The Last Post

Posted on February 11, 2012

I’m not talking about the bugle call, although it could be fitting.

I have decided that after roughly two and a half years I am calling it quits.

I will no longer be blogging.

I am closing my Learn Create Do Twitter and Facebook accounts.

There are a number of reasons why but the prettiest of them is Time.

I simply do not have the time to blog as well as work, create, care for my home and family, and care for myself.

And since my blog’s motto is “Making time for me … and my Family” I thought this was the first place I could make that extra time.

Before I go I want to say a heartfelt “thank you” to all who followed, read, commented and liked my small place on the interweb.

Now to get up the courage to push that publish button…. one, two, three…

Over and out,

Sam x

Pinterest Monday ~ Dr Who

Posted on February 6, 2012

I’m now linking up to Tina’s meme Piquing my Pinterest which is run on Sunday’s, however I’ll still be posting my pins on Monday as I’m already doing Sunday Selections, and linking up the following Sunday…double the fun! You can still head on over to Tina’s and check all the pinning from yesterday.
Late last year I rediscovered Dr Who and watched every single episode from 2005 on. (And then got into Torchwood). I think I talked about it so much at home that my family gave me a range of Dr Who merchandise for Christmas. My obsession has extended to Pinterest where I now have a board dedicated to all things Dr Who.

** All images are linked to their original source. Just click on them for more details **

Cool mug with a lid… want!

I collect teapots…Want!

Love this cupboard. So cute.

I want to do this to our fridge!

I thought this was hilarious, even though I am also a Twilight fan. (Is that allowed?)

For more Dr Who goodness check out my Dr Who board on Pinterest.

** All images are linked to their original source. Just click on them for more details **

Sam x

Sunday Selections

Posted on February 5, 2012

I’m linking up with Kim from Frog Ponds Rock for Sunday Selections. I’ve been scrolling through my photos for my Feb LOAD (Layout a Day) project and I came across these ones from July 2009 that I must have taken when I picked Grace up from school one day.

The first one makes me sad. Some graffiti is just not art. The owners of the house had just put the fence up. This is also the pathway that leads to the school so every kid sees it.

Looking in the other direction is the oval I used to walk across to the school, surrounded by trees and a gorgeous sky… that day.

Kim from Frog Ponds Rock is participating in the Leukemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave 2012. You can check out her blog post about it here. You can make a donation to this very worthy cause by sponsoring Kim here. Please help Kim reach her goal.

Have a fab week!

Sam x

OLW One Little Word Feb12 Blog Hop

Posted on February 1, 2012

Nihao, Cupcake! Blog Welcome to a new year of One Little Word blog hopping hosted by Margie who has also created the above new button. (Have you grabbed yours yet?)

For those of you not familiar with One Little Word (OLW), it’s is a class being run by Ali Edwards at Big Picture Classes. My One Little Word for 2012 is Home. (All posts on my OLW for 2011 and 2012 can be found here.)

Last year my word was Create, and boy did I spend a lot of time (and $) creating and learning so many new things. This year I’m focusing on the Home… my house and family.

My pre-class title page:

In 2011 we went though a rough patch and the photo below that I’m using for January was taken on our 15th wedding anniversary, at a time when I was really unsure of our future. Thankfully we are working through it, but this was a real turning point where I realized that I needed to do more (as we both do) to make our house a home. We worked hard to build it. Now was the time to nurture it.

I’ll be spending this year working on unpacking the last of our boxes from our move 2 years ago, and decluttering what’s in the boxes as well as the stuff that is starting to accumulate. I’ve worked out a plan where I’ll spend each month concentrating specifically on one room, decorating, adding display areas/shelves, putting pictures on the walls.

January was the month for Grace’s bedroom. We purchase a new desk for her which meant we had to rearrange her room a bit, and also a small bookcase with baskets for her bits and pieces. She wouldn’t let me do much more that that… being a 13 yo… so it was left to her to sort through her clothes and donate those that she had grown out of. February is the time to work on our bedroom.

To me Home is also about family and the people you love. The ones you want to come home to. January is school holiday time here so DH and I both took time off work and we went down the coast for a holiday. It was good to just get away. Funny how being away from our house made me feel more at Home.

Above are my 9 canvases which helped me define my word and why I chose it. The quote really hit Home with me.

“A house is made of walls and beams

A home is built with love and dreams”

~ unknown

When I think of a home I often think of the fantastic Australian movie “The Castle”, especially this scene and in particular Darryl Kerrigan’s lines at 4:05

Classic stuff!

I’m looking forward to what February will bring.

Thanks for stopping by my place.

Next on the list is Monica so hop on over and check out her One Little Word. There are more fabulous people participating in this blog hop which commences at 8am PST (Pacific Standard Time). They are listed below if you would like to start from the beginning… See you all again next time !

Sam x

Wordless Wednesday 01 Feb ~ Emo: Let Me In

Posted on February 1, 2012

Sam x

Pinterest Monday ~ Food Glorious Food

Posted on January 30, 2012

I’m now linking up to Tina’s meme Piquing my Pinterest which is run on Sunday’s, however I’ll still be posting my pins on Monday as I’m already doing Sunday Selections, and linking up the following Sunday…double the fun!
This week I am starting the 1 Million Kilo Challenge. No I’m not planning on losing a million kilos (even though it sometimes feels like I have that much to lose). By using their menu plan and (trying to) following their exercise regime over the next ten weeks I hope to get some of my Moving More, Eating Well happening…. but more of that later in my MMEW post on the 10th Feb (ish). Anyhoo, a lot of people have been saying in the forums that they think a lot of the food will be wasted as the quantities consumed is far less than the quantity you buy. That reminded me of some pins I had on my “Food Stuffs” board.

** All images are linked to their original source. Just click on them for more details **

Spring onions in a bottle in the freezer! I have done this yesterday. It will be interesting to see how long they last.

Salad in a Jar! I’ve not tried this yet but I can see how it would be quick if to make these to take to work. Some people have tried this by including other veges but they don’t seem to stay as fresh longer term.

This looks like a great catering idea rather than having one big platter and pots of dip. (I’d be real classy and use plastic cups so I wouldn’t have to wash up!)

I try to have at least one cup a day.

Gotta burn that fat!

This looks yum but I’d have to remove the waffles being on the no wheat, no gluten thing…. so I guess that makes it a fruit salad.

Now I have tried this recipe and it is so delish! Well it does have nutella in it so of course it is. I’m not sure how healthy it really is though. Maybe as an occasional treat. (The ice block thing didn’t work for me so it’s probably best in a container)

For more yummy goodness of the not so healthy variety and nutella droolings check out my Food Stuffs board on Pinterest.

** All images are linked to their original source. Just click on them for more details **

Sam x

Sunday Selections ~ Puss

Posted on January 29, 2012

I’m linking up with Kim from Frog Ponds Rock for Sunday Selections. Sometimes when I’m photographing the cats they just don’t cooperate. This can make for some interesting as well as terrible shots….here’s a few of them.

Puss wouldn’t look at me as she was weary of our other cat, Emo, sitting in the garden.

Finally looking at the camera… just a bit too close.
Not your best angle Puss.
Have a fab week!