Reading...

I'm currently reading Z- a novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, wife to F.Scott, author of The Great Gatsby. Such an intriguing time in history, I've been looking forward to reading this book for awhile now.

Goodbye July!

Thanks for visiting!

 It was a good one, lots of new experiences, a couple of endings and some positive starts. I love a new month- it feels like the opportunity for a fresh new start and I can't wait.

See you in August! 

N xx

Getting Lost

Last night, on my way to a ballet class in the city, I got lost. Yep, lost in the very capital city that I have lived only forty-five minutes away from for my entire life.

You see I got off the train, all deer in the headlights, as you do when you get off a city loop train you have been sitting on for a while and I took the first escalator up toward the sky. Which funnily enough turned out to be the wrong one and I ended up coming out somewhere unexpected.  Instead of turning back the way I came (and this is peak hour too mind you) I just kept on walking.

I found myself lost in a labyrinth of multi-level shopping center come underground city train station, standing rather inconveniently, like a salmon trying to swim upstream, against a sea of people who all knew exactly where they were going and it was the opposite direction to me! I even had a near death, tourist-y experience when I tried to cross a little pedestrian crossing and was nearly hit by a bicycle!

I didn’t get out Google maps, I just kept on walking, hoping that I could find my way somehow in the right direction. And you know what? Eventually I did. I even had time to get my dinner (because eating a fish wrap and hot chips before putting on a pretty leotard is always a good idea).

I think even though I have always lived in the suburbs, I am a country girl at heart. Whilst the novelty of the rush and busy of our cosmopolitan city is nice sometimes, give me fresh air, open spaces and blue skies any-day.

It was just a little thing, I was only lost for a minute, and the feeling was more slightly nervous thrill than fear. I am telling this story because really, it just kind of reminded me of my life. One minute I was following this life path on which I thought I knew the destination and then all of a sudden I was lost. Sometimes it seems like everyone else knows where they are going, but my Google maps is offline and there I am, the salmon standing amongst the sea of people all going in the opposite direction. I guess it means you just do the same thing I did last night; follow the direction that feels right. Keep on walking, follow your instincts and suddenly things look familiar and you know how to get where you want to go.

Looking for the Lovely

I was sure that it was there if you tried really hard to look for it and sure enough, I was walking one of my puppies the other morning (early; before sunrise since that's how we roll around here) and I could hear lovely birdsong. Not just once, but lots of times when I actually stopped aimlessly walking and really payed attention to what was around me. So I'm aiming to look for the lovely everywhere now. When I walk, when I work and when I travel.
Now that I think about it, its probably even there when I am sitting in my car in traffic, which in itself is not usually a lovely experience.

 Here's to all the lovely still to be discovered! 

Embracing the season...

My life won't always be as it is now.
I won't always have money to spend as I please, or time to do with as I choose.
I most likely won't always be single and carefree and able to do as I like. One day, I'll be somebody's Wife or Mummy, or have another mortgage or greater responsibilities than just having to get up and go to work the next day.
And then it will be different.
But for now, I choose to embrace this season of my life, this very fortunate- second chance- I should feel lucky but I sometimes don't-season.
And sometimes I embrace it by buying lovely things that I like but that I really don't need.
I am so okay with that!

Back at work...

I made it through my first full work week! I always forget how exhausting it can be. I teach foundation, we call it Prep in Victoria and my students are between 5 and 6 years old. I love working with children and teaching is a very rewarding job, but sometimes the paperwork and non-teaching tasks and meetings can cloud over the good feelings!

This weekend, I am looking forward to having my hair done, a long walk and a long run, shopping, sewing and baking, with just a teensy bit of work thrown into the mix.

Sounds perfect to me!

Erin Condren Life Planner

My new 18 month life planner came yesterday! It's lovely, and I got the party dots this year instead of the multi coloured stripes I've had the past two years. I just love this planner, it has the best layout of all the planners and diaries I have ever used and the bright cheerful colours make it a pleasure to look at every day. Ill share more about how I use it soon! Ive even converted several of my work friends to use them too, lots of us are on our second planners.

Home again!

I flew in late last night and after catching up with some friends for an even later night couple of drinks, spent today washing, cuddling dogs, unpacking, opening mail and just generally getting things in order for the week and school term ahead.

I did bake some shortbread cookies too but they did not turn out to be photo worthy so I don't have a photo of them to show.

It feels like a fresh start tomorrow as its the start of a new term at school. How apt, I feel very ready for it indeed after a lovely restful break.

The beach

I'm not sure if its the sea air, the sand between your toes or the sound of the waves, but for me, there is something about the beach that make my heart sing.

Mooloolaba Beach- July 2013

Hex on the beach update

Two rows of my Hex on the beach quilt have been joined. It was quite a bit more difficult, as in stiff and awkward to join the rows since it was zig zaggy.

Tonight I'm going to start on row 3, there are some pretty corally-pink fabrics starting in this row which will be nice to work with.

On travelling alone...

Today was my first day on my own on this trip. It was a weird feeling, not unpleasant really but probably not something I'd like to do every day. I changed between feeling fortunate to have the opportunity to go around doing whatever I liked for the entire day, and feeling annoyed that I was on my own.

Luckily, in the interests of positive thinking, I spent more time in the 'lucky me' mindset which is a good thing.

Being on your own has many benefits. Want to spend 2 hours looking at quilts? Done. Dinner at 5:30? Sure. Lie in bed for an extra 45 minutes? Why not?

The thing I noticed the most about today was that I hardly spoke at all. Since I spend most of my workday talking almost non stop, it was a very pleasant change.

Well, it's an experience I guess.

Mile a day in July- Week #1

I've really enjoyed running everyday this week and slowly I've been able to build up from 1 mile (1.6km) to over 2km without stopping.

Unfortunately I did miss a day yesterday due to timing and weather so I walked with a friend instead. I can't worry too much about it though and plan to run twice tomorrow to make up for it.

As for motivation- having the dogs to go with me, and some cool new lululemon outfits has certainly helped me in this area!

Here's to more runs this month...

Packing

Heading up north for a week away, hopefully to warmer weather!

You can see a trend for polka dots and stripes here!

I managed to fit everything here into a small suitcase and I have my fossil keyper bag as a good sized carry on.

I'm off now to enjoy a friends engagement party and then put my alarm on for 4:45am!

Grey...

It is a dark and dreary day today and I am struggling to find the sunshine.

Hex on the Beach

I've started my Hex on the Beach quilt. My favourite thing about this quilt (apart from the design and the lovely fabric) is that it came pre-cut. Hooray!! No wasting time cutting out 1008 hexies, straight to the stitching!

I started a couple of weekends ago and as of yesterday have completed Rows 1 and 2. I've started the process of joining the rows together which seems to be taking longer than I planned.

Afternoon tea

I am a primary school teacher and I work at a small school. I am also very fortunate to work with some of the most delightfully funny and optimistic people I have ever met. One afternoon this week I hosted an afternoon tea here for the girls and whilst I didn't take many photos, we had such a lovely time hanging out together, chatting and eating yummy foods.

I baked this super simple tea cake. The recipe was from a CWA cakes recipe book and was very yummy! I must do this more often.

Lovely morning...

I think blue sky is one of my favourite things in the world. No matter the season!

ready set go!

I managed my first mile run today, 7 months after my second knee reconstruction. Wow, it felt good! I was pleasantly surprised at my endurance levels after all that time, still got some improvements to make but a great start. I usually walk fairly fast more or less every day so I'm sure that helps. I'm going to try to run every day in July. A mile or more a day!

In July...

In July I am setting myself some weekly goals.
Here goes:

1. Get running; I'm going to start running a mile (one and a half kilometers) every day and making healthier choices about what I eat, drink and how I move.

2. Think; I'll be travelling in the second week of July and I will be spending quite some time on my own. Perfect opportunity to start being a bit kinder to myself and thinking more positively.

3. Work; Looking forward to changing my attitude, getting things done more efficiently and enjoying my every-day.

4. Create; pen and paper, camera and iphone, needle and thread, yarn and hook.

Ready Set Go!