Start as you mean to go on

Happy New Year Everyone!

2012 was a tough year for many people on many levels - there is so much pain and sadness out there. We've been reflecting on this and it's hard to pass by the thought that it's not symptomatic of the times we live in. So much pressure, so much hurrying, so much expectation, so much guilt, sooooo busy....

This year lets change that.  Someone asked me last night what my goals/plans for 2013 are.  The answer came out almost without thinking:  Less Is More.

All Prints from The Wheatfield by Katie Daisy

This year I am Slowing Down and Letting Go.

And I am starting TODAY.  Living with passion, focusing on joy, spending time with the ones I love.

Hugging, kissing, laughing, smiling.  Being kind to others, being still, being happy.

Trusting, hoping, believing.

Print by Katie Daisy

This is my wish for you:  May you and the ones you love experience magic and wonder this year, and find happiness in everything.
Big big hugs
L xx

Not many more to go...

Recently I received two more blocks from the Modern Sampler Bee ladies.

This one from Cat:

And this one from Treena:


Love them!  Cant wait for the last few to arrive!  Once I have them all in my hot little hands I can start planning how to combine them all in a quilt for Anya.

This week I have also been loving:
- Disney's Cinderella becoming available after years and years.  I love love love animated movies and have never seen it!  The girls and I are thoroughly enjoying it.
- Finally catching up on the work front.
- I don't really care much about winning - I'm more about enjoying the experience, but I was happy to win a boardgame that has frustrated me immensely in the past :)
- Making progress on the Advent Swap goodies!
- Little sayings from the girls:  Anya is currently on an "actually" kick..., Liezel is in the "no" phase
- Conversation with Heidi: "Heidi can you please bend down for a second"; "I cant"; "What? Why cant you?"; "Because I'm too little"...
- Loving gorgeous gorgeous sunshiny days, and blowing bubbles outside.
- Crafting with friends - always a good time : )

Have a great weekend!
L x

Linking up here.

Lovinnnn

I've been a bit slack in keeping up with my little daily rays of sunshine...

Here's what been making me smile:

- Heidi's expressions: "Same same" when pointing out that things are alike.  Two items are "same same".

- She has a very expressive little face and sometimes you'd ask her a question and the little face will contort and she'll say: "mmmm, let I think for a minute... mmmm I dont know"...

- My baby girl graduating to the big kids table for meals... bye bye high-chair (sob sniff)

- Arriving home after a few stressful days away...

- Grateful for a couple of nights' solid deep sleep... bliss...

- Flowers from a friend - totally unexpected.

-  Heidi playing with a $1 coin (no we didn't know she was playing with it) but the sound of it being swallowed and the expression on the little face was priceless...  She is now a little proud that she has money in her tummy :)

- Still loving reruns of one of my favourite shows: The Big Bang Theory.  Never fails to make me laugh.

-  Liezel randomly running up to her sisters and giving them huge hugs.

-  Finishing off a couple of sewing projects.

- Two successful incident-less airoplane trips with 3 little girls.

Looking forward to the weekend and some serious work catchup!

Have a great one everybody!

L xx

Linking up here.

More of the same, same

Today:
We're eating:  Pikelets for lunch
We're taking:  Temperatures for feverish girls
We're making:  Lists for a busy week
We're listening to:  The XX

Last week:
Tuesday:  Dancing at MM
Wednesday:  Enjoying regular Wednesday mornings with girls and friends :)
Thursday:  Lemon Meringue Pie - seriously yum, melting crayons
Friday:  Watching my big girls at Ballet again - one in Pink and one in Orange...
Saturday:  Coffee and Lunch out with a friend
Sunday:  Playing with my new toy ; )

I'll probably be doing a couple of reveals this week and next...  and not because I am trying to create suspense over these goodies... no simply because they are gifts and I'll finally get to hand them over!

Have a great week everyone!
L x

Today

Today:
We've Danced - At our new Tuesday Morning Hangout - Mainly Music
We're Baking - Fresh Bread and Chocolate Fudge Cake
We're Listening to - Imagine Dragons

Last Week:
Monday: Watching dancing giggling girls amuse themselves and me
Tuesday:  Heidi recalling with crystal clarity and singing songs in the afternoon that she'd heard once only earlier that morning at Mainly Music.  Amazing what they take in and remember.
Wednesday:  Crafting with friends and children :)
Thursday:  A great day on many levels that restored a little bit of hope.
Friday:  Watching my two big girls at their first Ballet Class.
Saturday:  A wonderful quiet and green drive out to Kumeu on my own.
Sunday:  A quick lie down resulting in a nana nap...
Monday:   Wonderful early morning snuggles with H before we Had to get up

On another note, I have been pottering away at various projects and will be able to reveal some in the next few weeks.  Looking forward to sharing it with you lovely folks :)
L xx

Quick Monday Catchup

Hi Lovelies,
Hope you've all had the bestest weekend and the week ahead is Awesome!

Here are my Highlights from the last wee while:

Friday:  After a frantic day sitting down with a cuppa
Saturday:  Cuddling a friend's newborn baby - bliss
Sunday:  A happy Father's day
Monday:  The girls singing the chorus from "Feel Inside (and stuff like that)" at the top of their lungs
Tuesday:  Guinea Pig babies!
Wednesday:  A perfect morning spent with a friend
Thursday:  The smell of bread baking in the oven...
Friday:  Tying Anya's hair into a ponytail the elastic breaks... Me: Oh no, you must be joking, not again...  Anya: No Mummy I'm not joking, did the hair-tie make a funny joke?
Saturday: 3 Little Girls relishing ice-cream for morning tea at a local cafe.
Sunday: Ecstatic giggles from two little girls as baby guinea pigs scurried up and tickled/buried in their necks :)

Now I'm off to keep tackling the list of jobs that's as long as my arm... blah.  But currently I have two dancing girls beside me giggling and laughing and having the greatest time thinking they are just the cutest and most amazing performers... I might just have to watch them for a while :)

Happy Monday!
L xx

Friday Loving

Yay for Fridays! The light at the end of a dark weekly tunnel : )

Here's what making me smile today:

Teal the Cows Come Home:  I love this colour and will probably use up the whole bottle in time... so happy, pretty, summery, fun.  Catching a glimpse of the pretty colour on nails is almost an instant mood lift : )  As an aside, don't you love the colour names OPI come up with? Very entertaining.

Brave Daring Girls:  All the way to the top and back - definitely from her Mummy as Daddy never did and was having minor heart palpitations at the sight of it :)

Havoc and Bright Lights: Alanis Morissette's new album:  I've been listening to it for the first time this morning and am thoroughly enjoying - a perfect mash-up of her original and more recent style of music.  Talent.

This week:
Monday:  Sunshine, fresh air and a chance to finally play outside!
Tuesday:  Lemon Coconut cake - mmmmmm
Wednesday:  The way my 3 year old held her own and played with a bunch of 6-7 year old boys completely unperturbed and was even "allowed" to : )
Thursday:  A sick little girl struggling to sleep, holding on to my finger as if she will never let it go as she seeks comfort.

Have a wonderful weekend all!
L x

Joining in here.

The week starts here

Gosh time is flies... how on earth did we get to Monday already?

Happy Recap from the last week:
Tuesday:  My big girl's input and absolute delight at her toy cat's new dress.  Such simple little things :)
Wednesday:  Quilting on my machine - a first!
Thursday: Compliments from friends on quilts and cakes.
Friday:  Home-made Peanut Brittle from the Little & Friday book - so good, so bad, soo omnomnomsss...
Saturday: Watching Heidi at a little friend's birthday party - gorgeous, polite, sweet, kind and giving :)
Sunday: Priceless moment between Daddy and Liezel - her watching him with adoration and copying every move right down to the sound-effects.

In other news we all seem to be better for which I am infinitely grateful.  A busy week lies ahead on the work and sewing front, along with all the usual day to day items that are perpetual.  Looking forward to some sunshine and warm and ticking things of the list!

Happy Monday and Happy Week to you all!
L x

Nothing in particular...

It's been a funny old time lately, always so much going on, and the to do list is never-ending... Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

In all honestly this flu has hit really hard and is sucking the life outta me. I am however super grateful that the rest of the household are improving ... though it's a bit hard to remember specific happy incidents over the last few days... I must start writing down or posting more often...

But I can assure you there were many: baking sticky pecan buns, little dancing girls, Liezel wearing her hair proudly in a little fountain/ponytail on top of her head, great progress on my first quilt, an uber cute toddler with many adorable moments, big sisters looking after the little ones in their own different ways, discovering that the "mummy" guinea pig is going to be a mummy soonish by the look of her, and a few other things.

Ok lovelies - I'm off to tend to my duties.  First up - sewing a dress for a stuffed toy cat... : )
L x

One + One = Two

I love my postie - even when he brings me bills he makes sure he also brings me some happy mail... :)

I received these two delights from Kelli in the mail last week - yay!

Thanks Kelli, we love them!
Not many more blocks to go before Round 2 and 3 are complete and I can then get working on bringing them together for a quilt for Anya.

Other stuff to smile about:
Monday:  a visit to the doctor proved we were full off flu viruses, infections and pneumonia... however Liezel was strutting around after observing the doc, pulling up her shirt or yanking at her singlet so that he could listen to her chest - so so cute.  And when he checked her throat she even did a "ahhh" : )
Tuesday:  My two big girls playing together almost all day without incident - a loving special bond and relationship that fills my heart with joy.
Wednesday:  Walking into Liezel's room first thing to discover she has managed to strip off her merino bag and pyjamas and was trying to work her way out of her singlet... what a sight : )

Happy Friday Eve Everyone!
L x

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

We are going a little bit mad on Mary Poppins at the moment... The girls keep singing songs from it over and over an over...luckily it is quite infections : )

We're a bit down and out with this nasty bug going around but we'll keep beavering on and have a good week if it's the last thing we do!

Happy Highlights:
Friday:  Just spending most of the day resting with m'girls watching the Olympics and having oodles of cups of tea... Oh and Liezel's version of saying Hot Tea - Inhale on the Hot, Exhale on the Tea - cute!
Saturday:  Whilst lying down, Liezel scooted over sat beside me and started stroking my face and giving me little cuddles... precious : )
Sunday:  Loving Heidi's langauge: One, Phoo, Phee, Pour, Pipe, Six, Sepen... Daddy, where's my Babboon?  Aka a Baloon : )

Have a happy week campers.
L x

I heart Baking

Cant believe it's Friday already... the week, like most weeks, has just zoomed past...

I've mentioned previously that I've gotten into baking bread recently.  And I am Loving it!
It started with a Sourdough Starter that was given to me, and then for my birthday last month I these...

They are my two new best friends : )

The baking book has a great section on baking bread - all by hand which is great as I dont have a breadmaker - and I have tried a number of different loaves from it: Sourdough, White, Wholemeal, Challah and a Feta and Olive pull apart... They have been Delicious even if I say so myself : )  One of my favourite parts is the kneading... I find it relaxing and therapeutic and most enjoyable : )

Many cookies, this lemon coconut slice and a cake/loaf or two have been attempted from these books too... Yummo... Yay for awesome books!

Other things loved:
Monday:  Liezel saying sorry with a kiss and a hug after hurting one of her sisters.  Warm fuzzies.
Tuesday:  Lemon Coconut slice - described as a mouth-gasm :)
Wednesday:  Heidi's fan club at kindy welcoming and announcing her arrival with pure joy, delight and enthusiasm.
Thursday:  Liezel doing an adorable little dance/twirl with her hands in the air - so gorgeous.

Happy Weekend Eve Everyone!
L x

Monday Monday...

It's Monday... Time for some weekly inspiration...

Happy Mail: From Linda at Sew Pretty for leaving a comment on her blog! Yummy colours!

And Happy Reflection:
Tuesday:  Delicious coffee at a favourite cafe with a scrumptious friend.
Wednesday:  I've just started baking bread - another successful attempt and deliciously warm fresh home-baked bread...
Thursday:  Making and enjoying a positive change.
Friday:  My husband arriving home after 3 weeks travelling overseas for work.
Saturday:  Enjoying family moments playing together and watching the olympics.
Sunday:  A fun family outing to the SkyTowerand around Wynyard Quarter.

Have a happy week!
L x

Coffee.... Mmmmm....

I have a cup of Vanilla Latte sitting beside me and it smells heavenly... Mmmm....

I cant believe it's Tuesday! We've had such an adventure and activity filled weekend the last few days have been a complete blur... a happy blur :)

Highlights:
Friday:  Liezel discovering that saying please can get her just about anything :)
Saturday:  Watching the start of the Olympics with my girls... Their first Games and they are mesmerized by the gymnastics especially.
Sunday:  The excitement of going on an adventure with special friends - one that involved many changes of plans and fluffies and rain - and no one cared because we were together and it was fun!
Monday:  At the doctor for Liezel's immunisations, Heidi requesting from the doctor for herself and Bebe (her stuffed Zebra) to be examined too and telling him just what he needed to do - absolutely priceless, even to the doc : )

5 Fluffies Please

Now I'm off to have some more delicious coffee....
Have a happy week everyone!
L x

Blue Skies

You should see the day we are having up here... it is beautifully stunning.  A truly spirit uplifting kind of day.  Gorgeous.

And the mail-men have brought me a lot of lovin today... like this: 

Won over on Juliet's blog from Deb's fab new shop.  Delicious....


Other Lovin this week:
Wednesday:  The smell of fresh baking filling the house... nom nom noms : )
Thursday:  Waking up to a snoring little angel face beside me - melting heart love...

And now I am going to do something I never do... make a cuppa and go and sit in this glorious sun for 5 minutes :)
Have a Happy weekend!
L x

Linking up here.

Clouds

Miserable dreadfully dreary weather days here lately...
But Loving this song - beautiful lyrics:

The mailman has also brought these blocks from round 2 of the Bee to our letterbox over the last couple of weeks:

From Nin

From Debra

From Lisa

Round 3 is in full swing too and have loved it!

Then finally, the happy diary:
Monday: Listening properly to the song above - the lyrics resonating with me.
Tuesday: Liezel actively playing with her sisters and initiating games like trying to get them to chase her.  Too cute :)

Happy Humpday Everyone!
L x

Sunshine

Firstly - you guys are so awesome.  Seriously.

Not one comment that felt like "pity" and not a single "just suck it up" either.  Just right, just perfect, each and every one making this squishy heart, warm and fuzzy.  Thank you All.

Secondly, no I haven't fallen off the wagon as soon as I got on it.  I have each day focussed on positive, happy and encouraging things - the things that warm my heart, make me laugh and make me Happy.



And so I can hold myself accountable:
Wednesday: Liezel is growing cuter and cuter daily and it entered my concious mind just how adorable she is (to me of course) and how quickly she is growing up, becoming independent and wrapping all of us around her little fingers.  We had a chuckle, giggle filled day with this little firecracker who is becoming larger than life.
Thursday: We headed out East to an old stomping ground and had a wonderful time on the beach collecting shells and playing hide and seek with waves seeking out little shoes that were itching to get wet :)
Friday: A lovely catchup with friends at a local cafe -  coffee, food and fizzy ice cream soda's :)
Saturday:  Visited a wonderful craft market with cupcakes and balloon creations and in the evening relaxed more than I have in a long time... :)
Sunday:  Wonderful cuddles from my sweet, gentle and caring big girl.


So here's to a great week and to a great bunch of people all over the world :)
Big hugs
L x

Change Something.

Lately I have been struggling - far more than I would ever admit to anyone to be truthful.  This is not a sympathy seeking attempt - heaven knows I cant stand it.  This is about re-evaluating and needing to find a way to get back to the core joys, gratitude and inner-peace I desperately need.

When I started this blog, about 13 months ago now it was with the intention of creating a space that only focussed on the good stuff, however small they may be, in each day.  As time went on I gradually moved away from the daily check-in and concious focus on the little happy things.  

Now I find myself feeling sad, low and tired.  I need to pick myself up and stop looking to the world and people around me for a feeling of belonging, friendship, or importance.  I give my heart and soul to those around me.  That wont ever change.  But I cant say it doesn't hurt when on a daily basis my fragile little heart and I are sent to the back of the queue and at the bottom of everyone else's priority lists.

Again - I am not trying to whine, moan and have an oh-woe-is-me session.  I just need to get a tiny bit of this out, take a step back and go - ok, this is what we're going to do about it girlfriend.  

So, I am going to go back to basics.  Find the simple joys in my daily life, children and husband.  EVERY. DAY.  Looking for and focussing on the happy stuff forces one to always be on the lookout, to consciously seek out what is good and leaves little time to sit in a corner and sulk.  What I think about, I begin to say. What I begin to say, I begin to do. What I begin to do, I become.

Onwards and upwards, to infinity and beyond!

Have a happy day :)

L x