Kids Bed Love

 Tuesday 9th April

Love this fun kids bed !

Searching for items for my sons bedroom I came across this unique style bed

from  www.Hardwickandcesko.com.au

Would love to see it with blue rope too for the boys.

Karyn x

Gratitude comes in all forms......

The kids & I have been writing in a gratitude journal for the last couple of weeks.

I choose for my daughter a Kikki K 365 days journal as it had a day number at the top

& a whole blank page to write , draw or add a photo to her daily gratitude.

Initally my 6 year old son didnt want to do it but after a few days of seeing his sister & mum 

sitting together writing in our journals he was ready. 

So he decided to use his big Smiggle Jotter.

  

My journal is a gratitude journal from Kikki K 

given to me by my daughter for Christmas (off my wish list )

Everyday I am grateful when I pick it up &

feel the beautiful textured fabric it is covered in.

This is one of my favourite quote pages in the journal.

Words I am trying to live by.

I am amazed at what it difference it makes to our days.
My daughter is so more aware of " the little things "
she actually comments on them during the day.
While little one dosent write in it everyday he will say things he is grateful for
& is more aware of right from wrong.
And me , well it brings a peace to my heart & makes my day easier.
Funny though , you might catch me in another world , as a beautiful cloud has caught my eye
or a cool breeze has me mesmerized. 

Sometimes she writes 3 lengthy sentences of what she is grateful for

Here is this mornings happy & simple reflection

" I am grateful for waking up to a beautiful morning "

Ditto my darling

Karyn x

Welcome 2013 , Ive been waiting for you !

As I reflect on the year nearly behind us

a very turbulent year 

and look ahead with hope & excitement.

I had to stop trying to understand why the people closest to us when we needed them most turned their backs & I had to try to understand that some people just cant cope with helping people close to them ,  just in need of a hug , company or even a kind word of encouragement. 

I will never understand but I can let go & move forward.

If you have family that are close to you & are loving , caring & kind hold onto them tight & never take it for granted that they are there & give the same affection back to them.

2012 wasnt all disheartening. 

Why........

Because my two beautiful children were in it & they had some amazing positive experiences

My handsome sons first year at school we learnt what a bright boy he is , made lots of new friends & equally lots of parties to attend !

 My beautiful daughter's creativity continues & love of dancing. 

I have to thank God they had good times as well.

As I look forward , it will be with a positive energy .

I wish you all a wonderful year ahead full of all your hopes & dreams.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Karyn x

Seizing The Day..... a wonderful day

This beautiful day .......

 5am picked rambling gardenias from the garden ,

the scent was devine.......

6am Baking banana & cinnamon muffins ......

6.30am - the resident magpie dropped by I think because he could smell 

the muffins cooling on the windowsill

( can magpies smell , probably not ).......

8am - after breakfast , Master J decides he wants to do a painting

he painted a road with a truck & wrecker ......

10 am - time for morning tea 

12 noon - Lunchtime 

lettuce & tomatoes fresh from our garden.......

1pm - party time at Southport Aquatic Centre

Now this is where I left Master J with daddy watching

 when I had to go & pick up big sister from ballet rehersals.

He was jumping into a pit of foam

 ( it was supposed to be a pool party but as there was 

a threat of electrical storms , swimming was out for the time being)......

1.30 pm - When I came back this is where he was , standing on a 3 meter diving platform !!!

I call out " noooo"

 too late apparently he had already jumped off the 5 meter one just a few minutes ago...... 

2 pm - 4pm There was no stopping him.

He loved it. 

All the parents were sitting back watching the kids 

having the best time. 

When out of the blue & out of character for me , I said Im jumping in

in my clothes !!! What really , yep I did it !!

A little hesitation then just said in my mind DO IT !!

More parents followed.

The kids thought it was great , it was so freeing to just let go.....

( I was going to post the picture of me in my wet clothes 

Nah, still cant reveal myself , maybe that should be my next challenge ) 

Because of the storm threat earlier in the day , basically everyone had left 

& the party we were invited to were the only ones there.

I have never been there in all the years of living on the coast.

It was a great idea to have a party & our lifeguard was the best !!

On the way home ( in my still damp clothes ) I got the craving

for a good old fashioned hamburger.

I havent had one in years !!!

Stopped at Paradise Point , kids had chips & played on the sand after.

5.00pm - Of course the seagulls stopped by 

to see if we had chips to throw their way.

We bid them farewell & headed home.

6.00 pm - Kids bathed & in their cosy PJ's 

We had such an amazing day we didnt want it to end.

Out came the popcorn & The Lorax DVD.

Perfect Day

Have you had one of those lately 

or taken a chance out of the ordinary & just seized the moment ? 

I would love to hear about it

Karyn x

Winner & Powder Room Makeover Before Shot

I was a winner this week !!

I won a fabulous prize at a time it was really needed.

It was from the wonderful A-M ( 'The house that A-M built' blog ) & Masters Home Improvement

First I browsed for 2 hours the Masters website before finding many fabulous products 

I could finish off our long drawn out renovation !!

I was so excited I entered A-M's chance to win a $500 voucher , never thinking I would actually win !!

Then I received the amazing news

I WON

I couldnt believe it !!

Off to Masters we went to see all the products I had liked on line

We had just been to Nippers with the kids & called in on the way home.

I famously said to them " just having a quick look at a few things"

This was not the case.....

Mmmm it turned out to be a 3 hour quick look !!!

We kind of went from one end to the other , up & down every aisle & measuring & asking lots of friendly staff about different things from pots & plants to bathroom fittings , wallpaper & even timber decking & fencing.

We pushed the kids around in a huge double trolley to keep them happy ( even though I think a 6 & 9 year old dont need to be pushed in a trolley ) but you do what you need to do sometimes.

I wish I had taken a photo !

I wrote out a long ( very long list ) & came home with a gorgeous plant & wallpaper samples.

All the duck egg blue wallpapers I had thought I would use were just too pretty for the powder room.

But we had brought home one hubby had picked.

Now if you knew him , he is not into making decorating decisions at home at all. That is why when he suggested a wallpaper that was black ( and I thought personally was too dark , but I did love the print ) I humoured him and the sample came home.

I will admit I loved it when we got home because it was so striking , it was perfect !

( Please don't tell hubby I said that though )

So we narrowed our long wish list down to finishing the powder room & our patio area.

This is our little powder room area 

It has been like this for 12 months now

We will be using some of the Masters voucher to finish this off

Its open &  off the hallway

I predict in two weeks it will look totally different ,

it will finally be finished !!

Keep checking in for the big finale'

Karyn x

When life gets in the way of blogging........

My mantra 

I say everyday

****

5 months since I blogged , where has the time gone.......

Well here is the short version

full version will come over the coming days

18 months ago my husband was diagnosed with liver cancer ,

Went on a liver transplant list ,

Had a liver transplant 3 months ago ,

I had to try and run his business & look after two young children while he recovered in Brisbane

Meanwhile a multi national company opened up directly across the road 

from our business ,

80% down in sales instantly

we went under within weeks ,

closed down a business that had been there for 30 years ,

now unemployed for the first time ever !

Trying now to find a way to save our home.

*******

Have entered unchartered waters

Feel like I have aged 10 years but I 

have learnt I am a strong woman , stronger than I have ever imagined.

*****

Grateful for the chance my husband has been given to see his young children grow up.

 Saddened at the same time a life was lost for this gift to our family.

We must embrace life 

no matter what challenges lay ahead for our family.

*****

For now saying my mantra.....

Karyn x

Image: www.katrinaleechambers.com.au

Francessco , a fishy story.....

Our 'New' addition to the family

Its very hard to get a fish to stay still for a great shot !

Here are the supplies for set up we purchased at the pet shop in Oxenford ,

 I already had this bowl & was told it was 

perfect for one 'fighting fish'.....

First the kids added the rinsed white stones.....

Then we added the living plants & water with a few drops of water ager

There he goes being gently lowered in by two little peoples hands.....

Keeping a close eye as he swam around in his new surroundings....

Happy in his new home.....

We were going to get a puppy but we weren't ready yet

for such a big responsibility (in time Master. J )

We of course picked white stones & him for his stunning blue colour.

What a surprising joy Francessco is , we have since added a mirror we take in & out 

each day for his daily stimulation & exercise , as they are a fighting fish & we were told by the pet shop they need to.

Well my brother had gotten a red one the same week as us.

When his looks in his mirror he becomes very aggressive as you would expect.

But not our Francessco he looks in his mirror & says (in a French accent of course)

"I am a lover not a fighter" sure he fans out his beautiful tale but he likes what he sees.

Often when I am doing my bookwork at the bench he swims over & looks at me.

Its funny but with my youngest of to school now , 

Francessco is lovely to watch for a calming destraction when Im working.

He only eats a few tiny pellets a day & we clean his bowl about every 10- 14 days.

The only trouble we had for the first week was our cat took a interest in him.

The novelty wore off after a few days of putting a food net over his bowl when were weren't around.

Karyn x

All images Hope Island Home