Updating A Mixed Media Canvas.

So it was time to update Annabels canvas, 

This is what it looked like before, I used a heap of scraps up and it was really cute for a while. But them everything started to fall of and it was just naff, it got put away in the ill fix that one day basket, and there it stayed till about 3 days ago

And now it looks like this!

I was a bit worried after I finished it, it's not what you would call really girly, while yes it is pink and has girly colours and patterns I really thought it might be a bit teenage girl-ish, but Annabel loved it so all goods!!

All the paper came from

Crate Paper: Paper Hearts collection

American Crafts: 5th & Frolic collection

I am very sorry about the video thou, I have a new camera and well I'm still working out the bugs, and also, I have changed my scrapbooking corner and I am still in a transitioning stage with it all so this was filmed at my dinning table with not the best lighting. but I hope you will forgive me!!

Thanks for looking!

Six Weeks!

Six weeks people!!

I’m calling it, I kicked smoking’s butt!! 

Go me whoop whoop!!

We Are All Different, And That's Ok.

Do you ever read peoples blogs and be all like man how are they so perfect?? They are always dressed nice, house always clean and organized, kids always dressed in nice clean clothes, healthy meals on the table. They just have it all worked out!!

Do you sit there like me and get utterly depressed about it?? Thinking why can’t I get my act together just like her??? FML, woe is me…blah blah blah.

Well after much thought about this and thinking, hmmm how am I going to be perfect?? I came to the conclusion that these people are not perfect at all!!! They only show us a tiny snippet of their lives.  They are only showing us what they want us to see.

For every mum you see looking perfect on the school drop off there are two more in their pjs. And while that mum might look flawless all the time, her house could be a disaster, or she can’t cook worth a damn, or she may not have a creative bone in her body. Maybe she is living with a mountains worth of debt, even though she looks it, she is not perfect. We are all different and that’s ok.

No I never look perfect…..Ever, my house is always a bit of a mess,  I’m a ok cook, I don’t  host pintrest worthy birthday parties, and that’s ok. I am clever and creative, I am for the most part a nice person and extremely loyal to my friends and family, I am a fun mum, I run around play tag, let the kids play face off and try and turn me into a zombie ,mess from paint, play dough glitter doesn’t overly faze me. I let the kids play in mud get grubby and could care less about the mess.

Ok so I went on a bit of a rant there…lol anyway what I wanted to say was  we are all different and that’s ok.  Remember , people only show you what they want to see. The grass may just be a shade or two lighter on the other side of the fence. Don’t go wasting your time wishing you had what someone else has.

Things I'm Loving

This is my first time doing a things I’m loving post, I don’t really know why I have never done this before but never mind we all have to start someplace.

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.

Free bangles.

This little gem arrived in the mail the other day from ……… I answered a question on FB correctly and won myself this cool as bangle. Love it!! Thanks Legacy Antiques

Homemade washing liquid

 I am really enjoying making my own washing liquid it works great, my clothes are clean and fresh and it cost almost nothing too. 

Big skip bins.

I am so loving getting rid of all the junk and crap from around the house!!!

My new camera

 I am so loving my new camera; the photos are just so clean and clear!! 

Linking up over at MNMs

Spring Has Sprung, Time To Clean

Every year about this time I get a itch to clean, and this year is no different.  I may have taken this years clean up a step further than normal though.

Look what arrived this morning.

And with that it is time to empty out and clean the shed, I am sorry I forgot to get before photos of the mess so you miss out on them this time BUT..It really is amazing the things you find hidden in sheds!.

First off a Bayonet!!!

A real genuine Bayonet from 1910!! I have checked all the markings and stamps and stuff and its real!!! who knew...

next a old smoking add ....My Husband used to be a hairdresser and he used to own his own salon but before it was our salon it was a barbers shop and tobacconist. When we sold up we found this on the clean up bought it home and forgot all about it.  as you do.

Ironic I find it now when I have stopped smoking and say a big NO.

Elephants... lost of them but sadly most of them broken but not this we gem...lol

And Jon's old surfing ring, didn't even know he had one...lol

 These was just a few of the awesome things I house found today, what have you found while cleaning out a old shed, crawlspace, attic etc???

For my Mug Swap Partner

To the lady that has me for the 2013 Mug swap, I just realised there isn't to much on this blog about my taste, just thought I would post a couple of things about me. maybe you will see this and it might help :)

I LOVE elephants, always have, my first toy was a elephant I still have him, his name is smokey.

I love polka dots, I don't know why but if it has dots on it I love it.

I don't really have a favourite colour, but I do like pink.

I LOVE books and reading too, I'm just adding that in there cos its a well known fact...LOL

Have a fab day!!

Time To Get Real

As a family of 6 we spend a lot of money on food, our weekly shopping bill would come to about $250. And that is not including the stuff I forget and have to go and back for. So really if we are being completely honest, I would say or weekly food bill comes to at least $350-400, That is for ONE week, I haven’t really added up everything I spend in a week at the supermarket, I am way to scared to do it, but man $400 a week on food is just CRAZY!!!

Times are tough, and although my husband has a good job we can’t afford to be spending that much on bloody food each week!!! Summer is coming and with it summer uniforms, I have birthdays to get ready for and also Christmas will be here before I know it.  I would also like to have a bit of a life this summer, and maybe go on a little family holiday!!  I could do a hell of a lot with an extra $800. a month.

So it is challenge time…. Big challenge time!

Can I get our food spending under control?? Can I get our monthly food bill under $800? Almost halving it.  Is this even possible??It’s a tall order but I think with some very careful planning I might be able to do it!!

I am sort of obsessing about this at the moment. so i will be posting and updating about this often.

But I want to know what has worked for you, What tips and tricks do you have about saving money, do you have any favourite recipes that are low cost and a big family would love?? I want to hear from you!! post a comment in the section below.

Wish me luck! 

Dressing Table Redo

Draws in our house have always been something of  rarity, we never seem to have enough. So a while ago (months, well before last Christmas) I was on a FB garage sale for my area and found this gem for only $50.

Only major problem with it was the colour!!! I mean look at it!!

Anyway this was originally going to be for my room and I had a big plan to strip it back to the wood and do it up all nice, but once I got started I found a bit of it had been filled with putty and even though 99% of it was perfect that 1 % would have looked odd, So away it went half striped into my room to be hidden away under a pile of clothes for a few months.

But the draw crisis had reached its peak, Annabel needed a bigger set than she had,  whats a Mum to do?? Something she really didn't want to that's for sure, Hall out the big half striped set and start all over again.

Two days of striping, sanding, fixing and painting we have this!!

And  HUGE thanks to Tracy for giving me the kick in the bum and motivation to do it all.

NZ Mug Swap 2013

So who wants to do a mug swap??? Sounds cool doesn't it??

Sadly, I think this is for NZ girls only this time, but be sure to go and check out my friend Alisa blog HERE  to get all the info and how to sign up.

So super excited for this one!!!

Look at that, a tidy room!!

Well, will you look at that, a tidy room!!  After I got started I found that 90% of the mess was clothes, clean ones at that!!  I have had a big influx of clothes coming into the house the past couple of weeks from friends and so it was really great to sort out and get rid of even more stuff that Annabel had outgrown. Now everything fits in her draws and wardrobe shelf nicely!! And one more bag of crap has gone!  

All up This didn't even take that long, one hour tops.  It really is amazing what you can get done in such a short amount of time.

To see the before photo got HERE

Project for the future, the wall by her bed needs to be redone

 *runs off to Pinterest*

This has become less of a dolls house, but more of a shelf....lol But I may have a plan for a play area, so if it all works out Annabel may just get her dolls house back!

The disaster I call my daughters room

I don’t know what it is about this room whether it is me or her or both of us but it just will not stay clean and organized!!!  Well a lot of it is me. I have been in a bit of a funk the past few weeks and can’t seem to get much done, but come on it’s not even my room!! if you remember a post from a couple of weeks ago, I said this house isn’t going to change itself and after another woe is me day yesterday, I woke up and thought its time I got on that.

I have had to re-remind myself of that fact. I will keep having to remind myself of that. Crap isn’t going to change itself woman, get moving!! And as my poker buddies like to say NOBODY CARES. No one wants to her your woe is me stories so get over it and get shit done!! 

Anyway to make myself get stuff done its time for some before photos, all brutally honest and normal, there is no editing going on here this is exactly how her room looked. And let’s face it most of you know I have no shame, if me showing you me before photos makes you feel better or helps you out in some way then hell, I am more than happy to do it!!

Yes I know this looks like a episode of horders

I will be back tomorrow for a progress report!!

(Meaning, I have mostly finished already but forgot to take photos)

Oh FYI

Just stopping in to say 

3  WEEKS SMOKE FREE

YAY go me!!!