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 I have finally finished the playroom!! Riley and Abbey LIVE in this room now. Their toys aren't in my living room anymore!! I can sit on my couch and read quietly or listen to the radio in peace while the kids play with the lego or "cook" in their kitchen or watch TV. It is FANTASTIC!!! Plus it is such a fantastic place to hang out together as a family to play games, watch a movie or whatever. 

My Aunt is moving house and getting rid of quite a bit of stuff.  She asked me if I wanted this massive notice board. I thought about where I would put it before I said yes, which is pretty impressive for me! Usually I would have just said yes! I thought it would fit perfectly on the wall in the hallway between the kids bedrooms. Mum and I had seen some awesome NZ themed fabric in Spotlight the day before so I knew exactly what I was going to cover it with. I think it looks so good in the hallway! I might need to change the colour of the washi-ed light switch cover to match though!

I am LOVING that my builder came and did this to my bathroom today!!! Sooo excited to be getting a new bathroom!!!!

While at the Warehouse this week the kids and I fell in love with these adorable Christmas Cat costumes. I didn't think the cats were going to be overly impressed with me dressing them up but I couldn't resist buying them.

Comet was surprisingly co-operative, Phoebe and Twinkles not so much!! But nawwww how cute is my little kitty!!

Speaking of costumes .....

Today is Halloween!!
Although Halloween isn't really a New Zealand tradition we have always celebrated it with the kids. Since they are 1/2 American I like to give them a taste of that side of their heritage. We don't trick or treat but we do have a Halloween party. This year due to camps and other such things our Halloween Party is going to be a week later than usual. But that doesn't stop us from decorating the house up!! I love having American family who send AMAZING care packages with the most amazing Halloween decorations! This witch is my favourite!! Thanks Mom!!!

Head on Over to Catalina's Cottage and share what you are loving this week!

Making my House a Home

Just over 2 years ago I became a 1st time home owner.
It was such a thrill to know that this house which I live in was mine and I could do whatever I wanted to it.

I fell in love with the quirkiness and character of this house.
It was built in 1945, the original part anyway. It was originally a 2 bedroom house but sometime in the 1980's an extension was added on.

When I moved in it was a 4 bedroom, two living room, 2 bathroom and an office house.

I have slowly been working away in making my house into my home.
I have re-done the Living Room, Riley's Room, Abbey's Room, the small bathroom, the office which is now a library, 2nd Living Room which is a playroom and added a laundry.
Just today the builders have started on the main bathroom.
I have also turned the double garage into the shop.

So I've been quite busy!!

I am going to start to share with you the process of each room makeover I have done.

I mainly want to do this to inspire you. This house has been done over by me and help from my Mum and Aunt.  The exceptions are the bathrooms which have been (and are been!) done by professional builders, plus the laundry was mostly builder done.

What I am trying to say is that if you set your mind to something, and if you really want to do it nothing should stop you. I have learnt so much doing all this stuff in the house. I have learnt how to paint and wallpaper, gib patch, plaster and many other things.

I have done things as cheaply as I could possibly find without being tacky and lame, well I think so anyway!!

So come on in and keep an eye out for my renovation posts coming soon!!!

Kiwi Christmas Ornament Swap 2013

You guys should totally sign up for this!! I did and I already know what I am going to make ... here's hoping it works out hehehe

I can't wait!

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. 

And This is especially true this week since I have had a week of all 3 of us being sick!!

I am Loving that my Sherbert Bird has a lovely new and upgraded home!! I always thought that his cage was too small, he now has loads of room to flit and flutter around in! He seems to be enjoying it so far!

I am Loving that even though my boy is growing up and is 8 now he still treasures things like Gerry.  Gerry lost a button and Riley was a little upset about it so he picked a new button for me to sew on. As I was sewing Riley was saying
"Be Brave Gerry it will be ok"
Super cute!!
Check out the story of where Gerry came from HERE

Despite being unwell I have tried to muster up the energy to keep working on the Kids playroom. I am LOVING that I can see progress in that room and hopefully the kids will have their own space to play in and leave their toys in again!

Head on Over and join up with Cat (Filling in for Megan while she is away) and let me know about what you are loving this week!!

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

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.

This week I am Loving ........

This Guy ....



well it isn't my canary but it looks and sounds like him.  A few weeks ago we got this beautiful orange canary, we named him Sherbert. He's been fairly quiet but the last week he has been singing away, it is a beautiful sound and I am loving listening to him.

This Show ....



Buffy is my all time favourite TV show. I am a geek and I have all 7 seasons on DVD. I have been re-watching them all from season 1 and right now I am almost at the end of season 5.  Not sure what I'm going to do when it finishes ... what on earth will I watch!?!?!?!

These Books ....

My Aunt is a MASSIVE reader, she had hundreds of books in boxes and had decided it was time to get rid of them so I got first dibs! Sooo excited!  There was a book called The Alchemyst - The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.  Of course being a MASSIVE Harry Potter fan I HAD to take that book. If anyone knows Harry, Nicholas Flamel played a pretty major part in the plot of the Philosophers Stone.  The Alchemyst has nothing to do with Harry Potter but I LOVE it just as much!!

The book series is called 'The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel' and they are by Michael Scott. The books have magic, mythical beings, hidden worlds, amazing creatures and fantastic storylines and I am LOVING them! There are 6 books and I have just finished reading book #2 and am just dying to start #3.

If you like fantasy you really need to read these!

 This Swap ....

I have sent off my Mug this morning to my recipient. I can't wait until she gets it and I sure hope she likes it!! I also can't wait to find out who got me!!

Join in with the Loving over at MNMs

Mug Swap 2013

I have joined up with the NZ Blogger Mug Swap this month. It's pretty exciting!
Everyone send and receives a mug with goodies! I got my person last night and started shopping for her this morning. I really hope she likes what I get for her. I hope from getting to know her through her blog that I got the bits and pieces right. I hope that I give her a big smile and everytime she drinks from the mug I got her that she will smile.

I can't wait to find out who got me! I hope that there is enough info on my blog that she can figure out what I like! I'm not going to be easy and tell her in this blog post, I'm going to make her do some research hehehe.

This is soo much fun!!!

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.

Father's Day

Father's Day is coming up this weekend. We are inundated with TV, Radio, Junk Mail advertisements for Father's Day.

This year is the first year Abbey has really noticed the fact that she doesn't have a Dad.

She was only 2 when her Daddy died.  She doesn't remember him.

Abbey on the Day her Daddy died

The first thing that triggered this for Abbey was having a Dad's night at Pippins.  She told her leaders that her Dad died so she didn't have a Dad. They said that she could bring her Grandad or big brother or someone else if she wanted.

My Dad stepped up and went with Abbey to Pippins, she was the only one there who didn't have a Dad. She really noticed that.

She has been drawing a lot of pictures of her and her Daddy holding hands, she has written a few letters to her Daddy and he is the constant topic of conversation for her at the moment.  For the first time I think she is finally realising what it all means.

And of course it breaks my heart.

I am a good Mum and I do all I can for my kids but I can not be a Dad.

I wish I could make this right and fix it for her but all I can do is be here for her to answer her questions and let her know how much her Daddy loved, adored and cherished her.

Life is really hard some days, especially when it is hard for your kids.

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