2 to share...

Welcome to Wednesday...

Just popping to share my latest LOs with you...

The first one is using the Girl Kit over at Bon's. And this one is my first go at a palette in The Color Room. This one is Palette 14.
I've been loving paint lately... have you been using something a little more than usual lately, or is there something new inspiring you on your LOs?

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

New Look Blog

Hello everyone!

As you can see, my blog has had a bit of an overhaul... I am not entirely sure that I am happy with it, but perhaps it will grow on me :D

I have had a wonderful weekend with old friends and new; with family, and with God! I have so many things to be thankful for in my life! I will share with you in this post, the first few of my 'everyday grateful' photos...

First, I am thankful for God - He really is so good, and my life just wouldn't be so enriched without so many blessings from Him. I am grateful that I get to see the dawning of a new day everyday and I hope I get to see many new days for many, many years to come. (This pic was sunrise on the way to Melbourne on Saturday). Sunsets are one of my very favourite times of day, because they really are a work of art!
I am grateful for this gorgeous tree, that I have admired numerous time, and hope to take many portraits of our family sitting on it... it really seems to have grown just to have someone sit on that branch!

And I am very, very grateful for my Mum and that amazing person she is - as a Mum and a Nana and a woman. What are you grateful for today?

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

New Start

This week, I've been feeling kind of heavy, and dreary and dull.
I have been battling with being a mum, and, if I am completely honest with myself, being a SAHM... not having intellectual adult conversations everyday (no, not even with DH) and feeling like the only word my children know at the moment is 'Mummy'. I have, however been fortunate enough to receive some very nourishing soul food through worship and time with some amazing God-loving people who are so intoxicated with His love, it's contagious!
And this evening, I read this and it has smacked me right on the front of my head, that I have NO reason to feel dreary and dull and weighed down by the beautiful gift and 'job' I am ever so fortunate to possess. It is so inspiring to read Kelle's blog. In light of this and of my amazing worship experiences this week, I have decided it is time to turn over a new leaf... make a new start as a mum, and really look at the things I appreciate in my children and my family and myself as a mother and wife. It is time to really start living in the moment and focussing on the important things in my life, that I have been taking for granted and very wrongly perceiving as burdensome. I am going to take a photo everyday of the things I am grateful for, and though I may not upload everyday, I will share them from time to time, and will, over time compile them in a very special scrapbook, to share with my family and friends. Here's to a new me!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

2 done 2day

Hello lovlies,

No diatribe today... just the LOs I've done....lol.

The first one is my take on the July challenge over at this rockin' joint! So much fun!

And this one is a bit of a follow up from my *SIGH* post the other day, incorporating the July monthly sketch challenge at Bons.

And lastly, you absolutely HAVE to check this out if you adore gorgeous covered buttons and felt flowers! Such a gorgeous lil prize pack up for grabs...go and check it out!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

I really, REALLY do NOT {heart} Winter!!!!

H-h-h-h-e-l-l-o fellow eskimoes!

I don't know how cold it is in your part of the world, but it has been very cold here and I AM OFFICIALLY OVER IT!!!

I really loathe wearing so many layers of clothing! Why is it so impossible to find a jumper that is thicker than a piece of paper, that doesn't look like something Great-Aunt Mildred would have worn in the 80's, and that doesn't cost the same as the deposit for a small car??? Seriously, is it too much to ask that clothes designed for Winter are actually warm?? Today I have no less than 4 layers on, and because they are all so thin, I am still cold.... The only other option is to keep layering up the thin layers until I start looking like Mrs Michelin (Sp?). And as for skirts.... I am yet to find one anywhere around here that is warm, affordable and not made of polyester garbage that sticks to my legs and bunches up so much that it trips me up!! I am beside-myself-sick-to-death of jeans and track pants, and yet it is still only the middle of winter. How am I ever going to survive until Spring???? I think I might just have to hibernate in my bed, with the electric blanket on, until the big thaw!!

(Incidently, does anyone know of some nice, comfortable, affordable, WARM, non-bulky winter clothes I could find somewhere???)

On a totally different note, are you looking for some inspiration? Something to do on these cold winter evenings? Check out the following challenges, and the amazing kits at Bon's:

* monthly sketch

* Room of the Month

* Write Now Challenge

* Paper of the Month

* Girl Kit

* Boy Kit

How delish are these?! Hop to it and get creating!! I'll share mine once I have done them ;)

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

*SIGH*

School holidays... sigh.

The endless days of never having a moment to yourself... sigh.

The constant sounds..."Mummy!" "She won't give me it!" "Mummy!" "OWWWWWW!!!" "Mummy, can we watch tele?" "Mummy, Mummy, Mummmmyyyyyy!!!!" - you know the one - the "I-don't-actually-have-anything-to-say-I-just-wanted-to-scream-your-name-for-the-sake-of-it!" 'Mummy'... sigh.

The little dopplegangers that follow you from the second you open your eyes in the morning, to the loo, to the kitchen and around the island bench, from cupboard to fridge, like an inescapable, lingering presence, to the dining table, to the bathroom, from his room to her room to your room, back to the bathroom, to the laundry, to the clothesline ("can we go outside Mummy?" "ABSOLUTELY!!!" "Oh, Mummy, why are you hanging that up? Here, have a peg...ooops, I dropped my shirt on the ground....") Sigh.

The "I don't want to have a sleep!" accompanied with a high pitched "Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!" and a stamp of 2 different little feet... sigh.

The endless "Where is.............." questions... "my ball, my crayon, my dinosaur, my car, my book, my block, my stickers, my cool car, my big dinosaur, Dora, Tiggy...." etc... sigh.

The "When's Daddy coming home?" followed closely by "I want Daddddddyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!" and "You're not my friend anymore!"... sigh.

The ever ready stream of "Dowwwwwwwwwwwwn't!" and "Nooooooooooooooooooo, don't touch that!!!".... sigh.

"Mummy, how do you spell.............?" "Mummy, what does 154286254719258412985 make?" "This is miiiiiiinnnnnnnnnne!" by DS to DD, followed by "Sharing, remember" by said DS to said DD when he wants something of hers........ sigh.

And it's only day two! *SIGH*

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

One to go....

Hello lovelies,

I am one follower away from drawing a RAK.... spread the word while I go and rustle up some RAK-type goodness!!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo