Camping

The school holidays are drawing to a close. One week left. I don't look forward to the rush around in the morning before school routines, making school lunches, nagging at the kids to get dressed, have they got everything in their bags, etc etc.  I am going to miss the sleep ins, the flexibility of the holidays, the relaxed days of mucking about doing not much at all. I am looking forward to some quiet child free time, crafting on my own, the food in the pantry lasting longer and not hearing "what are we going to do?" every 1/2 hour or so.

These holidays have gone quite fast for me. Normally the summer holidays drag on and the kids get scratchy and bored and tired of each other. I think that we have had a really good balance of doing stuff and not doing stuff to make the kids have a good time enough to not get overly bored or frustrated.

Our highlight of the holidays was going camping for the first time as a family.
Our friend Danielle asked us and came up with a solution for us not having a tent so I said, heck why not! And it was the best decision ever!!

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about how the kids would be, since this was their first time camping. It was also the first time since I had been camping since I was a teenager so I was a little worried about how I would like it too!!

So on Dec 27th we headed off to Parakai Springs Camping Ground. Undecided how long we would stay and going with a fully flexible mind.

There was between 3 and 8 tents in our group the whole time. Loads of kids and adults to keep all of us busy and entertained. We stayed until Jan 2nd.

Sleeping in a tent was such a great novelty! The kids really loved it. Plus it's fun to play with torches when it gets dark!!

Watergun fights were a daily occurrence. There were a few ice fights in there as well!

Camp fires were a must have, even though on night three were were told by camp management that we weren't allowed any more. I sorta became un-official fire starter. We didn't have any paper so the kids were sent on dry leaf and stick collecting explorations. Just so you guys know ... eucalyptus leaves burn really well and smell nice too!!

With camp fires comes marshmellow toasting! mmmmm YUMMY!

And then there was the swimming! I am pretty nervous when it comes to water and my kids. Camping at the beach would have been a stressful horrible time for me I think. Camping at Parakai was AWESOME. When we went swimming EVERYONE went to the pool together. It was so much fun. The kids loved it. Much better than freaking out about the kids with the beach near by!!

One of the last days we drove out to the Macadamia Nut Farm - Mac Nut Farms. The Macadamia ice cream and milkshakes were soooo yummy!! There is a little walk where you can head down to this amazing Lily Pond. It was just really cool there. And lovely to head away from camp for the day.

Of course we also had lots of just chillin' and relaxing time. I don't think I did half as much reading as I would have liked (and probably drank a bit too much cider!)

All in all it was a fabulous holiday. We loved it so much we are looking into getting our own tent and everything for next year!!!

Things I'm Loving

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is.

I am loving that despite having a hot heavy cast and a broken wrist this boy still smiles everyday

I love that we have great Neighbours who have kids that get along awesome with my kids

I am loving doing some Crafting just for ME

and I am loving school holidays where I get to just hang out with my kids!

Christmas Crafting

I have some AMAZINGLY talented friends. I am both inspired and intimidated by them!
There are four lovely ladies who are not only some of my most favourite people in the world but also some of the most creatively talented people I know.

Ruth, Janine, Jennie, Nicola and I decided that we were going to do a Christmas present swap with each other.
We all made pinterest boards especially for the swap. We had to pin things that we would like someone else to make us. Then we all went through each others boards and picked something to make for each person. So we made and received 4 gifts each.
See my board HERE

So now it is after Christmas I can share what I made and what I received.

NICOLA

Nic pinned this photo frame whiteboard on her board. She also mentioned that her favourite colour was blue, so I set to work.

I found an old frame in my stash of things and cleaned it up. Then using the Sweetest Thing Bluebell Collection from My Minds Eye I made this.

I spent ages dividing it into 7 pieces and stamped a day on each part. Embellished with some flowers, butterflies and a Kaisercraft wooden Birdcage and we were done!

I am really pleased with how it turned out, and I am super glad it arrived in Christchurch in one piece! 

I have always loved these melted crayon pictures. 

I have always wanted to try it myself, and I will get around to doing it ... eventually!!

Nic used this pin to inspire (literally) to make this AWESOME melted crayon art.

I absolutely ADORE it!! At the moment it is hanging in my library. I think it will eventually end up in my craft space when I renovate in there.

RUTH

I started out making something completely different for Ruth but it didn't quite work out. I went scrolling through her  board and saw these and though "hmmm I could make those"

So I raided the kids block box and using It's The Little Things Collection from Fancy Pants and loads of Mod Podge I made these.

Abbey was rather fond of them and Ruth was lucky they weren't stolen, so I might need to make some more!

Ruth was sneaky and didn't make me anything off my board. She knows how much of a Harry Potter freak I am though. Check these beauties out HERE

So she made this for me

I LOVE this sooo much!! It is definitely going to go in the library!

JANINE

For Janine I picked this as inspiration

I spent a while looking for what to use. I didn't want to make card ones I was hoping to find some big wooden dice. One day I happened to walk into Spotlight one day and they had little wooden Calendars ... PERFECT!

So I took it home pulled it apart and did this to it ....

I used The Sweetest Thing Bluebell Collection from My Minds Eye for this. I already knew Janine liked this collection because she has bought quite a bit of it in The Scrap Heap Store!!

Janine really surprised me with her gift to me. Firstly because it wasn't a medium she usually uses and because of how it looked sooo much like the original pin! 

This is what I pinned

And this is what she made 

It's us!! The three Art Night Girls, Roo, J9 & Me .... I Love it!!!

This one I think might end up on the wall in my bedroom.

JENNIE

I knew I wanted to make it as soon as I saw it on Jennie's board!! I might even eventually make one for myself (in orange of course!!)

Pin

And my version

I used The Sweetest Thing Bluebell collection from My Minds Eye again (one of my favourites!) And I filled it up with lollies!

Jennie got inspiration for my present from this pin

She totally blew me away with the little suitcases she made! I love them so much! And excellent colour choices too!!

They are on my mantelpiece at the moment. And look awesome.

I am such a lucky lucky girl to get such amazing presents from my amazing friends! I can't wait to do it again for this years Christmas!!!

My Relationship with Facebook

When I first signed up for a Facebook account back in August 2007 (Thanks FB timeline!) I had no idea how much a massive part of my life it would become.

I love the social media part of it. If not for Facebook I wouldn't have re-connected and re-kindled with old friends or be able to keep as up to date with overseas and out of town family members.

Before Jase died we both were on Facebook. It was cute to send little notes to each other, he'd often embarrass me with his status updates, but I would be on once or twice a day and that was pretty much it.

Facebook for me when Jason died was a LIFESAVER.
95% of our friends found out about his death on the 6 o'clock news and my phone after 6pm went crazy. I went onto Facebook and said ...

Tracy Palmer
16 May 2010
Thanks to all your well wishes, prayers and thoughts. I am not taking any calls at present but feel free to txt or message me here .. I cannot begin to describe how my world is tumbling down right now Love to you all

The phone calls stopped but the messages on Facebook came pouring in. Every night before I went to bed I would sit down and read every single message. Sometimes I would say stuff, sometimes not. It was wonderful to be able to hear from all my friends, know that they were all with me in spirit without actually having to talk to anyone. I am forever grateful for all the messages and support via Facebook from my friends and family.

I now find I am on Facebook ALL the time. I am checking in several times a day. I am updating with things I wouldn't have before.

I sat down and thought about it one day. Why do I have to be on here all the time. Why can't I just be satisfied to turn the darn thing off?
And I came to the realisation that Facebook is my Jason substitute. My Adult company. My sounding board.

When Jason was around he was here to make comments about TV shows with, he was here to small talk with or have deep and meaningful conversations with. He was my sounding board, I would throw ideas with him, share silly things the kids had done with him and tell him all my thoughts. I don't have anyone here to do that with any more so I turn to Facebook. I have friends who take over that role now. They give me feedback, advice, comfort, assurance and even knock the sense into me sometimes. They share my children's achievements and silliness. The good and bad times. And when I think about it like that I don't feel so bad about checking in so often. I don't feel so bad sharing as much as I do. I don't feel like it is taking over my life, it's just a part of it.

I am on the Internet way too much, I totally know that. But coming to an understanding of why I am is the first step in finding a balance.

I'll never give it up, or take a massive break (unless I'm away) I owe way too much to the computer. I met some of my best friends via the Internet, heck I met my husband online! Some of these friends I talk to every single day, and they live in different towns to me. I love sharing my life with them and I love them sharing their lives with me.

In the long run Facebook makes me feel less alone.

2013

It's a new year.
I'm not going to post any resolutions or promises.
Beeg there done that FAILED!!!

I will say:
I am HOPING that this year is a good one.
I am PRAYING that my friends who have struggled through 2012 have a year of good fortune and rewards.
I am WISHING that my children soar this year.
I am BEGGING that nothing bad happens to me, my family or my friends.
I will TRY to be a better Mum, Daughter, Friend, Blogger.
I will REMEMBER what is important to and for me.
I will TAKE opportunities that come my way, because life is too short to regret what I haven't done.
I will CRAFT as often as I can.

I hope that you all have a WONDERFUL year this year. I hope to share it with you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!