Taking time out of your day to think…taking stock of life in November
As we grow older, it can get harder and harder to carve out time in the day to think.
Reflect on life, how things are going, what went well, what went pear-shaped. All the healthy reflective thinking we are meant to do in order to grow as individuals, as humans.
Sometimes, life can get in […]
As we grow older, it can get harder and harder to carve out time in the day to think.
Reflect on life, how things are going, what went well, what went pear-shaped. All the healthy reflective thinking we are meant to do in order to grow as individuals, as humans.
Sometimes, life can get in the way. Life can be complex, boring, monotonous, crazy and altogether unpredictable.
None of which is conducive to thinking.
One of my favourite ways to think and reflect is to ask myself a series of questions. The lovely talented Pip Lincolne does this by way of ‘Taking Stock’.
This month I am breaking the mould and taking stock at the beginning of the month…
Making : cushions and gorgeous sundresses ready for This Grand Life
Cooking : veges, new types of the kids to try (current faves are asparagus and corn)
Drinking : loads of cold water (it’s sunny Brisbane folks!!)
Reading: Country Style, How to Decorate, Lonely Planet’s Guide to Australia
Wanting: annuals for the garden
Looking: at beachy holiday destinations
Playing: Scrabble, family is becoming addicted! Bunch of nerds that we are…
Deciding: What role I would like to tackle back in my science/ corporate career
Wishing: my gorgeous puppies would stop chewing…everything!
Enjoying: my garden, the hard work is paying off!
Waiting: for the right house to come along
Liking: the jacaranda blooms in the backyard, a carpet of purple!
Wondering: if I should paint a watercolour series inspired by our family farm
Loving: the warm weather…most of the time!
Pondering: career moves, there are some interesting roles around!
Considering: buying a house…again…yikes!
Buying: house plants, succulents, ferns, it’s a jungle in here!
Watching: Restoration Australia…oh my goodness, it’s brilliant! Fab show hosted by Sibella Court
Hoping: the school year comes to a quiet uneventful end for the tribe
Marvelling: at how tall my little tribe are getting…I am fast becoming the shortest in the family!
Cringing: at the hating on social media. What on earth are people thinking posting nastiness?
Needing: to keep going to the gym, am getting to love it again!
Questioning: old house, new house, renovated or not?
Smelling: the garden, loving the change in scent as all of the flowers bloom
Wearing: white shorts and Birkenstocks, a lot!
Following:
Noticing: the kids taking an interest in big issues, refugees, world conflicts, some hefty issues to think about for young minds.
Knowing: I need to stop procrastinating and decide on that beachy holiday…stat!
Thinking: about how to best balance work, my gorgeous family, and my creative pursuits
Admiring: positive creative types (Clare Bowditch, Pip Lincolne, Dawn French) and ambitious corporate types in my life (will keep those names to myself)
Sorting: through toys, it appears they have bred and now we have a bucket-load which are making their way to new homes before Christmas
Getting: ready for another creative market…soon!
Bookmarking: the Halcyon House website, seriously cool folks
Coveting: vintage finds, I need to find a spare weekend to do some quality rummaging
Disliking: negativity, I seriously do not understand why people feel the need to write bad/nasty/awful comments!
Opening: a new section on my Etsy shop…watercolours and prints! Yay!
Giggling: at the awesome pearls of wisdom which come from my gorgeous six year old. ‘Mum, you look the same as when you were young, except for your crinkly eyes, they look more smiley now!’ I will take that as a compliment and move on.
Feeling: excited about the end of the year, and a wee bit nervous about heading back to work
Snacking: carrots and hummus, blueberries and cashews, on high rotation.
Helping: out at school whenever I can. It’s a busy time of the year!
Hearing: Mark Ronson, kids fave CD on the way to school
Here’s a list via the talented Pip Lincolne (Meet me at Mikes) for you… Takes some time out to think, and if you are feeling like sharing post a comment with your answers, or a link to your blog post…
Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Buying:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Cringing:
Needing:
Questioning:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Coveting:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Snacking:
Helping:
Hearing:
Enjoy xx
I’ve carved out some time this week to sit and reflect on life.
Taking the time to think about how everything is going using a fab list from the lovely Pip Lincolne at Meet Me at Mikes, here’s my list…
Making : a super cool hoodie vest for my littlest poppet (because of […]
I’ve carved out some time this week to sit and reflect on life.
Taking the time to think about how everything is going using a fab list from the lovely Pip Lincolne at Meet Me at Mikes, here’s my list…
Making : a super cool hoodie vest for my littlest poppet (because of her broken wing)
Cooking : zucchini slice and delish roast lamb
Drinking : Tea because I have given up coffee
Reading: Craft for the soul, New Scientist, Wendy (the stunt chicken)
Wanting: To spend more time with my gorgeous kids
Looking: at where I can spend some time at the beach for holidays
Playing: nicely with others…life is too short for nastiness!
Deciding: what the end of the year will bring (big questions here folks!)
Wishing: I could see my sisters more often!
Enjoying: catching up with old friends, good for the soul
Waiting: for some new books I ordered to arrive!
Liking: my new winter boots, make that loving!
Wondering: if I should have a big party for my 40th?
Loving: bearing able to wear a jackets/scarves again…thanks freezing weather!
Pondering: what to do over the Christmas holidays
Considering: subscribing to Frankie? I love it, and it’s sometimes hard to find.
Buying: books! Australian Geographic – fab pictures, interesting stories
Watching: Interstellar with my littlest bloke, it’s our new all-time fave.
Hoping: that my littlest poppet’s arm heals quickly!
Marvelling: at how quickly my kidlets are growing
Cringing: at some of the nastiness I see online, be nice folks!
Needing: time with family. There is never enough is there?
Questioning: everything! Now I see where the kids get it from!
Smelling: the gorgeous vanilla candle in the study whenever I am writing
Wearing: opaque tights a lot. Makes me wish I lived in a cold climate.
Following: Pip Lincolne (a ray of sunshine!), Mrs Woog and Emma Watson
Noticing: I have more energy since giving up coffee. What??
Knowing: more about evolution (current topic I am teaching), go Darwin!
Thinking: about fixed vs growth mindsets
Admiring: gorgeous Australian wool! Scarves, jumpers with elbow patches…sigh!
Sorting: kids clothes (this is never-ending with our largish family)
Getting: ready to quit sugar
Bookmarking: new patterns to try
Coveting: an old table (all that history!) and church pews for the dining room.
Disliking: the cold – except for the opaque tights bit
Opening: messages from old mates, and laughing at the memories
Giggling: a lot at my littlest poppet stretching her vocabulary and sometimes ‘muffing words
Feeling: happier now, thanks to old friends and the rugrats
Snacking: on carrots and hommus and cup-a-soups
Helping: Little L practice reading, I love picture books (Wendy, Meg & Mog, Goodnight Moon)
Hearing: fab tracks from the Offspring, Green Day…good times!
Here’s a list for you!
Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Buying:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Cringing:
Needing:
Questioning:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Coveting:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Snacking:
Helping:
Hearing:
Enjoy xx
Wowsers! All of a sudden, it is April!
Between moving house, finishing up at my day job, sewing + creating for my Etsy store, studying and the kids school/sport/swimming/stuff the year has flown by!
So I thought it was a good time to follow the lead of the ever lovely and caressive Pip Lincolne and […]
Wowsers! All of a sudden, it is April!
Between moving house, finishing up at my day job, sewing + creating for my Etsy store, studying and the kids school/sport/swimming/stuff the year has flown by!
So I thought it was a good time to follow the lead of the ever lovely and caressive Pip Lincolne and take stock…
*****************************
Making : some new cushion covers (can’t find any that I like!)
Cooking : Taco Tuesday! One of our fave family dinner nights
Drinking : a giant takeaway coffee (with a freckle on top)
Reading: Educational Psychology and Country Style
Wanting: to get the markets…soon!
Looking: for a new novel to read…suggestions?
Playing: Monopoly…today with my 5 year old
Deciding: whether to sew or study today…decisions, decisions!
Wishing: Mum and Dad’s farm was closer – weekends visits!
Enjoying: settling into our new house
Waiting: for Uni results…
Liking: the kids discovering the books I loved as a kid
Wondering: how to create some capes (a la Little Red Riding Hood for winter)
Loving: Corduroy + seeing my gorgeous cousin tie the knot! Congrats lovely!
Pondering: whether to cut my hair…again
Considering: Buying new winter boots…or not!
Buying: Office-type stuff, new whizz bang, printer/copier/fax?
Watching: Not a lot! Too much studying/sewing!
Hoping: to sleep in this weekend
Marveling: at my 8 year olds ability to dance anywhere
Cringing: at the criticism leveled at normal women’s bodies
Needing: another giant coffee or tea!
Questioning: my decision to give my littlest one a year off from ballet, she is itching to go back!
Smelling: the delicious Glasshouse Montego Bay fragrance in our house
Wearing: super comfy jeans, red H&M jumper and RM boots
Following: the media targeting teachers…again.
Noticing: how tall the kids are getting! Or am I shrinking?
Knowing: I will get through this giant study load.
Thinking: about a road trip in October
Admiring: my husbands ability to relax
Sorting: the house (the move was crazy/ hectic)
Getting: back on top of sewing super cut dresses
Bookmarking: blogs – a lot! Ready for mid-year break
Coveting: Bohemian Traders anything
Disliking: Grumpiness (mainly from me!)
Opening: another textbook (and secretly loving it!!)
Giggling: at Jon Snow’s awkward dinner party
Feeling: determined to get through Uni and find time with family
Snacking: wholemeal toast + crunchy peanut butter
Wishing: My sisters were closer too!
Helping: my kids organise holiday playdates
Hearing: the sounds of Adventure Time from the loungeroom
It’s such a fab thing to do to think about how your world if going…why don’t you take some time and take stock too!
Enjoy xx
One of the wonderful things about being on holidays is having the time to think.
Sure, between playing with the kids, sewing up a storm for my Etsy shop, and the usual domestic biz, there’s not a whole lot of *spare* time.
However, I have still found time to think, mull over and take stock.
[…]
One of the wonderful things about being on holidays is having the time to think.
Sure, between playing with the kids, sewing up a storm for my Etsy shop, and the usual domestic biz, there’s not a whole lot of *spare* time.
However, I have still found time to think, mull over and take stock.
I received a brilliant email newsletter from Meet Me at Mikes Pip Lincolne (do you subscribe? – it’s fab!). Her lovely post came with a list she had compiled taking stock, and an invitation to do the same. So here it is… There’s a blank list below if you’d like to do the same! Maybe even print it out and keep it, then take a look at the end of the year?
Making : Sundresses for my Etsy store
Cooking : Zucchini and carrot pie (will post a recipe this week)
Drinking : Pimms
Reading: Home (Beci Orpin)
Wanting: a cleaner
Looking: A Beautiful Mess via Feedly
Playing: Lego
Deciding: Where to buy a house?
Wishing: The weather would cool down soon
Enjoying: Time with the kids
Waiting: for news on Perth Upmarket
Liking: Fresh fruit and veg from the Mt Claremont Farmers Market
Wondering: How this year will pan out
Loving: My boys starting to become little men
Pondering: Publish an e-book?
Considering: Cutting my hair short again
Watching: Justified and Person of Interest
Hoping: I get a spot at Finders Keepers this year
Marvelling: At how quickly the kids are growing up
Needing: New runners
Smelling: Frangipanis in my backyard
Wearing: Thongs and Birkies…a lot!
Following: Mr Jason Grant… Sydney style gold!
Noticing: Fab prints (check out Dan300)
Knowing: The year will fly by!
Thinking: About finishing my PhD
Feeling: Happy (cheesy but true)
Admiring: Pip Lincolne (such a crafty generous lady)
Sorting: The kids clothes (hand-down, donate, up-cycle)
Buying: Ethical fashion this year
Getting: School gear organised
Bookmarking: Crafty inspiration at Sew Mama Sew
Disliking: All the negativity about gay marriage
Opening: Little packages from Craftumi
Giggling: At Little L testing out grown-up words
Feeling: Grateful and inspired
Here’s a blank list for you:
Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Needing:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Feeling:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Buying:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Thanks Pip!
Enjoy xx
*Love the gorgeous print at the top? You can get it here on Etsy at artretro
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