craftjuice

status report: saturday 16 october, 7.27am

breakfast in bed

Finishing: throwing open all the windows in the house after all the rain - its a beautiful sunny (if not super windy) day!

Thinking about: getting outside in the sunshine

Just discovered: something has been nibbling at our grow-some-veges-in-an-egg-carton kitchen experiment...hmmm

Cooking: a yummo chilli omlette (and coffee)

Planning: maybe a trip to the botanic gardens today? or maybe go for a bushwalk with Miss M!

Checking out: the latest issue of Map magazine - I love it and reading my talented work colleague Frances' article on an amazing woman pioneering the graphic design industry in India.

Listening to: the wind in the trees outside

I really must: get inspired to do some crafting soon...

Watching: Miss M solve one of those slide puzzles. her brain is amazing. I'm in awe.

Wanting: to get dressed as quickly as possible to get ouside today!

Have just finished: unloading the dishwasher.  what a blessed invention that thing is.

Needing to: breathe in the sun and fresh air

Missing: having crafty stuff on the go

Hoping: to clear out the withered tomato plants in the garden and mow the front lawn!

Looking forward to: sweeping the rain debris away in our back sala - I find sweeping so meditative and love how it makes things look clean, fresh and in order.

status report: saturday 10 april, 7.44am

This little piggy wore sneakers...

Finishing: half an hour walk up the mountain and around the uni and half an hour hoola hooping and rhythmic boxing on the Wii Fit - yes my peeps...I've been EXERCISING!

Thinking about: getting serious about shaking this ass!

Just discovered: since Christmas, I've put on the equivalent weight of one of my Boston Terriers onto my body (I'm not going to tell you which one or where it went). This is alarming. And a wake up call. I want to be proud of how I look and a good role model for Miss M. And to fit in my clothes.

Cooking: Well, I still have to have a coffee, but today, food changes in my house.

Planning: some sort of gold star chart for me to motivate me to exercise and eat properly. And not drink like a fish.

Checking out: Beyonce's great ass on channel V - sure, she might be 12 years younger than me, been a dancer all her life and has good genes, but hell, surely I can look like an older, whiter, mildly slobbier version of her? Or not.

Listening to: Beyonce being Crazy In Love - those crazy kids with their short shorts and exploding cars.

I really must: make a list of all the things I'm going to do today - I'm feeling motivated to be productive!

Watching: my body recover from the shock of sudden movement this morning.

Wanting: a Virgin Mary. I'm addicted.

Have just finished: the second load of washing for the day already.

Needing to: make some lamb and vege soup...mmmm

Missing: creative inspiration

Hoping: this motivation to transform my body actually continues!

Looking forward to: seeing my best friend Glenn tomorrow for lunch (healthy lunch!) and seeing the new Jean-Pierre Jeunet film MicMacs - I can't wait!!!

status report: saturday, 3 april, 10.33am

Brunch: leek and potato soup with rye

Finishing: checking out Facebook - everyone's eating and chilling. Just like me.

Thinking about: this article about people who taste their words. What would 'Nerida' taste like? (The other white meat?)

Just discovered: how impatient I am waiting for my hot cross bun dough to rise...

Cooking: hot cross buns - post to follow soon featuring a hopefully delicious outcome!

Planning: some quick grocery shopping today to get the final things for my greek easter bread

Checking out: what is james wearing? I love James. I really do.

Listening to: nothing in particular today, although I've got Babylon Circus in my head. I wish I could speak French.

I really must: eat less chocolate eggs - I have to eat two at a time - one for each thigh.

Watching: Scooby Doo

Wanting: a massage - my shoulders are killing for some reason? maybe I slept funny. like a clown.

Have just finished: downloading some new apps for my iPhone

Needing to: check my FlyLady list today - it is making such a positive difference to my life!

Missing: nothing much in particular...

Hoping: for a bit of rain later this weekend - it's not Easter until it rains!

Looking forward to: checking in a minute my hot cross bun dough has risen and baking them! yum!

status report: saturday, 26 march, 8.11am

Saturday morning tunes...

Finishing: morning coffee! of course.

Thinking about: worlds colliding, even if momentarily.

Just discovered: this great colour palette generator app from Big Huge Labs! FABULOUS.

Cooking: hmmm...feeling a bit cassoulet. or maybe paella. even though its early.

Planning: on getting dressed soon - still in my pjs! laaaaazy morning...

Checking out: how big a paella pan I can get away with that will still fit on my stove top. the bigger the better I reckon. 

Listening to: Babylon Circus, Jason Mraz, Elana Stone and Sola Rosa

I really must: shave my legs. you really needed to know that.

Watching: The Longest Way - watch it. watch it now. it only takes 5 minutes.

Wanting: hugs and kisses

Have just finished: my hip exercises that the chiropractor gave me to do - feeling SO much better! even my feet have stopped hurting.

Needing to: clean up the bathroom - its a little out of control with girl stuff. which is odd. 

Missing: hanging out with Tiff at La Cigale this morning with a coffee and almond croissant.

Hoping: to relaxxx this weekend and recharge - its been a difficult week.

Looking forward to: exploring the second hand shops today to try and find some quackers...

status report: sunday, 28 february, 8.54am

my pet Golden Orb Spider who guards the dog food from the Indian Mynas

Finishing: feeding the doggies - they had a tasty treat of left over lamb shank stew!  lucky ducks.

Thinking about: the tsunami!

Just discovered: caterpillars have completely eaten my favourite asian lettuce overnight - shake of the fist to you!

Cooking: doing more lamb shanks in the slow cooker to make risotto tonight!  I'm on a shank-a-thon.

Planning: to clean up downstairs...soon...

Checking out: the BOM for more tsunami updates - I don't think its going to be too bad. If it is, I might have to go into work.

Listening to: the local ABC radio - how I love listening it on the weekends! (Newsnerd)

I really must: clean up downstairs - I really just don't want to. Motivation zero.

Watching: Mr S's vid of mud soaked ravers at Above and Beyond last night - crazy mofos!

Wanting: for Winter to come - thank goodness its (supposed to be) the last day of Summer today - this heat and humidity just makes me sweaty and cranky.

Have just finished: wishing my friends Yoka and Susan a very happy birthday today!I hope they get spoilt rotten!

Needing to: put on some lippy and get going over to pick up my mum - we're going to see Valentine's Day this morning! My first adult movie in about 12 months! Mmmm....Bradley Cooper...

Missing: my earrings - where did I put them? 

Hoping: to get out and do a bit more gardening this afternoon - the front garden is starting to look a bit more tidy and decent. Its only small, but its all I've got to be proud of.

Looking forward to: getting in the air conditioning at the cinema!  And maybe a choc-top icecream...

Ciao!  Have a great Sunday! (Especially you Kaz! x)

status update: sunday, 21 february, 8.27am

The last time Miss M and I went to the museum, I took lots of photos of the specimen boards - I love these - the detail of them is fantastic and I love how each species is placed oh-so-carefully next to one another in such a uniform, yet interesting way. I often think that these specimens (just bear with me on this one) must be so proud to represent their species for everyone to see and look in detail at them, when if they landed on your picnic blanket, you'd probably only give them a cursory glance. These boards freak the freak of my inner curator! (And is it just me, or do they also look like button sample boards...?)

Finishing: tidying up the morning mess...how can my house get so untidy in only two hours?!

Thinking about: what we're going to do today - I know what I NEED to do, but what do I WANT to do?

Just discovered: that my dogs have a love of fresh herbs.  My newly planted herb pots have all been chewed down to tufty stumps.  Apparently the Vietnamese Mint is a huge favourite.

Cooking: Vegemite toast. I like leaving the toast go cold before I put on the butter and vegemite. I don't know why. I just do.

Planning: I'm not planning anything actually, just flailing about aimlessly this morning. I need a plan.

Checking out: one of the new fashion mags and feeling less than adequate. I could never look like that in a thousand years. Although I could probably put a little more effort into trying to.

Listening to: the washing machine beeping at me because I need to re-balance it on its spin cycle. Sheets and towels wash.

I really must: do something constructive. Instead of...

Watching: morning cartoons with Miss M.

Wanting: to re-paint my green wall downstairs in bold, colourful, horizonal stripes - is that a good idea? I've chosen five colours - too over the top?  I'll post my colour choices and you can let me know.

Have just finished: my coffee - not sure one is enough this morning.

Needing to: make a start on the de-cluttering!  Thanks everyone for their tips! Most helpful and motivating.

Missing: my crafting mojo.  I think I need to have a really big project to get me started and work through to get me back in the swing of it again. I'm thinking a big quilt for Miss M using my jelly roll. Go bold I say.

Hoping: that its not so hot and humid today. I need to mow the lawn.

Looking forward to: an afternoon family BBQ at my brother's house.

status report: sunday, 14 february, 11.05am

Zucchini flowers are prettier than a bunch of daffodils...and tastier when filled with cheese and dipped in batter.

Finishing: my shopping list for today...and it even includes some things for me! New make up and new lipstick! Red of course.

Thinking about: how I choose to celebrate Chinese food and wine over hearts and flowers today :) Gong xi fa cai!

Just discovered: all three of my little elkhorns have new little light green leaves spreading across their composty mass - must have been all that rain last week. I just put them up a few weeks ago so I feel happy that they are happy in my garden! I've strapped them directly onto the tree with my nude colour fishnet stockings - saucy gardening!

Cooking: nothing! I'm fasting for tonight's Chinese New Year feast!

Planning: the same stuff I was planning to do last week. Oh dear. Me needs some motivation.

Checking out: some sexy new legs for Winter!  Mmmmm....yum.

Listening to: Sola Rosa - Wellidub at its best! Perfect tunes for a Sunday morning.

I really must: find the perfect Chinese New Year t-shirt for our feast this evening.

Watching: the dogs chase a mouse in my house (Mouse 3: Dogs 0). I live very close to Toohey Forest, so mice in the house are quite common unfortunately...time to become a mouse hunter once again. At least the goannas don't hide under my oven...!

Wanting: to de-clutter my life - anyone have any good tips on where to start?! A simple life for me.

Have just finished: having a coffee by the pond and scooping out all the bamboo leaves.

Needing to: take the clothes off the line.....*sighhhhhhh*

Missing: Miss M so much - although I talked to her on the phone this morning and we had a good chat about her wonderful weekend at Nannie and Peepa's house. She has requested bagpipes this morning, so their next door neighbour will give her a rousing bagpipe recital from his deck across the valley. The power over others that little one has...

Hoping: for just even a little love today ;)

Looking forward to: tonight's Chinese New Year celebrations with my favourite peeps at our favourite restaurant - almost a fifteen year tradition for us of feasting, wining, buying cheap (yet fabulous) souvenirs, feeding the dancing lions our money in little red envelopes, laughing, eating and generally being unruly. So much fun!

From this water rat, gong xi fa cai to you all and welcome the tiger....

(And love to you all for Valentine's Day) x

status report: sunday 7 february, 8.45am

My most favourite photo I took at Nezu Shrine, Ueno, Tokyo. This gorgeous old man was on his (I can only romantically assume) daily pilgrimage to the shrine that's hidden in the photo on the right. On the way he and his well behaved little dog fed the pigeons from his bread scraps in the plastic bag he's carrying down the path. He stopped and took his hat off and prayed at the shrine. It was one of the most beautiful and moving experiences of my life and I was so pleased I could capture it forever. Look at the light too - it is magical. I keep this photo in my kitchen and look on it every day.

Finishing: putting away the morning's kitchen clutter

Thinking about: how I was recently reminded of wanting to flit away to Tokyo and how this is now preoccupying my thoughts over the past few days. I think it has been made worse in that its raining here today and, well, I love Tokyo in the rain.

Just discovered: that the rain has filled up my pond to bursting and the fish are beside themselves with the cool and fresh new water.

Cooking: making Miss M's porridge and a coffee for me. We slept in a bit today.

Planning: what I'm going to do today. I need to do the groceries, another load of washing (doh! the rain!) and get some little packages in order for posting - Jaq, Tiff and Maya should all recieve packages in the next few weeks!  I also need to make some little 'welcome to the world' pressies for new babies by Fiona, John and MJ. And I might even tackle getting all my baby stuff out of the house. Baby is now big girl and the baby-stuff clutter is driving me insane.

Checking out: my leaking roof in at least four places, wet ceilings, soggy carpet in my bedroom and growing sense that a phone call needs to be made next week...

Listening to: some music from Canadian band Metric and assessing if I like it...I think they sound a bit like Garbage. As in the band, not that it's rubbish!

I really must: clean out the retreat upstairs - its a shocker.

Watching: Shaun the Sheep its just so funny!

Wanting: to get my body moving and get my 'old body' back, but wondering how I can do that with the limited time I have available to me when all I want to do with that time is flop on the couch, breathe and watch tv!

Have just finished: feeding the dogs and wondering how I can get Zebbie (who is a little piggy) to stop eating Max's food (she's a grazer)

Needing to: file my bills. They are paid, but just all over the house.

Missing: a ticket to Tokyo!

Hoping: that the rain continues...

Looking forward to: seeing Pablo Francisco at The Tivoli on 20 April! Woot!

status report: friday 1 january 2010, 8.43pm

Finishing: 2009 - thank goodness - one of the most challenging years of my life - I was diagnosed with clinical depression in July (I am doing and feeling so very well now thanks to some very clever, loving and supportive people) and I amicably separated from Mr B in September (its OK - all very friendly and he lives just around the corner now).  Have spent the last months simply exisiting, managing and getting through the worst of both these things and am proud to be looking positively towards the future for myself and for Miss M.

Thinking about: 2010 - my year of new beginnings! The possibilities are very exciting...

Just (re)discovered: the satisfaction of writing down my goals for the year and knowing that I can achieve them if I put my mind to it. (Even the ones to lose some weight and get fit!)

Cooking: up some great plans...looking after myself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually (as well as some great plans for a holiday or two and doing up the house a bit!)

Planning: carefully how I'm going to juggle all this with working full time and being a sensational mum to Miss M as well...hmmm...the trickiness of work/life balance and maintaining sanity! Lucky for wine, blogging and sensational friends.

Checking out: a great new app on my new iPhone (yes! I now have an iPhone and LOVE it) for tracking my goals called Make It Happen.

Listening to: my friend Todd's New Year's sensational party mix mash up

I really must: 'reset' my Bloglines so I can keep up with all my favourite blogs again...oh how I've missed being amazed, delighted and inspired by my blog posse's wonderful posts and projects (as well as their daily insights, lives and humour)!

Watching: I must confess I'm watching the Southpark marathon on Foxtel - and loving it! I'd forgotten how outrageous and funny it is!

Wanting: to give craftjuice a bit of a refresh and get my much neglected one night only kick started again.

Excited about: my friend Maya's new baby girl Evaline Rose (and wondering if Fiona B has had hers yet!?)

Have just finished: another beautiful day with my beautiful Miss M with a Scooby Doo movie before bedtime (I think Daphne has had some 'work done' for this movie...)

Needing to: pack the dishwasher, tidy up, wipe down the kitchen and find that other glass slipper...(I wonder who has it?)

Hoping: it will be a fine day tomorrow so I can get out and about with Miss M - the weather here has been very rainy over the past week (but it has been so lovely)

Looking forward to: so many things! Spending more time with Miss M before my holidays finish, some new purchases from MaxShop arriving on my doorstep, starting a new role in strategic planning at work next week (until Easter!), seeing my friends back at work, some sewing on the weekend (I'm thinking about embellishing Anthropologie style) and starting on my way working towards my goals in 2010!

Here's to a sensational 2010 - Year of the Tiger...grrrrrrrr!  Are you ready? Let's go!

status report: sunday 13 september, 5.12am

it's too early to be up on a Sunday, even for me.

Finishing: rubbing the sleep out of my eyes

Thinking about: coffeeeee

Just discovered: coffeeeee

Cooking: Miss M's porridge and coffeeeee

Planning: planning? I can't even think yet

Checking out: the moon, still shining in the sky...

Listening to: morning silence...even the birds aren't up yet

I really must: coffeeeee

Watching: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (do you know how that sounds at this hour of the morning? waaay too perky)

Wanting: coffeeeee

Have just finished: finished? haven't even started!

Needing to: coffeeeee

Missing: coffeeeee

Hoping: coffeeeee

Looking forward to: putting together my new Ikea Expedite bookcase today. and coffeeeee.