flower

Lots of buds ready to open.

This little plant was given to me from my beautiful friend Julie.

They grow everywhere in Bali and I also saw lots in Thailand and Vietnam so they love heat!

When she gave it to me it was one little stem with a few leaves and it had flowered once.

It must be the perfect position next to the pool because every year it gets more stems and each stem puts out flowers.

I love looking out and getting a glimpse of pink against green foliage.

Such an amazing little plant.

organised?

It's a funny time of year, feeling relaxed and in holiday mode with the kids but underneath craving a routine and some order. 
Some days we are all a little lost with no direction and nothing planned to do. I don't think this is a bad thing.  My good friend Julie once told me it was good for children to be bored in the holidays, it showed they had totally relaxed and destressed. 
Most of the year it is full on with school and sport and study and jobs and responsibilities so to be bored is a good thing.
Tonight I opened my new 2011 family organiser calendar, that in itself is exciting to me with all the blank pages waiting to be filled with family life.  I tranfered some dates onto the january page, orthodontist, school start and uniform shop, then a couple on february but the rest of the year is a comforting blank.
I love stationary - notebooks, folders, spiral bound books, diaries, notelets and actually any paper product.  I have bits and pieces spread around the house and this year I have a desire to actually USE some of it.  All the cards I have put away for special things - USE them.  The notebooks and diaries - USE them for journaling.
Pretty things are mean't to be shared and that's what I'd like to start doing too. 
Sending friends a little card or note to say "Hi, I care about you".
These thoughts are in my head often but it's the following through that doesn't eventuate.
This year I'm going to really try.......

girlfriends

How special is it to have girlfriends.
I caught up with 6 girls today for lunch. 
We don't see each other often but all belong to an online group. 
We are all differant and beautiful in our own way. 
It is such a warm feeling to be accepted in a group, it's good for the soul.

America

We are going to America this year.

When I was 16 and my brother and sister were 12 and 14 we went with Mum and Dad.  Well now my kids are going to be 12, 14 and 16 and their Nan and Pop are taking all of us to America.

It's quite hard to comprehend for my kids, we have had a few overseas holidays to Vietnam, Vanuatu and Thailand but USA will be totally differant.

We have plenty of time to plan what we want to see because we aren't going until next Christmas.

Dad wants to spend Christmas in Disneyland and have 5 days in LA then off to Las vegas where my boys will have a huge adventure rockclimbing in the Red Rock Desert by day and we can enjoy the lights at night.  We are looking at doing a flight over the grand canyon from Las vegas and going onto the viewing platform.

For New Year we are planning a few days in Lake Tahoe.  My kids have never seen snow!  We want to have a day skiing and paying in the snow.

Next we are planning San Francisco for 5 days, visit Alcatraz Island and Pier 39.

To break up the trip home we are having 4 days in Hawaii.  This will be so much fun.

Rhys and I on NYE

It's the trip of a lifetime and I'm so grateful to my Mum and Dad for taking us all.  I'll keep my blog updated with our plans this year.

New Year challanges

 One huge challenge I have borrowed from my friend  Amber


To fill up my 'Experiences' money pot, by refusing to spend money on anything unnecessary in 2011.  This is my biggest challenge, but also my biggest excitement!

I'm making plans to use up a big chunk of my craft supplies; to make every single birthday and Christmas card by hand with the paper and stuff I have; to make do with my cupboard full of sheets, doona covers, towels and pillow slips; to use all my bowls, dishes, plates and mugs without replacing a single one; to limit my spending to food and basic household supplies only; and to wear, with pride, every single piece of clothing in my cupboard.   I have too many nice dresses that sit waiting for a 'nice day out'.  I'm going to make them a part of my everyday wardrobe.  

Anytime I'm tempted to spend, whether it be in the shopping mall (I'm going to seriously limit my visits) or the local fete/op shop (I don't need any more wooden or glass bowls ever!), I'm going to stop myself and make a point of putting these coins/dollars into my 'experiences' fund.  

And on weekends, we are going to visit more parks, more museums, more art galleries, more festivals, more workshops and more friends!  With home-made picnic food in tow!

 

How liberating......thanks Amber xx

funny little pictures