Happy New Year 2019!!

Hello to everyone who might stop by this little space of mine, welcome.  I really wanted to have this written up last night but I writers block and things took a bit longer to come to me.  It is really nice to be back here in this space, I have missed writing. It always felt good being here and expressing how I was feeling or what was happening in my life.  These days I don't write about my girls as they are much more grown up and I want to respect their privacy so posts will probably be a bit more about me and my interests. As I haven't been in this space I feel like I wasn't as focussed on my goals for 2018 but I really wanted to evaluate them like I always do.

1. I continued with my regular exercise until my daughter started school holidays.  I also maintained a yoga practice but only at home, I still haven't found a yoga teacher.  I continued loving my self help books and read many over the year, this year I will keep a track of what I have read and share at the end of the year.  I feel like I had better resilience in many areas of my life but found it difficult to bounce back with my feelings after having a car accident in my new car.

2. I was more attentive in my relationships with friends and family.  I rekindled a lovely friendship in which I had some wonderful catch ups and beautiful conversations.  As my girls are growing, my hubby and I have ended up having many more unplanned dates which has been a lovely change.

3. I did this goal of healthy eating well but the area I could improve would be at lunch to have prepared more and have a better selection of healthy, tasty options.

4. So I started well with my 365 project and got to September and lost my mojo which was a little sad and disappointing.  I did not buy a computer or rectify my storage or print photos.  I also did not do any courses.  I will rectify this, this year as I am keen to learn and get out a little more by myself and meet new people.

5. I was good with my computer/social media free Sunday.  I did find I was going into instagram for a minute during the day and looking on my phone so I will improve on this again in 2019.  I didn't however limit my computer time to one hour each night, some nights I didn't get it out but I will try and stick to the hour each day.

I was looking through some of my old blog posts for the new year to see what my chosen words for the year were.  Here are the words I have used in the past:

- Learn (2011)

- Strive (2012)

- Enjoy (2013)

- Achieve (2014)

- No word was chosen (2015)

- Focus (2016)

- Nurture (2017)

- Thrive (2018)

and the word I have chosen for 2019.... Abundance.  Abundance in health, personal development, education and in the home.  These are the goals I have set for each of these areas of my life for 2019.

HEALTH

* Establish a morning and evening routine.  Getting back into the habit of meditation outside of my room in a created space just for meditating.  Setting a specific time for bed in the evening allowing for one hour screen free before bed and reading time.

* Eat more greens.  Make smoothies and continue to eat nutritious foods that make me feel full of abundance.

* Exercise three times every week including yoga.  Go to a new yoga class and interact with new like minded people.

PERSONAL

* Do something creative every day, crochet, cook, garden or photography.

* Set time aside weekly to pamper myself like a face mask etc.  Also this can include going to get a massage.

* To just do more and do less procrastinating.  Be organised and not worry about the time and effort required to get the job done, JUST DO IT.

EDUCATION

* Read books on health, happiness and personal development.

* Do one course on photography and one course on sustainability.

* Enrol in a first aid and CPR course.

HOME

* Develop a routine for keeping my garden neat and tidy.  Allocate 30 minutes each day to water, weed or trim.

* Declutter each area of our home.

* Organise the pantry, removing the plastic and replacing it with glass.

Thank you for taking the time to come by and read my lengthy post.  Have you had a good start to the new year so far?  Have you written any new year's resolutions for yourself this year?

9/365 Getting crafty

A new year and I am getting crafty, which I am super happy about.  Just a small little project but it's a great start. I am looking forward to lots my creating this year. Have you started something crafty this year?

362-365/365 'Happy New Year'

The last couple of days of last year were good.  We spend some family time together going to the museum and visiting the exhibit Undressed: 350 years of Underwear in Fashion as something a little different and quite interesting.  Then it was some couple time which also included a trip to GOMA for us where we could wander leisurely around, it was perfect.

So that brings me to a little round up of my goals I had for myself last year.  I had planned on blogging for the last time in 2014 last night but the mood just wasn't there.  Last year was a challenging year for me after almost 2 years of battling cancer my father passed away.  It has been so very hard learning to live without him, the grief, the sadness, the anger, so many emotions.  I never truly knew the depth of some emotions until I lost someone who was a part of me, who I was a part of.  I decided to pursue a 365 project to help me during a year I know would be difficult.  My love of photography was a connection I shared with my Dad so I felt it would be therapeutic for me and help me with my learning.  I kind of completed it in my own way and overall I felt that it helped me in my learning and made me think of my Dad often.  

As far as my other goals for 2014 how did I go???  I didn't get paid to photography people my stumbling block seemed to be coming up with a business name.  I did a favour for a friend and photographed their home so I saw it as a small step towards taking photos for others.  

Creating clothing..... I knitted a cowl and finished my shawl so kind of.  

My garden was doing well for most of the year however during a long dry spell I allowed it to go untouched, so I mostly achieved this goal.  

Believing in myself and pushing past invisible boundaries... I am still working on this one.  

Being more active in my life I felt I didn't put in the effort I needed to, I believe less screen time this year will help me with this.  

I was good for periods of time with mindfulness meditating and getting into a good state of mind but struggled a little with periods of grief.  

I made a conscious effort to catch up and talk with friends.  I opened my heart and developed some wonderful friendships.  One friend in particular was always there for me when I needed her and I will be eternally grateful to her for that.  

Being happy I needed to work on so I read lots of books, I wrote daily something to be grateful for and reminded myself just how good my life is despite the unhappy events that have occurred.

I suppose each year I write goals to help me focus on areas I feel I need to work on, some years I am really good and others no as much.  Whether or not things are achieved I am always learning, learning about myself and others and more about what life really means to me and that makes me happy.

I have written a few goals for myself, late last night so I am hoping they make sense to me now.

* To create more.  That might be sewing, knitting, crochet, making soap and more self sufficient baking like bread and jams.

* To take care of my health regularly going to yoga, getting more sleep, pampering myself with a nice facial at home, things like that.

* To continue my photography journey towards creating a business.

* To sow and grow food.  Gardening is good for the soul and my health.

* To be a present and calm person for myself, for my girls and for my husband.

* To be a better and happier me, letting go and moving forward.

* To have a great 2015!!!

Thank you to everyone who comes by to visit me, to those who comment and those who don't.  May your 2015 bring you much happiness, love and good health.

The Last Few Days

We celebrated the last day of 2012 enjoying a little bit of family time by the sea.  It was Molly's first time to visit the beach and what an adventure she had getting sopping wet, very sandy and meeting the odd over friendly dog or two.  It was a very quite drive home with one worn out dog and two tired girls in the back. There was some homemade fish and chips for dinner, banana milkshake and fireworks, it would have to be my favourite New Year's Eve.

There's been lots of home time, just hanging together before hubby has to go to work, we are all relishing the slow days of no routine, of sleep ins and dinners outdoors.

I've been outside in the cool of the afternoon today, waiting for the sun to go down to go out in the garden.  It was nice being out in the garden again, it's been a while.  The garden is now clean, weeded and the dying and spent vegetables pulled.  My new journal has been bought now it's just waiting for me to start filling it with my gardening journey, perhaps this week. I'm enjoying my enthusiasm for the start of the year I'm hoping I can continue, better get ready for bed then I really need to get that goal achieved.

How has the start of your new year been?

Wishing you a terrific Thursday.

♥

Happy New Year

I just wanted to wish all of my wonderful friends, the very best for 2011.  May 2011 bring you much happiness, special moments and good times with those you love. Did you see the new year in? We all managed well to stay awake and saw the new year in with close family sharing food, conversation and good company, it was a perfect start. Tomorrow I will share with you my inspirational word for the year.  I have seen this idea on some thoughtful blogs I enjoy reading and would like use the idea for my intentions for the new year. Enjoy your Sunday:)

This Christmas I got a few simple handmade pressies made just in time for the big day.  I was still sewing one of my nephew's hats on Christmas Eve, I procrastinated till I couldn't anymore but I got it done:)

So I made two aprons for little girls.

A few of these wallets using Lola's easy to follow pattern.  I added a bit of iron on velcro so that coins could be kept without falling out.

And a hat  for each of my nephews.

After all the sewing I really wanted to get back into crocheting and when I saw Jodie's coin pouch pattern I decided to give it a try. I'm thinking of making a few of these as gift bags for Miss 6's birthday party coming up and putting a couple of treats inside, what do you think?

I hope you have been enjoying your week and that you've been relaxing after Christmas.  It will be the new year soon, tomorrow is the last day of the year! Do you have  any exciting plans? We will probably have a quiet one at home but might go and see some fireworks for the girls.  Have a great night whatever you end up doing:)