Lovings

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 my biggest brother is moving back from Australia after being away for 13 years.  These cousins are loving being able to spend heaps of time together, just like cousins should!

I am loving having summer milkshake and ice cream dates with these gorgeous kiddies of mine.
I am loving that here in Whangarei we have some beautiful places to hang out.

It's all about who you know!
I am loving that because I have a friend who just also happens to be the Northland Rugby team mascot that I get great photo opportunities like this one!!

I am loving that after having these orange tiles in a box for sooo long that they are finally on the wall in my new bathroom.

On a small side note I am not loving that the bathroom still isn't finished!

Joining up with Meghan at MNMs

Christmas Advent Swap Day #1

It was an exciting morning at our place this morning!
DECEMBER 1st!!!! That means the first of our Advent's get to be opened!!!

My kids have an Advent Tree that I made them last year. I filled it with little gifts and chocolates. I also have my brother and his 2 kids staying at the moment so since I didn't want them to miss out on the Advent fun I filled little brown paper envelopes with little gifts and chocolates for them too.

The Kids were all VERY excited to come in and open their gifts this morning.

And I got to open my first gift from Miriam too!! YAY!!

Miriam included an Advent Theme Sheet with the gifts.

Day #1
"Wrap me up in Orange the Christmas season is here"

The COOLEST Orange Washi Ticket Tape!!
I LOVE it!!! Thanks sooo much Miriam! I can see myself using this a lot!!!

Now I am off to buy a Christmas Tree and decorate the house!

Happy December 1st everyone!!!

Internet Friends

So I was reading this blog post this morning, from one of my favourite bloggers (and who I have had the pleasure of meeting!) Lisa over at All In A Daze, all about how she has Internet Friends. It got me thinking.
A scary thought .. me thinking ..

In her blog post Lisa says

There’s is often talk that the internet is making us lonelier, or devaluing 'real life' friendships.

I agree with her when she says that that isn't an issue.  Personally I think if anything the internet, for me, has given me MORE 'real life' friendships.

I met Jason online. I never went into a chatroom looking for love. It was a random thing that happened. I didn't even have a computer, neither did Jason. We met and talked online and over the phone for 6 months before he came out to NZ from the USA and the rest is history, he kind of never went home.
It was about 4 years later that we finally got a computer of our own. Abbey was about 6 months old.

The first thing I got involved in was the online crafting community. I joined up with a few message boards.  I met a few online people who had lots in common with me, we shared many of the same hobbies and they were around to talk to when I was at home alone with my little kids.

Not long after I got into the world of blogging. It started out as a forum to share my crafts with like minded people and ended up being a semi life story!
My very first blog post was on May 15th 2008 - WOW!!!  I can't believe I have been doing this for 5 1/2 years!

Through blogging I have met even more people.

I can't really remember how or why or where of the most of them. But I have developed some really strong friendships with these women that I met through the internet.

I think I now have more friends that I have met through the internet than I have met in other ways.

And in no way are these people ONLY friends via the computer screen.

I have met MANY of my online mates. There are still a few I am hanging out to meet.
I have been on retreats, visited their homes, they have visited mine. We have met for lunch or dinner dates. We go camping together, our children have become friends with each other.

Then there are the exceptions. The ones that have become more than just friends. The ones I class as my family. The ones that drive 7 hours non-stop to be with me after Jason died. The ones that fly up from the South Island to surprise me on my Birthday. The ones that have accepted me into their homes and lives and taken me to family events. The ones I meet regularly to craft, drink, chat or gossip with. The ones that grace me with precious gifts that I can't even begin to repay.

I think my life has been enhanced by the internet. People who I otherwise would never have met have become my favourite people in the whole world.

To those of you who I am talking about, you know who you are, I LOVE you all. Thankyou for making my world a better place. To those of you who I met in other ways, I love you too!!!

Mug Swap 2013

What a fun as swap this was!! I will definitely be signing up again next time!!

I received my parcel via courier this morning. I was absolutely stoked with my Mug and goodies.

I am not a coffee or tea drinker but I do love my Milo/Hot Chocolates!

I LOVE this Mug it is sooo cool!!! And the best colour ever!

The bunting is adorable and I absolutely adore it!! It looks fantastic above my bed!!!

So thanks soooo much Alisa not only for my wonderful goodies but for organising this swap. You did a fantastic job.

Things I'm Loving

Friends

This week I am LOVING my friends

One's I've known for longer than I want to remember because it makes me feel super old!

One's I have known only since Jason died and it feels like they have been my friends forever and brand spanking new ones

Oh I am also loving that we all got dressed up to drink alcoholic slushies out of cocktail glasses, can't get much classier than that!

Joining up with MNM because .....

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.

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.

When you lose your loved one in a manner I lost my husband, through the deliberate violence of another person, you sort of lose faith in humanity. 

How can one person so cruelly take another persons life, and then not even care about how he has ruined the lives of so many people, and feel no remorse, and then repeat the same actions that took away that life, twice more.

I don't understand.

There is hope though.

Since Jason's death I have met the most AMAZING people ever. Selfless, caring, giving and loving people who have filled my life with HOPE. So many amazing people have done some amazing things for me over the last 3 years.
This story is one of the most special to me.

It started with a blog post and a quilt. My bloggy friend Cat from Catalina's Cottage made a beautiful quilt for her bed using the fabric from her daughters toddler clothes.
Sitting in the garage I had a whole suitcase of Jason's clothes that I had wanted to make a quilt out of for a long time. The thing is I don't sew!! I mentioned to Cat on that blog post that I wanted to do that to Jason's clothes and the next thing I get an email from Cat

I've been thinking about a comment you left on my blog re Jason's clothes 

And wanted to talk to you about using some to make you a quilt of love

I've spoken with some of the Whangarei girls over the weekend about the idea i had hatching 

But obviously due to the sensitivity i couldn't surprise you . . .

You mentioned having Jason's clothes still - 

I'd like to make you a quilt of love incorporating some if these - if you'd like ??

Similar to the one on my bed 

Similar to the one Deb made Cam

Similar to the one we made Sammy

I'll let you think it over - just know there are lots if us that want to do this for you if your ok with it - 

xxx

Lots of love precious 

xxx

 I was overwhelmed. Of course I said yes.

Boxing up those clothes and getting them to Cat was WAY harder than anticipated. 3 Months after that email I finally sent them off.

There were shorts, shirts, ties, PJs, Jeans and his Corrections uniform.

Then Cat got to work.

As far as I was aware the beautiful Cat and Leonie were the ones who were doing the work on the quilt. Little was I to know that behind the scenes there were A LOT more of my friends, family and people I had never met involved too.

Yesterday my Mum and I drove down to Auckland to have lunch with Cat and pick up the completed quilt.
I was blown away when not only Leonie arrived but a few other friends who had been secretly involved the whole time.

It was a wonderful catch up and lunch as the whole secret story of what was happening behind the scenes was revealed. I am not really someone who likes being the centre of attention so having this AMAZING thing all set up just for me was very overwhelming.

Then out came the quilt.

I was BLOWN away. It was more amazing and spectacular than I had ever imagined.

As soon as I got home I put it on my bed. I stretched out on it and cried.  Every piece of clothing on there has memories. I get to see these and cuddle with them every night, and knowing that it was made with so much love by so many amazing people makes it priceless.

Those of you involved (you know who you are, too many to mention you all!!) THANK YOU.  From the bottom of my heart. I will never be able to say thank you enough, ever.

To see more check out Cat's posts
Quilt of Love Pt1
Quilt of Love Pt2
Quilt of Love Pt3

Also Leeanne who did all the spectacular quilting
A Special Quilt

At Long Last

Life is so busy.

Blogging has been neglected.

I plan to remedy this.

How about right now?!

I have much to blog about. I want to tell you about our holiday away to Christchurch and Hastings. I want to talk about my house renovations. I want to tell you about the craft show I took the shop to.

Today I will start with a simple post. A simple post about some love I received. It was VERY unexpected love. It came at a great time. It made my month.

I got home one day last week to a package at my door. I had had Hubbys Death Anniversary just pass.  We were dealing with a bit of a family crisis in my extended family. The package was timed perfectly.

The Sisterhood. I had heard of them, but knew nothing much about them. So I did a bit of research. I was most humbled with this beautiful gift of love. To whomever nominated me thank you, so very much.

Go check The Sisterhood out!
HERE and FACEBOOK

Join in with the love giving. I certainly will be!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Sisterhood!

Day 30 - A Photo Of Yourself Today + 3 Good Things that Have Happened in the Last 30 Days

I forgot that today was a photo taking day!! So as we sit in my bed watching TV after our baths, wearing our PJs I have taken a pic.

#1 - Holiday

We just got back this week from a two week holiday. I will do a proper post about this but it was definitely the best good thing that has happened in the last 30 days! Seeing my mates Nicola and Jennie and hanging out with them and their families was epic!

#2 - Attending my First ANAZC Day Dawn Parade

I have always wanted to go to one but never managed to drag myself out of bed to do so. But since Riley is now a Cub Scout and Abbey is a Pippin I figured it was time to make the effort. Had we been in Whangarei on ANZAC day they both would have joined their clubs in the parade so I thought we'd go while we were in Hastings instead. It was very emotional and amazing. I am really glad I went and will definitely be going again

#3 - House Renovations

I am gunning ahead with making this house MY house. Riley's bedroom is almost ready for painting and I have been talking to builders about a new bathroom and a few other things around the house (Library!!!) It's scary and exciting all at the same time! I am hoping to get carpet in the kids rooms and playroom before the weather gets too cold too. Lots of plans!

30 Day Challenge

Day 24 - A Photo of Something That Means A Lot To You

A while ago I mentioned to the beautiful Cat, from Catalina's Cottage, that I admired her beautiful charm. The next thing I know Cat and a few of my other precious friends, Leonie (Kiwi At Heart), Marie and Nicola, had shared in the cost and bought me this gorgeous bracelet. 

I am blown away by the generosity and love I receive from my friends. 

This bracelet means so much to me. It reminds me of the silver linings. I lost my Husband. So like the saying said I had to use my Brave wings and fly without him. But every dark cloud comes with a silver lining. My silver lining has come in the form of friendship. I lost my husband but I have gained so many amazing and beautiful friends. I am blessed.

30 Day Challenge

Day 22 - A Letter to Someone Who Has Hurt You Recently

Hmmmmm

I can only really think of one person who has hurt me and to be honest I'm not really sure I have the words to write that letter. That person is the man who killed my husband.

I guess I am pretty lucky that I am not really someone to hold a grudge. I have a bunch of amazing friends and I can't imagine them hurting me.

I am blessed

30 Day Challenge

Day #5 - What Makes You Different From Everyone Else?

Give me an easy question please!!!

I don't see myself as anything exceptional. I am just a plain Jane ordinary girl from a small city in a small country. I have been through quite a bit in my life though, things that not many people I know have had to experience.

My Dad had a horrific work accident when I was 20. He is very lucky to be alive, but he became a paraplegic because of it.

Almost 3 years ago my Husband who was 33 was killed by a Prison Inmate in the Prison he had worked at for only 6mths.

These two massive events make me different to other people. I have a real insight into the sayings "Life Is Short" "Seize The Day" and "You Never Know What is Waiting Around the Corner"

Both of those major traumatic events happened very unexpectedly. Both of them changed me in a dramatic way.

I have become less patient and tolerant of other peoples petty issues, well to me they are petty. It has also made me more independent, resilient and strong. There have been as many silver linings from my tragedies as sadness. I have lost people who I thought were friends and learnt the meaning of true friendship. I have learnt life lessons I hope none of my friends or family ever have to learn in the same way.

So what makes me different to everyone else? I am a survivor. I have been to the depths of despair and crawled my way back out that hole and I have survived. I plan to continue to survive. I will do my best by myself and my children and I sure hope that they don't have to become survivors as well.

Because without the rain there would never be a rainbow.

30 Day Challenge

Day #4 - Your Favourite Photograph of Your Best Friend

Well this is awkward! I actually have very few photos of my best friend!! So I will have to make sure that we get loads of us next time we are together!

But of the ones I do have this one is my Favourite.

Jennie & Abbey at the top of Mt Parihaka

This is Jennie. She lives in Hastings. We met online!! Funny huh! But Jennie is my best friend. We talk EVERYDAY. She is my sounding board and I am hers. When Jase died Jennie and her husband Jon drove all the way up just to be with me. She has been such an amazing support for me and I love her LOADS. I just wish she lived closer!!

This Photo was taken in November 2010. Jennie came up to stay with me because it was my first wedding anniversary without Jase and also the 6mth anniversary of his death at the same time. She didn't want me to be alone. I will be forever grateful for her love and support.

Jen and I get together at least once a year. The kids and I are heading to her place these school holidays! I am SUPER excited!! We get to hang out for a whole week!!

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 thought I'd start blogging again by linking up with MNM's Things I'm Loving

I am loving a super long Easter weekend which had my kids home for 6 whole days!!!
We didn't do anything overly exciting over the weekend and I actually took very few photos (what!!!!)

So Thursday night my awesome friends Taryn from Orewa and her two kids came up to spend some of the Easter weekend with us.

I ADORE Taryn. She is one of those friends that you can just chill out with. I remember one weekend she was here and we spend most of the weekend laying on a couch each reading our books while our 4 kids played. I never feel pressured to do stuff with her and it's awesome. We chin wag, drink, eat and our kids play. Fabulous!

I am loving the Waipu Easter Carnival. I have always wanted to go and FINALLY made it out there. The kids had a blast doing all the cool things and it was nice to just get out and about.

A super bonus of the Carnival was bumping into Leonie from Kiwi At Heart! She had just returned to NZ from Oz to live (YAY!!!) 

(hope you don't mind me pinching your photo Leonie!!)

Man I need a Haircut!

I loved catching up with Leonie and a few other Bloggy friends at a "Welcome Home Leonie" BBQ. It was LOADS of fun! We ate yummy food, the kids played awesomely together and had an Easter Egg Hunt. Leonie's Mum & Dad were awesome Hosts. It is such an exciting thing to have my lovely friend within visiting distance again! I must organise a road trip soon!!

(more stolen photos! Eekk I'm sure Kristy & Becky won't mind!!!)

Me, Simone (Sima J) Leonie, Becky (Miss Becky Boo) & Kristy (Paisley Jade)

Grown Ups enjoy Easter Egg Hunts too!

So it wasn't a super dooper action packed weekend but it was full with some of my most favourite people and lots of chocolate ... what's not to love!?

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!!!

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!!!