new beginnings

Wishing you all the very best for the new year.  May you be rewarded with happiness, peacefulness and good health.  I am not making new resolutions, but am going to focus on one little word ....energy..... being able to do the things I want to do, having the energy to do them to the best of my ability, sharing my energy with those around me, tapping into the energy of others to fill my energy tank, tackling life with positive energy, so let's see where that takes me ......... watch this space!

there's always the first try!

Caught in the act!



Look at the icicles on the roof!



While at IKEA (wish we had one of these in SA) in Perth I spotted a GINGERBREAD HOUSE KIT, and just had to have it.  Packed carefully in my hand luggage and nursed all the way back home, it unfortunately did not survive the journey without a little adjustment necessary to the windows.

CHRISTMAS WISHES

MAY PEACE BE YOUR GIFT

AT CHRISTMAS

AND YOUR

BLESSING

ALL YEAR THROUGH

SO UNNECESSARY!

I cannot begin to imagine what went through the teachers' minds in Newtown.  Yes, those children have been entrusted to you and what you do is exactly what they did.  You protect them as best you can.  I salute the teachers that protected the children to the extent of sacrificing their own lives.  DEDICATION TO THE END.  Thank you to +Stephanie Ackerman for having such a great heart and creating this doodle in remembrance of the children and teachers in Newtown.

away from the rush

we took atrip to the coutryside today.how wonderful to see shades of green, cosmos, banks of clouds, animals grazing and dams full of sparkling blue water. ahhhh, freshness!

CHRISTMAS MARKET

repurposing idea & a win!

My husband went on a mining conference and Carmen and I generally have a good rumage though what he brings back.  Anything interesting from a mining conference you might ask.  This time a gem!  A lovely hession bag - but unfortunately with a logo printed on it.  So here's what I did:

1. Found a piece of hession ribbon lying around
2. Did some blankt stitch over around the edges (my blanket stitch needs practise)
3. Added a red felt heart (I had made quite a few some time ago and cannot remember what I was going to do with them) to cover the one little piece of the logo that was sticking out.
4. Lastly a silver heart charm was sewn on the other hearts

Now, a new bag to use for whatever!  Took me all of twenty minutes to do.  So before you toss it see if you can recycle it!  Cannot wait for the next conference!

On another note, I have been lucky to win a few things over the years and yesterday was my latest win.  Cannot wait to taste, but the decorations are too nice to take off (have I mentioned that I still have the flowers that were on my wedding cake - lots of years ago!)  I know I should have cropped away the placemat  - at least you know now that we eat at the table!

back from the land of Gods and Goddesses

Wow 16 days (2 for travel) in Greece.  We arrived in Athens, stayed in a hotel that gave us the view of the Acropolis the minute we opened the curtains. Two days of exploring the city and then off on a tour to the Mereora and the monsastries and nunneries.  If ever you want to experience a quiet, serene and sacted place, then the Meteora is the place to go! Very special experience indeed!
Back in Athens for a night and then an early morning flight to Mykonos - the city of all kinds of people, small alleyways, breathtaking views and delicious ice cream! Three nights spent there and then on to Santorini.  We first took a ferry to Pathos and then a sea jet to Santorini - another experience!  After winding our way up the mountain and getting stuck in a traffic jam of busses, we arrived at our cave house, home for the next few days.  Santorini is all that the pictures say it is.  Lots of white walls and deep blue sea.  Fantastic food, great sunrises and sunsets and a surprise helicopter flip aroung the island while sipping on Moet.  Left Santorini with a sad heart, back to Athens for some quick afternoon and early morning shopping before we boarded the plane back to Dubai and ultimately South Africa and Australia.

This is certainly an experiece that everyone needs to go on.  It somehow takes you back to your roots and makes you think of who you are as well as what you would like to achieve in your life. Are the little things important? No, look at the bigger picture and that is what you need to aim for!

it's up, up and away today

this proves that time does not stand still! four very excited friends are being extremely BRAVE, leaving their husbands and children behind, all in the name of ME time and fun. it sounds simple, pack your summer clothes and go! however, being faced with the unknown is where the brave part comes in. 

we all need to lean on someone at some stage of our lives when bravery needs a little help  sotoday and for the next sixteen days i am going to be open minded and take each day a s it comes and just have fun! just enjoy every day for what it is

BE BRAVE! BE BOLD! CONQUER THE UNKNOWN AND HAVE FUN DOING SO!

wow, i did it, first pic on my blog.

woooooooooohoooooo!

PREPARING FOR AN EVENT

as i type, 4 girl friends are busy preparing for our long planned and well organised trip to greece.  not being a frequent flyer myself  i am having lots of meetings with myself, inspiring myself that i can do this.  still have some shopping to do, work out what to wear and what i still need to buy and walking shoes - how on earth do you choose those so that they do not look frumpy but have adequate support?  so here is my inspiration to myself.

TAKE ONE 'JOB' ON MY LIST AT A TIME

so now i have worked out what i will be wearing - grateful for the help of a dear friend, have packed my suitcase - cozzies too (just had to add that one in), had my lasttanning session and am going to do the last of my shopping tomorrow.

we all have the same "mama mia" ringtone on our phones - just to set the mood and to remind us of the awesome holiday we are going to have.

i still have not figured out how to export photos to my tab, so that job is now added to my new list of TO DO's.

i know this post does not seem inspiring, but my encouragement lies in "putting your money where your mouth is" - see previous post on lists.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE. Send me a little inspiring comment please

FROM TAB TO DESK TOP

No, I have not given up on this blog.  Days rush by as well as not being able to add new posts from my desk top computer, reason I just have not figured out yet.

Those of you that know me will know that I find great inspiration from quotes that I come across.  So here is one to think about.

"Don't let life discourage you; Everyone who got where he is, had to begin where he was!" - R Evans

a day that just does not seem long enough

so much to do and so little time to do it in - this comment is heard so many times.  so how do we get through a day such as today?
The secret is to PRIORITISE.  make a list at the beginning of the day and then just work at what is important first.
remember that the satisfaction of getting a job done and the feeling of contentment it brings is just so rewarding.
so tackle tomorrow with more enthusiasm, prioritise, don't make a task a chore, rather take on the challenge and feel that sense of satisfaction when it is complete.

Tomorrow is POETS day - so Push Off Early Tomorrow is Saturday.

all about this blog

our lives are rushed.  our days are full.  our inspiration runs low.  'me' time just does not happen.

sound familiar?

my intention is to try and motivate you to change your life, even if it just the way you think.