SELF-PORTRAIT TUESDAY - NOT PERFECT

Here's the latest challenge from Self Portrait Tuesday:

"I want this to be a challenging month - we have had it easy over christmas and the holidays but now it is time to look deep inside ourselves and embrace and face our whole selves. I don't want to see any perfect images, any pretty studio like images, no perfect hair or makeup, get rid of the masks you use to face the world. I was inspired for this challenge by reading a recent Keri Smith post. "For my whole life I have had difficulty looking at photos of myself. It was as if that person could never be enough for me, I did not want to see any of my flaws (or the things I perceived as imperfect)."

This is such a gorgeous photo of me (not!) but it is in the spirit of this month's challenge. It was taken 3-4 years ago as we were travelling from Lower Hutt to Palmerston North. We stopped off just past Pukerua Bay, ostensibly so the kids could look in the rock pools but mostly to give them fresh air as they were both notorious at being carsick. Caitlin did not want her mother forcing a photo with her. I look totally stupid. And, coincidentally, today I am wearing the exact same top that I wore in this photo (I think it's the only thing left in my wardrobe from that era). It fits better now!

A BIRD THING

I can't cope with birds. I can admire them from a distance but somehow those feathery fluttering things up close just freak me out. A disorder inherited from my mother who would scream whenever the cat brought one in. I have learnt to not scream so that my kids don't pick up my fear but I still don't like them.

Saturday night - 2 minutes before going out for dinner with Darryn and friends (Mum and Dad babysitting) I let Maxie, our 13 year old cat outside. (Maxie, who is so old and lazy she hasn't caught anything for years.) 30 seconds later I hear a rustle in the bushes and see her emerge triumphant with a bird. I knew what was going to happen next. Sure enough she headed for inside. I yelled to eveyone to shut the doors but all our french doors were open (we unfortunately have 7 sets) and she took the bird into Elliot's room. Darryn threw it outside (it was dead - poor thing). Quick vacuuming job (Darryn did it) and we were late for dinner.

Sunday. Darryn was out fishing and I decided to mow the lawns. Small problem of a dead bird on the lawn to dispose of first. Small problem for some - large problem (read nightmare!) for me. I cannot deal with dead birds almost as badly as I cannot deal with live ones.

Solution - Caitlin.

Mother, in kind grovelly voice: "Caitlin could you please get a spade and put this dead bird in the rubbish bin"
Caitlin, in standover mode: "Can I have icecream for breakfast?"
Mother, gritting her teeth and smiling sweetly: "No problem".

She had me!

A GIRL HAS TO SHOP

Yesterday we decided we'd pull our belts in and save some money this year. Great idea.

Today I went to Kiwiscraps to take Caitlin and some friends to a kids class. It involved 2 visits to Kiwiscraps, actually. One to drop them off and one to pick them up. And then there was the waiting time... that turned into shopping time. OK so, 1 magazine, several pieces of Basic Grey paper (oh and some Scenic Route paper), Heidi Swapp monograms, Heidi Swapp paint, Heidi Swapp rub ons, cool as Scenic Route chipboard (2 sets of those) ; some paper flowers. And after I'd paid they started unpacking the neat Making Memories Runway luggage stuff and there were these cute little wristlet purses - just the perfect size for your keys, a credit card and your drivers licence and at $16.95 I just had to have one (OK I chose boring black but they also came in pink and green) .

And then tonight after I'd taken Caitlin to karate (and I'd done 70 minutes at the gym) we decided to check out the new Breast Cancer t/shirts from Glassons . The Karen Walker one was great (so I got it - well how else could I afford KW?) and Cait chose the Huffer design (oh and she got a skirt but it was 50% off).

So our year of saving started badly. But Cait and I are happy chooks because we love shopping. And DH doesn't mind at all and said we deserved it! He is a honey - we will keep him.

But on a better note I sold the last of my 'super fat' clothes (as opposed to the 'fat' ones I currently wear!) onTradeMe today and made $600. So I guess we're still in the black!

SELF-PORTRAIT TUESDAY - MUTUAL ADMIRATION

It's time for Self-Portrait Tuesday. I've posted my most recent layout 'This is Me'. Photo taken on Christmas Day.

I love Tarisota Collections. Tamar has the most amazing monthly collections for scrappers and the fabulous Suz Doyle takes amazing photos for the site. And their January newsletter features projects from some amazing scrappers including the famous Nic Howard and the not-so-famous me! Yep - this layout! (And Tamar called me an 'artist' - that's never happened before.)

2006 is good! Check it out....

(And Karen will be pleased I used the smiling photo.)

HEARTS OF MINE

OK Karen's been telling me off as I haven't updated my blog for a few days. OMG - the pressure! Reason - it's the school holidays. DH is back at work and I've been kid entertaining. Not too difficult but we have been out and about a bit. A lunch date with DH in Wellington. A visit to Capital E. Gardening. Pool. A fair few barbecues in the evening. Dinner at Ichiban Teppanyaki (we love that place).

Today DH and I cleaned out our walk-in wardrobe (we can walk in now!) and got rid of the final FAT clothes. There are about 1/4 the clothes that were there last week. DH threw out heaps (anyone want a $700 chocolate brown Italian sports jacket - it's way too big for him now!). TradeMe is getting some of the good stuff (I have an amazing Trelise Cooper skirt I don't want to lose but it's too big and I am damn sure I am never going to fit it again). The St Vincent de Paul's are getting the rest. I now own have 1 pair jeans. 2 pairs cut off jeans. 8 tops. 1 jacket. Gym gear. That's now the total sum of my wardrobe but it all fits and it's 3 sizes smaller than the stuff I got rid of. Roll on June (more weight loss and a shopping spree!)

Did find time yesterday to make some cute beaded hearts - there was a project in the latest Your Home and Garden magazine that we twigged a bit. Here they are - not great photos but you get the idea. Wouldn't it be cool to make a heap of these and then let pre-Christmas visitors choose one each to take home as Christmas decoration...next year!

SELF-PORTRAIT TUESDAY

Today is Tuesday which means it's time to post another portrait of myself. Actually, I didn't take this one (as it's meant to be a 'self'portrait' does that mean I should take the photo? I'm still struggling with that one). Anyway... it's a shot that's a bit out of my comfort zone - taken by Elliot (age 5) while we were out fishing on Saturday. Why did I chose this picture? Well I've been quite smug with myself for losing 20 kgs but then I see this photo and I think 'Yup, gotta lose that next 20!" - it's falls into to 'motivational' category (for all the wrong reasons!).

I'VE BEEN TAGGED

Karen has tagged me so here goes...
4 Jobs you’ve had in your life:
School holiday job in the Reserve Bank counting and discarding old bank notes - did this with Michael Galvin (that's right from Shortland St - our Dads both worked for the Reserve Bank); Registrar for the Indecent Publications Tribunal (yep, there ain't a dirty book I haven't seen!); NZ Operations Manager for Land Titles Office (worked there for years); scrapbooking business owner (But the best job is my current one - Domestic Goddess!)
4 Movies you would watch over and over:You've got Mail; Beaches (Like Karen I’m more of a “books you would read over and over” than a movie person.)
4 Places you have lived: Tirohanga, Lower Hutt; Newlands, Wellington; Avalon, Lower Hutt; Boulcott, Lower Hutt
4 TV shows you love to watch: Extreme Makeover Home Edition; NCIS (love that Abby!); Oprah; anything on the Food or Living Channel
4 Places you have been on vacation: Rarotonga; Singapore; Bali; Nelson (I love Nelson)
4 Websites you visit daily:trademe; Tarisota (to drool); Kiwiscraps most days and a few scrappingblogs
4 Favorite Foods: Fresh fruit and veges; Turkish Kitchen Greek Yoghurt and Cucumber dip (low fat, low sugar - makes all those veges taste great); snapper; anything from Ichiban Teppanyaki (OK a few months ago I would have said chocolate but while I still love it it no longer rates in the top 4 - scary!)
4 Places you would rather be right now: Rarotonga (our favourite family holiday destination - I dream about living there for a few months!); Nelson (DH's hometown) because at this time of year it's glorious; out walking with DH - it's a beautiful evening but my baby is in bed; at my goal weight (that's a place, isn't it?);
4 Bloggers you are tagging: OK girls...you're it.... Ali, Dianna, and the two Michelles (MichelleTW and Michelle)

THE GREAT SEWING CHALLENGE!

OK, so Yolande challenged me to do some stitching on a layout. Easy for some. Not so easy for she who does not sew. I do own a sewing machine but it has not been used for, umm, 10,15 years? I'm not sure that I can thread it. So I bit the bullet and hand stitched. Wouldn't pass any Girl Guide sewing tests but hey - I did it!

This page is the last page in an entire album I made yesterday. Yes, 24 12x12 pages in one day! OK - it's not an album that would win any awards - more a reconstituted one. My Mum gave me my baby album that was falling apart and I transferred it all to a new archival safe album. I copied Mum's words and even included the little cutout pictures she's put in the origianl album. Who would have known that my Mum was a scrapbooker over 40 years ago! (Note - it is a 'no photo' page - scary!)

Happy, Yolande?

FIRST TIME FISHING

Caitlin gave Elliot a fishing rod for Christmas (and the kids gave DDH one, too). Although Darryn is a keen fly fisherman he's never fished off the wharf with the kids. So guess what we did yesterday? Venue - Point Howard (on the way to Eastbourne, Lower Hutt).

Elliot got a bit bored with the actual fishing bit (especially when we didn't catch anything!) but liked the general hanging out.

I must give credit to photographer Suz Doyle who was the inspiration behind these photos. She encouraged me to look at different angles (shooting from below the kids). She takes the amazing photos for the Tarisota website. She's amazing!

A-Z of Me

Some of my fellow bloggers have been doing this - thought it looked like fun


A-Age: 40
B-Bed size: Super King - bliss!
C-Chore you hate: Ironing - never did it for years DH did his own. But now I am a Domestic Goddess I do it.
D-Dessert you love: Mum's trifle, Chocolate mousse, Lemon meringue pie, fresh fruit and chocolate sauce, caramel anything, preferably a bit of each at the same time!
E-Essential start your day item: Can't do anything til I've had a shower
F-Favourite actor: John Travolta - what a honey!
G-Gold or Silver: Gold
H-Height: 173cm (always in the back row in school photos)
I-Instruments you play: Voice - OK I sing - used to get paid for it many moons ago ;Recorder (does that count?); would love to learn to play the piano - can play "Let it Be" that's all
J-Job title: Domestic Goddess
K-Kids: 2, Caitlin (10) and Elliot (5)
L-Living arrangements: Live in a 4 bedroom 1929 American Colonial Villa (apparently!)
M-Mum's name: Fay Ellen
N-Name something you love to do: (Same as Delys and Yolande!) Scrapbooking, going to the beach, socialising with friends and reading.
O-Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Gall bladder out about 15 years ago. With Caitlin when she was born - 10 days
.P-Phobia: (OK Delys - same!) Hate moths or anything flying into my face. Morbid fear of birds flying inside
Q-Quote you like: To know is nothing at all - to imagine is everything.
R-Right or left handed: Left for writing, Right for everything else
S-Siblings: Two younger sisters - I am the bossy first born!
T-Time you woke up today: 7am Time I got up 8.10am!
U-Unique habit: Can't let a year go by without attending at least one Ruth Pretty Cooking School class.
V-Vegetable you hate: None
W-Worst habit: Bite my nails
X-X-rays you've had: Just before Christmas - chest and my first breast mammogram.
Y-Yummy food you can make: I can make (and eat!) lots of yummy food but lately my favourite is seafood on the barbecue and Malaysian noodle stir fry things that impress our friends. Not so fussed on baking but do make a mean biscotti.
Z- Zodiac Sign: another Gemini

Self Portrait Tuesday

OK so Karen put me on to this blog called Self Portrait Tuesday . The idea is to take a self portrait once a week (a Tuesday if you can). Think outside the square and see what you can come up with. Hmmm.

First self portrait. No, not a cleavage shot! Photo of one of my most precious possessions. I'm not into expensive jewellery. I prefer bling but this gold necklace is more precious than money. The little pendant is a half sovereign made out of gold. It's one of 5 or 6 half sovereigns my maternal grandmother brought from Wales when she emigrated to New Zealand with her family as a child. When she had grandchildren she started giving them to each grandchild. I am the eldest grandchild so I got the first one. It sat in a metal 'strong' box in my Dad's wardrobe for 30 years but I never claimed it. When my first child was born, unbeknown to me, my husband got the coin from my Dad and had it mounted so I could wear it on a chain. I only had one good gold chain (that said husband purchased for me in Singapore on our honeymoon) and it fitted that perfectly. I almost never take it off. I love that it represents 4 generations of my family. It is a treasure.

Michelle's weekly blog challenge

"There has been so much going on in the past few weeks and although the holidays are filled with fun and festivities, I though that for this weeks challenge we could blog about what things do you most enjoy about being back to the normal again. "

Well, nothing is back to normal in our house yet. Kids off school til 7 and 8 February. DH off work til 15 January. Another visitor (DH's Dad from Nelson) staying. Visitors here for a barbecue tonight (OK, FIL and my parents) -3 lots of of visitors for dinner in past 3 nights. Visit to Te Papa today. Still eating too much. Still not exercising enough - but did do a 5km walk then 10 mins on the exercyle at the gym yesterday. Big bin coming on Monday so we can clear a corner of the garden. Trips planned to the beach, bush walk, Botanic Gardens and fishing next week. So... I'd say it'll be mid-Feb before anything gets remotely 'normal'. But, hey, it's summer and we like it like that!

"Have you had a good time?" Words of wisdom from the Wise Man.

I have been stressing out these past few days as I know I have lost the plot with my weight loss goals. I've put on a few kilos over the past couple of weeks. I've still lost 20 kilos and I am getting in to the gym 3 times a week but it is hard, hard, hard. Anyway I was moaning to DH about all the rubbish I'd eaten on holiday and he said to me "But have you had a good time?". Of course I have! And it's all back in perspective.

And tonight I read this in Bob Greene's book "Making the Connection" (he's Oprah's trainer)...

"This is what it feels like. And this is what it takes. It's going to be harder some days than others, but on any given day your body gives you what it has. Just do the best you can. This is what you work with today."

Tomorrow is a new day...

Michelle's weekly blog challenge 26 December - 1 January 2006

Is there some important thing happening to you in 2006? What do you hope to achieve in 2006? and Do you have any goals?

This will be the first time I start a year as a stay at home Mum (I prefer "Domestic Goddess!").

WEIGHT AND EXERCISE
My big goal is weight loss. Having lost nearly 25 kilos since July (and putting on a few over Christmas!) I really want to knuckle down and get back to it. I need to lose another 25 kilos (I think - but won't really know the exact amount til I get there - I'm not obsessed with the numbers on the scales). I have a plan. From now until the end of the school holidays I will attend the gym 3 times aweek. As soon as school goes back I'll be back at the gym 5 times a week. And eating better of course!

SCRAPPING
I would really like to get lots of scrapbooking done again this year. My one aim is a "Book of Me". I really feel like I have 'caught up' the kids albums. Not every big event is scrapped but they have very full albums and all I want to do is to continue scrapping moments for them. I will attend Crafting Connection and SENZ (Since my sister lives in Palmerston North).

FAMILY
I want my family to keep being happy. Me being at home helps with that so much.