be average size) It's so hard finding unisex stuff I'd rather wait till bub's is here to pick some gender specific stuff.

We are having so much trouble finding a replacement for me work, have been advertising since the start of october, have had 3 interviews - 1 knocked it back, 1 started wednesday and quit wednesday - family issues, and the other has been offered a different job - nobody seems to want to do a maternity leave position. I'm meant to finish on the 17th of december - 5 weeks away!

We have our final antenatal class on sunday - last week we had a tour of the hospital

day's off = time for sewing

2010-11-02T16:50:00.000+11:00

I whipped up these two tiny baby knot hats - so simple, quick and cheap - The blue one is from an old tshirt and the cute little sheep one only cost $1 for the material (a lot cheaper then the $12.99 they wanted at Pumpkin Patch - but I did buy some bits and pieces in their esale on the weekend)

I also made this top for me to cover the bump during summer ( I could even wear it as a skirt if I tuck the straps away) Total cost $19.95 using a metre of pre shirred fabric from Spotlight.

I've also taken up a couple of pair of pants.

Week 28

2010-10-31T18:46:00.000+11:00

Week 28 - Had to go buy some maternity tops this weekend. I've also got some fabric to make some more clothes especially for when it heats up this summer. I also want to do some baby sewing too.

baby catch up

2010-10-24T20:05:00.006+11:00

1st up - The baby's room so far

We picked up the layby last weekend and are still trying to work out the best postions
for everything. We need to put some more hooks up so we can put some more things on the walls.

My goodies from the parenting and baby show yesterday.

(The mess in the background is all the flyers,and sample bags i picked up and still need to go through)

I love the owl print nappy! It's by bambooty

The week 26 belly pic (I'm 27 weeks +2 today)

How tiny?

2010-10-07T20:33:00.002+11:00

I got my parcel of Lil Joey's today and they are soooooo tiny!

Hope I don't have a 12 pound baby like this one on the news the other night

Belly Shots

2010-10-03T21:58:00.001+11:00

week 22 Week 24

5 / 11 years

2010-09-12T17:35:00.002+10:00

This weekend David and I celebrated our anniversary

5 years of marriage and 11 years since we first went out.

(well I can't find my wedding photos on the laptop so no pics today)

1/2 way

2010-09-05T19:23:00.003+10:00

Week 20

Had our scan on Friday - everything's ok.

We didn't find out if it's a boy or a girl though, so we're having a surprise!

The floor

2010-09-01T17:52:00.003+10:00

so here's the latest.

The floors all down, now we just need to get a carpet layer to finish off the carpet where it meets the floorboards and put all the skirting boards on.

after 5 years...

2010-08-30T19:01:00.003+10:00

we're finally getting the floor boards done!

Before

After day 1

(excuse the spotty pics - my phone does that at night)

we'll be back in a few days with complete pics

18 Weeks

2010-08-26T18:57:00.003+10:00

So here's my 18 week pic (thought i'd better post it as I'll be 19 weeks tomorrow!)

I've been feeling definate movement this week (I've had funny feelings and twinges the past week but have been sure if it was me or bubs)

15 Weeks

2010-08-01T21:27:00.001+10:00

My 15 week baby bump

I really should put some make up on brush my hair if I'm having my photo taken!

Sensible Sisters

2010-07-11T14:30:00.000+10:00

I received a very generous parcel during the week, from Julia and Rowena at Sensible Sisters

I was the lucky winner of their Tupperware Modular Mates Giveaway

If you get a chance check out their site , it's got lots of yummy recipes and tips

Check out this link

2010-07-09T21:39:00.001+10:00

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/dog-and-pig-on-the-run-remain-inseperable/story-e6frf7jo-1225889941272

That's my dads pig

Just sad

2010-07-07T06:50:00.001+10:00

Dad

22nd January 1958 - 16 June 2010

So this is the post i've been trying to write for ages and no matter how many times i start it I hadn't been able to bring myself to hit the publish button, and now I'm still not sure how to get the words out. I think I'll maybe try a mini album or scrap page first before opening up in cyberspace.

hmm

2010-07-04T13:50:00.002+10:00

There's been a few things happening here, some I'm not sure if I'm ready to blog about yet, but then there are some other blog posts I want to do but feel I need to blog the others first.

My new toy

2010-05-16T19:32:00.002+10:00

I used my $2 coins and christmas and birthday money that I had been saving since september to by this new toy - My new Kitchenaid mixer and I have been baking all weekend!

I sewed!

2010-05-15T08:52:00.001+10:00

See my latest sewing creation over here

Baking & menu plan

2010-05-02T20:51:00.004+10:00

Today I did some baking - Pear and raspberry bread (recipe was in one of those Coles magazines) and Amish cookies (recipe from Mel's blog here) I used the food processor for all the mixing and it was so quick. They were a big hit here, I hope there will be some left to take to work this week.

Menu Plan

Sunday - Chicken & Mushroom risotto

Monday - Chefs own pasta with chorizo

Tuesday - Julie Goodwins beef & broccoli stirfry

Wednesday - Pork belly with cabbage

Thursday - Home made pizza's

Friday - Popcorn chicken wraps

Saturday - Sweetcorn and chicken soup

Have a good week!

Menu planning again

2010-04-27T09:03:00.001+10:00

Monday: Pea & bacon pasta

Tuesday: quiche or fritatta w/zuchinni, corn, bacon, cheese

Wednesday: BBQ roast pork with asian greens

Thursday: Noodles/bacon eggs/tstd sandwiches (tennis night)

Friday: eggs florintine

Saturday: chicken risotto

Sunday: Soup or curry (might try the curry from my family table)

Baking: never fail cake, rasp & pear bread, shortbread or cupcakes

My Family Table - more recipes tested

2010-04-24T19:05:00.002+10:00

So far from My Family Table by Masterchef winner Julie Goodwin we have made...

the Chocolate bundt cake ( see previous post),

Pork Belly with cabbage and apples - yum (maybe a bit too much apple cider in the cabbage though),

Choc and raspberry muffins - turned out a grey colour (maybe because I used frozen raspberries?) but tasted much better then they looked

Chicken Parma - yum,

Lemon diva cakes - excellent though I need some piping/icing tools,

Last night saw the buttermilk pancakes - they didn't end up looking anything like the picture but still tasted good,

tonight i made the potato bake - needed a bit longer to brown and I think next time I might add some grated cheese too.

This is one of probably two or three cookbooks that I've tried so many different recipes from.

My Family Table - Julie Goodwin Masterchef winner

2010-04-11T07:31:00.002+10:00

I broke my no cookbook buying rule!

I bought Our family table on Friday for $23 at kmart - there's no way I'd pay the $49.95 that book shops were asking!

But I plan on making every recipe - David's already requested lots - especially the cake ones!

So yesterday I made the chocolate bundt cake - except I made it in the springform pan as mentioned at the bottom of the recipe, well...... remember Julies passionfruit puddle pie?

Well my cake turned out just like her puddle pie - the center collapsed into a goey mess - still tasted yumm though.

The recipe says to cook for 50 mins if using a springform pan - I cooked it for 60mins, So i really think it needs the bundt pan to cook the centre.

Anyway tonight I'm trying the pork belly with cabbage and apples - the caramalised apples sound an interesting paring - we'll see how they go (might even take a pic if it turns out)

Running times

2010-04-05T19:22:00.003+10:00

Run for the kids 4.2km March - 44.48

April 5th - 1km best time 7.08

Just recording these here so I can find them.

12 month challenge - March Softie

2010-04-05T19:05:00.002+10:00

March's challenge over at My Favourite was to make a softie.

At the start of the month I felt good about it making a softie but as the month went on and I still hadn't started anything it began to feel like a bit of a chore, so I dug out some felt I had previously cut out to make an owl but never got around to it, so this month I created this owl and I completed one UFO doing so.

From the inking pad

2010-04-04T09:26:00.000+10:00

www.theinkingpad.com

mystery plant in the vegie patch

2010-03-25T19:17:00.002+11:00

I scattered some pumpkin seeds (out of a pumpkin we were roasting) back in November and nothing happened but probably 6 weeks ago I noticed these - but there not where I put the seeds I was thinking they were pumpkin as we never planted zuchinini this time. What do you think?

And here's a pic of my 'Bacon' Avacado we bouth it at Christmas and it has had so much new growth, Were going to plant it out into a half wine barrel over easter (hopefully we'll be over this strange warmish weather by then)

February totals and menu plan

2010-03-01T10:14:00.000+11:00

Our grocery spend for February was $460.24 so over the allocated $397.60.

One of these months we'll get there!

So this weeks menu plan is as follows

Tandori Chicken Pockets

Creamy bacon & mushroom pasta

Corn, cheese, and chives quiche with salad

Asparagus pasta bake

Teriyaki chicken

Stuffed Capsicums

Nuggets & chips and salad

Me goreng noodles

Bacon & eggs

Pork belly

12 month challenge - using knit

2010-02-28T19:17:00.000+11:00

I finally started and finished my challenge for February.

Here is my cardigan.

It doesn't look that great on the hanger but I could only get this blury pic of me wearing it.

The only problem I had was the sleeves were way too tight under the arm, which meant I had to go buy for fabric saturday to cut some new sleeves.

So now I think I need to find or make a belt like Megan is wearing here

Run for the kids

2010-02-28T08:08:00.005+11:00

David and I have signed up for Run for the kids.

It's in two weeks and I still need to make it to 5 km.

Currently I'm around the 3k - 3.3k in 28 minutes.

This weekend I made ...

2010-02-21T19:34:00.001+11:00

This weekend I made ...
vegetable spring rolls - suprisingly easy,
Jamie Olivers Ketchup using tomatos from the vegie patch - only one 750ml bottle for a lot of work though,
yummy slow cooked pork belly
I registered us for Run 4 the Kids in March
finally took up the hem on my maxi dress (it was super maxi)
and pretty much made a mess and spent the rest of the time cleaning it!

This weeks shopping has gone way over the $100 - i needed to stock up on the basics as we needed some new meals that include more vegies.
So this weeks menu plan is
Sun - Pork belly with rice and bok choy
Mon- Pumpkin and spinach curry
Tue - stirfry chilli chicken
Wed - creamy pasta with what ever vegies I feel like throwing in
Thurs- home cooked fish and chips with salad from the vegie patch
Fri- either egg & pacon pie or corn, chives & cheese quiche
Then the usual standby options for the weekend.
I'm also hoping to make cheesy bacon scrolls, egg salad, and zuchini fritters
and for sweets - pear & raspberry bread, rock cakes and pumpkin scones

Pancake Tuesday

2010-02-15T08:28:00.001+11:00

Tomorrow is Pancake Tuesday, so I thought I'd share the recipe I use for Palacinke - Croatian crepes. Palacinke

1 1/2 cups of plain flour

1 1/2 cups of milk

2 eggs

pinch of salt

1 tbsp vanilla essence

butter to melt in the pan

Mix all ingredients (excluding the butter) until batter is smooth.

Add some butter to a hot pan, spoon batter in and cook for 1-2 mins,

then flip and cook for 30 seconds.

Spread with jam (our favourite is Rose Hip), roll up and eat!

$100 challenge week 2

2010-02-14T20:40:00.002+11:00

Yay still on budget for the month - day 14 and allocated money is $198.80 - actual spend $174.39!

Here's this weeks menu plan
Sun - Chicken wrapped in proscuitto (inspired by Ngarie's comment last week)
Mon - Thai green Chicken curry
Tues- Bacon Gnocchi
Then i'll choose something from the following
pork belly

bacon & eggs
ravioli
me goreng noodles or noodle fritter

quiche

teriyaki chicken

February sewing

2010-02-08T18:03:00.002+11:00

The February challenge is to use "knit"

I'm going to use this pattern and I've picked up some nice chocolate knit fabric, now I just need to find some time to draw the pattern out and start cutting and sewing.

$100 challenge Week 1 feb

2010-02-08T06:43:00.004+11:00

So I've worked out $100 a week is equal to $14.20 a day so as of yesterday I had $99.40 and we spent......$91.60 yay. This included stocking up on some meat at the Preston market which will last at least 5 meals. I also paid for the Coles portion with $40 of gift cards I earnt from doing online surveys, but I'm still counting it as a spend as I transfered the $40 not spent to the CC.

Here's this weeks menu plan

Sun - Roast & Veg

Mon - Leftover roast & Veg

Tues- may be visiting realatives but if not fried rice

Then I have the following to choose from for the remainder of the week
pea & bacon pasta
bacon & eggs

pork belly

homemade pizza

ravioli

me goreng noodles or noodle fritter
quiche
spag bol
teriyaki chicken
mushroom risotto
steak, eggs & hash browns

$100 grocery challenge

2010-01-31T18:07:00.002+11:00

This past month I was trying the Simple Savings $100 per week grocery challenge

Well I just did my last shop for this month. My total $597.68 groceries plus $62.50 DH's spend at work

I've worked out I have $14.20 per day, so january should have only been $440.20 so $157.48 over plus hubbys spend.

Ok for February, I'm determined to do it.

Budget for February $397.60 ($14.20 p/day)

Menu plan so far

Sun- steak,chips and salad

Mon- creamy bacon pasta

Tues- stirfry beef

Wed- chicken wings on oriental rissotto

Thurs- bacon & eggs or me goreng noodles

Fri- quiche

Sat- spag bol

Sun- Roast

We also have stuff to make fried rice

teriyaki chicken

mushroom risotto

steak, eggs & hash browns

and probably more

Here it is!

2010-01-25T12:04:00.002+11:00

Here's my skirt I made this month as part of Carolyns 12 in 12 sewing challenge.

I used this pattern.

I used some quilting fabric for the main part of the skirt and it's lined with muslin (didn't have enough cotton lawn in my stash). For the knit band I've used a light knit fabric - it probably is a bit too light for the weight of the skirt but it was the only knit fabric I could find in off white - the Tshirt weight fabrics were either too white or too cream.

Overall I'm pretty happy with it, now I just need to find a top to wear with it!

made in minutes

2010-01-17T10:40:00.003+11:00

Make your own super quick adult fabric headband

You will need fabric, elastic hair tie and sewing machine

I cut my piece of fabric 22" x 4.5" (with this size you can get 4 headbands from a fat quarter)
Sew the two long edges together right sides together
Turn the tube the right side out.
On the ends - fold 1/2" up into the tube to form neat edges.

Fold these ends around a hair tie as you can see in the photo and stitch in place.
Voila one headband in a matter of minutes!

Januarys Challange

2010-01-02T17:16:00.002+11:00

January's challenge is "something for me"

I'm making this skirt and I'm nearly finished except no my overlocker keeps breaking the looper thread so I'm having a break LOL

Hopefully will be back soon with a pic of it finished.

Happy new year!

2010-01-01T17:07:00.005+11:00

2010 goals and resolutions

Pay off credit card (have a date in mind to achieve this by)
Continue running every 2nd day
Get weight down by 5kgs
Start and keep stocked my made it shop
Finally get floorboards
Have vegies growing all year round
Save for stuff in 2011 (I have some dollar amounts set for a few particular things)
No buying any magazines or cookbooks
Keep filing up to date
Develop and stick to cleaning plan
Save $2 coins for Kitchen Aid mixer

2010 sewing challenges

2010-01-01T16:45:00.002+11:00

Check out this great year long of sewing challenges at http://acmtel.blogspot.com/

I might actually get something finished this year

xmas polka dot swap received goodies

2009-12-31T22:10:00.001+11:00

Here are the goodies I received from my swap partner in the Xmas Polka Dot swap

A close up of the decorated notebook with handy storage pocket on the front - I love the pear fabric!

Here are the goodies I received from my swap partner in the Xmas Polka Dot swap

tee pee

2009-12-30T20:44:00.001+11:00

I finally got Jade's tee pee finished just in time for christmas.

When we were kids we had a tee pee and I based this one on how I remembered ours.

It took awhile to work out the pattern, before the cutting of the fabric could start - I've got 4 panels plus the door flaps.

Things I'd do differently if I make another one:

*bind the top and bottom edges instead of folding down/up to hem them as I couldn't get a smooth finish.

*change the way the ties are attached to the front

* make the top narrower so there's less opening at the top

But Jade loved her "cubby house"

Polka dot swap goodies sent

2009-12-19T11:11:00.002+11:00

Here's what I created for my swap partner in the Polka Dot Swap

My partners colours are silver and green. For the stocking I used silver lame fabric and lined it with white fabric with tiny silver polka dots on it, I trimed the top with tiny silver bells.

I'll post what I received soon.

November?

2009-12-05T14:20:00.002+11:00

Well it seems November just flew past and now there's less the 3 weeks till christmas!

The past month has been busy with car stuff - it needed the transmission rebuilt and was out of action for 9 days! which ment I was up early to get a lift with David to work every day.

I was busy preparing for a couple of stamp a stacks and workshops, and making my swap for the polka dot xmas swap (more about that in another post).

And about a week and half ago I started the Couch to 5k run program I was so unfit I decided to repeat week 1 again this week - tomorrow will be my last session and I'll move to week 2 program.

So now it's time to think about Christmas. I realised this morning I forgot to get the advent calendar out for the start of the month - will have to make my way thru the mess in the spare room to get to the Xmas boxes!

Xmas Polka Dot Swap

2009-10-27T06:42:00.001+11:00

Come and join in Stacey's Xmas Polka Dot Swap

Jade's skirt

2009-10-22T20:52:00.004+11:00

A Simple little skirt from the fabric I won in Retromummy's giveaway. The design runs along the length of the fabric, so I simply measured in from the edge (the skirt length plus hem and casing) and cut. I joined the short edges with a french seam as I was too lazy to change the thread colour on the overlocker. I then stitched the casing for the elastic, inserted the elastic and stitched the hem. That's it Done!

blog giveaway winners

2009-09-20T13:51:00.000+10:00

It's been awhile but check out this post from retro mummy

I was lucky enough to win this and today my niece came to visit and she has decided it would make a great skirt for her too! So i've promised to make her one just like retro mummy's

And speaking of blog winners I was lucky enough to win a $20 voucher to sew mama sew so i've spent my voucher and have some new fabric sitting on my desk just waiting to for some creating so stay tuned.

My new bag

2009-09-18T05:39:00.000+10:00

Ever since seeing Aby Garvey's post about her organised handbag - I had wanted one of my own. I finally raided my money box and had enough to order one from Licorice Mint (the Australian stockist), it arrived within days and I have been busy sorting my bag! Oh and it smells good too LOL!

Image borrowed from http://www.butlerbag.com/ - check out all the styles available

Happy Anniversary

2009-09-12T19:00:00.001+10:00

Today David and I have been together for 10 years, and yesterday was our 4th wedding anniversary.

We celebrated by going out to dinner at Paladarr Thai Issan in Alphington

today...

2009-09-06T18:13:00.001+10:00

i had a manual driving lesson
set up my mushroom growing box
planted snowpea sprout seads
made cauliflower soup
and now has lamb roast in the oven

an old quilt

2009-09-05T18:25:00.003+10:00

This is my lightning quilt. i made this one probably around 15 years ago. You can really see how badly I matched the seams and I didn't even quilt it!

update update update

2009-09-03T12:08:00.000+10:00

Well not much more has happened with my fabric album, the cover and first page are done, the other pages have kind of come to a standstill as I need photos and I realised I really haven't taken any pics of us since 2005!

My coin quilt is still laying on the dining room floor - I went to start basting it and then realised some of the seams on the quilt top are pressed in the wrong direction, so its still laying there as I need to clear the ironing board which now has all our tax stuff laid out on it.

What else? car troubles, David made it to the finals of Pennent, we went to the winter car show spectacular and just the usual everyday stuff.

Sorry for the pic less post - need to work out why the bluetooth has stopped working on the laptop

2009-07-19T18:41:00.001+10:00

So far I've......

Hemmed a pair of pants that have been sitting in the to do pile for 18 months - i hope they still fit

Finished off my tote bag which I started back when I did this one

Baked some bread

Started gessoing & painting my Donna Downey Fabric album

Mounted some new stamp sets that i can't show you till August 1st! ; )

Played around with my coin quilt - it's now laying on the dining room floor waiting to be basted. I've decided to do a diagonal pattern for the quilting like what is done on the coin quilt in this book. They also suggest using a Hema marker to mark it out - now I found one made by clover but not really sure how it works - it looks like a sharp bone folder!

Looked thru some cookbooks for the menu plan

Visited my niece, who sung some nursery rhymes for me (Ok I had to pick hubby up from there)

Tonight I'm cooking a Kylie Kwong recipe and looking forward to the finale of Masterchef!

hhhmm sunday again

2009-07-12T21:41:00.002+10:00

Well not enough has been happening here craft wise - too much car stuff, the service led to new tyres! My quilt is still exactly as it is pictured in the last post.

Last night we had a sport & triva night for the tennis club - beach volleyball, cricket and soccer plus quizzes - we are both sore today

Hopefully next week will be a bit more creative.

Hello July!

2009-07-05T17:20:00.006+10:00

Gosh half the year has gone!

We're more then 60% towards our debt reduction goal, we haven't really got anywhere with our savings goal - it keeps getting used up for those big bills - like car servicing / repairs (mines going in tomorrow). Oh and we are using some to do the fly screens on the whole house this week - hopefully it will mean we wont need to use our cooling as much this summer.

I've been trying to declutter - been donating some stuff and listing some odd bits on ebay, really need to get back into it this month.

I actually finished piecing the backing for my coin quilt, so now I need to vacumm some floor so I can lay it all out. For the wadding I found this light weight woven cotton - I think it's classed as an interfacing but it was with all the waddings at Spotlight. I think the tag said it was originally used as an interlining in mens suits but I think it will be great for a summer weight quilt. Now I just need to decide how to quilt it?

This afternoon I decided it was time to get back to my breadmaking (I haven't done any since my pyrex explosion incident)

This ones the Soft American style white loaf on page 204 of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes

made it purchase

2009-06-13T14:15:00.003+10:00

This is my latest purchase from Made it - It's a ipod / phone pouch made by the very talented Sue - The little picture on it is actually a canvas she made, Sue printed a pic of it onto fabric and added to the pouch - pretty clever. Check out Share The Journey here.

Kitchen Swap Packages

2009-06-05T13:48:00.002+10:00

This week I received my Kitchen swap package.

When I opened the box I was so exited to see that Peta-Jane had made me a fabric blackboard! and out of coffe themed fabric too - It matches our kitchen perfectly and goes well with our coffee machine and coffee sign - I had to go back and check if I had mentioned the coffee thing but no I hadn't she just got it so right!

How cool is it? Ignore the ricrac hanging bit and I think it needs a slightly smaller hangy thing (I stole this one off one of my mini quilts) I'll have a look next time I'm in Spotlight for something better.I also got all these goodies in my package too - The chocolate book has lots of yummy recipes in it - I don't know which to try first!

This is what I sent Peta- Jane, you can see more pic's here

oops!

2009-05-31T17:10:00.001+10:00

Oops, my pyrex dish just exploded in the oven!

On less thing to make room for in the cupboard now

A bit of fun

2009-05-27T11:04:00.000+10:00

“Let’s Play”
Let’s Play rules: IT’S HARDER THAN IT LOOKS! COPY, ERASE MY ANSWERS, ENTER YOURS, POST IT ON YOUR BLOG, FACEBOOK, ETC. USE THE 1ST LETTER OF YOUR LAST NAME TO ANSWER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. THEY HAVE TO BE REAL PLACES, NAMES, AND THINGS. NOTHING MADE UP! TRY TO USE DIFFERENT ANSWERS IF THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU HAD THE SAME 1ST INITIAL.
Have Fun!!
1. What is your last name? Antolovic
2. A 4 Letter Word? Arch
3. A Boy’s Name? Adam
4. A Girl’s name? Alicia
5. An Occupation? Administrator
6. A Color? aubergine
7. Something you wear? Apron
8. A Beverage? alcohol
9. A Food? anchovy
10. Something found in the bathroom? antiperspirant
11. A place? Australia
12. A Reason for being late? Attacked
13. Things you shout? Arrrgggh

Tag. You’re it.

Today

2009-05-23T20:03:00.002+10:00

Aside from the usual cleaning stuff, Today I made nutty fudge,

Pizza using the olive oil dough from Artisian Bread in five minutes

Did a little sewing for the kitchen swap. It should be in the post on Monday.

Tomorrow I really need to do some stamping stuff!

my first quilt

2009-05-19T21:10:00.000+10:00

I thought I'd share my first quilt (excuse the washing in the background)

I think it would have been about 1996-97 when I made this. The pattern was from a patchwork mag - i think it's called a lattice quilt. It is kind of falling apart now and the binding was not attached too well - theres safety pins holding it now!

The filling is Nu-wool and I stitched in the ditch for the quilting.

I'm going to share some of my other quilts over the next few weeks so stay tuned.

No Spend At Work Challenge

2009-05-17T17:26:00.007+10:00

So I've been trying a No Spend At Work Challenge - This past week I did really really well - I only spent $2 and that was for two cans of drink. David on the other hand didn't do so well, even though I had planned our meals each night so their could be something for our lunches the next day - He took lunch 4 out of 5 days, but on friday he told me what the shop account came to.... he had spent $50 on morning teas! it kind of undid all my work.

So today we stocked up on flavoured milk at the supermarket as he had been buying one each morning, and so far I've baked sausage rolls and mini quiches along with microwave risotto.

Still planning on doing something sweet - some brownies or biscuit slice.

baking bread

2009-05-16T17:39:00.005+10:00

Back in April I got this book. I've been making bread every weekend since. This was one of my first ones! The other day I commented on Mel's blog, and she sent me this recipe which she was going to try, it looked good and I had some truss tomatos to use up so I gave it a go too! My tomato's kind of rose back out of the dough - I promise I pushed them down until they were nearly covered.

You can see Mel's here.

So lots of other things to blog about but that will have to wait for another day as I'm meant to be working on my Kitchen Swap for my swap buddy and I also need to do some workshop prep - I got some new stamps and papers yesterday that are calling me.

Speaking of stamps I've got a whole stack of retired ones that I'm selling, check out the list here.

2009-04-30T21:37:00.000+10:00

arrrgh they moved life on mars to friday's 10.30 - can I stay up that late?

oh o!

2009-04-29T21:33:00.000+10:00

Our dishwasher keeps stopping & starting It's a Technika TDX6 It did the first cycle and now its up to the scrub cycle and it runs for about 2-3 seconds then it stops and all the lights go off, then they come back on and it repeats the above.

Handmade birthday

2009-04-25T20:38:00.004+10:00

It was Jade, my niece's birthday on Wednesday - Happy Birthday Jade!

I made her some presents this year (i'm sure she want look here - she's only two!)

Somewhere on the internet someone posted about making a superhero cape for their daughter it was pink just like this one below - I've searched all over, wasted lots of time (days) on the internet looking for where I got the idea but haven't found it again - so if you have seen it can you please send me the link so I can give credit for the idea. While I was searching I did come across this website. This is where I got the great Superhero applique pattern from.

Now Jade will be able to jump off the couch with super hero powers!

This little bag is a Martha Stewart pattern which I came across via someones blog (again I can't find the link) who posted further instructions including for the alphabet applique.

I only enlarged the pattern 75% which made the stitching around the shorter handle a bit tricky. The bag is reversible, the fairy fabric from the 'J" is whats on the inside.

And of course I had to make her a sock monkey of her own again using the tutorial here
I made a matching card using my Stampin' Up! Sock monkey set.

Kitchen Swap

2009-04-22T07:01:00.003+10:00

So I've signed up for the Kitchen swap over at Sew-Fantastic Sign ups close Friday 24th of April if you want to join in. Now I cant't wait to find out my partners colours so I can start creating!

Tjanabi

2009-04-18T09:41:00.003+10:00

So it was my birthday on Thursday and last night we went out for dinner to celebrate.

We went to Tjanabi at Federation Square. We don't normally go to the city of an evening as there is just too much traffic! I really wanted to try this restaurant - the website sounded good and we weren't disappointed!

We started with a taster plate - It had little tastes of these dishes

Smoked Wallaby with Dijon Mustard
Native spiced Crocodile w Wild Lime Aoli
Saltbush and Pepper- leaf Calamari
Kangaroo Chorizo w tomato native pepper chutney
Grilled local Pecorino w sunrise lime peach and chilli chutney
Lemon Myrtle Curried Mussels

My favourite was the crocodile followed closely by the Calamari.

For the mains I picked "Leek Blue Swimmer Crab and Barramundi timbale, char-grilled
Morton bay bugs, blood lime and verjuice beurre blanc" It was the first time I had shell fish where I've been given the claw breaker plier things to use - I'm not sure I used them properly I think I had crab juice every where.

and David had "Duo of Wallaby and Kangaroo layered w Warringal spinach,
wrapped in prosciutto and served on a wild rosella flower jus with a pepperberry lavosh"

Both very yum!

It was probably the first time we actually ordered dessert out. I had "Chocolate and lemon myrtle marquise handmade white chocolate and dorrigo pepper ice cream, wattleseed crème anglaise" and David the "Victorian quandong and dark chocolate cheesecake served w
compote of fresh local fruits" Again we were not disappointed. The flavour of the Dorrigo pepper ice cream was different but delicious and I could taste the pepper in my mouth the rest of the night!

We are going to have to go back again soon as there is lots of other things I'd like to try - but I think they change the menu with the seasons.

Anyway thank you for all the birthday messages.