47 things in review

 

On 17 January, I posted 47 things.  Here are some of the things that are going well...

1. have regular facials - I have enjoyed several facials this year, with another one booked for tomorrow
2. learn how to use my new iphone - love it!
3. buy an ipad - love it!  I am now officially an apple convert
4. try out some new recipes - my attempts include chicken curry and lemon curd cheesecake, yum
5. scrap more.  lots more
6. go for more walks
7. complete a 30-day photo challenge - the Scrap Addicts did the photo challenge with me and then I moved home, so we haven't actually had a 'show and tell' of all the photos
8. unclutter at least every 60 days - moved home, so I did a major unclutter and donated a car load of goodies to the Randburg SPCA.  I still have a few boxes of supplies for Elizabeth's school
9. simplify and be organised
10. be brave.  try new things
11. go deeper in my faith - my friends Pat and Cathy have joined me to do a study on the life of David, and we're now busy with a study on the 10 Commandments.  I have loved the learnings and the fellowship with friends
12. eat more cupcakes
13. do more online classes at Big Picture Scrapbooking
14. focus on my 1 little word - MOVE
15. focus on what matters most to me
16. spend time with friends and family
17. take 5 big steps forward towards living and working more creatively - there is a lot of stuff bubbling in my head around this goal, I have also attended a few talks and workshops to help unfold my dream of living and working more creatively
18. try new healthy foods
19. always remember - I am an artist

19 out of 47 is not great, but making progress.  Moving home has knocked the wind out of my sails a bit.  I'll get back on track during the next 6 months as I settle down and get more comfortable in my new home

Weekend in review

The 5 scrap addicts and my friend Pat gathered at the Good Shepherd Retreat at Hartbeespoort Dam on Friday afternoon in sunny winter weather.  Lynn and Pat were already there, and the urn was on for the first of many cups of coffee

Lynn and I as the scrap weekend begins on Friday afternoon

The Scrap Queen gifts are always a highlight of our scrap weekends away.  The 'gift bags' are plastic tubs from Westpack which cost the same or less than a gift bag from CNA, the tubs cost only R39-90, and are great for storage afterwards.  Everyone puts 2 gifts into each tub, so we end up with a big girl lucky packet.  Love it!

The contents of my Scrap Queen gift basket

Lynette, Linda, Leonie, Pat and I

We managed to host a surprise bridal shower for Lynn on Saturday morning.  She says that she really didn't know about it.  Lynn and Richard celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this week, and will be renewing their vows on Sunday.  The scrappers each provided a gift consisting of a pamper item, a kitchen item, and a naughty item.  Here Lynn is wearing some of the naughty items.  Her sister Noleen says that she looks like one of the village people, hilarious!

On Saturday afternoon, I did a lesson for the ladies using Tim Holtz inks to decorate tags and to dye ribbon.  Pat did a lesson on making beaded flowers

The sunsets over Hartbeespoort Dam are incredible, especially when it's a bit cloudy

Leonie brought a pack which includes Easter bunnies - you make them yourself and it takes a looong time to finish one.  Lynn made these bunnies while I was in dreamland on Saturday night, she worked until about 2 in the morning.  Thanks my friend!

Packed and ready to head home on Sunday afternoon.  We were all really sad to leave the convent

Randomness

Sleep  |  Since January, I have deliberately been sleeping more at night.  I used to average 7 hours sleep a night, I now average about 8 hours sleep a night most days.  I don't feel any better  or more rested or more well.  What's up with that?  Maybe the experts are wrong...

Martha Beck  |  I went to her talk "discover the life you were meant to lead" at the Hyatt yesterday.  It was interesting.  But I don't always 'get' Martha

Paper monster  |  I have been doing some filing in my office every day for a week.  Lots more still to go.  I am taming the paper monster.  Just a bit

Juice  |  I'm loving freshly squeezed orange juice at the moment.  I don't generally drink fruit juice or cooldrinks

Changes  |  I am going through a monster amount of changes in my life.  Sometimes I panic in the middle of the night and my heart beats and I'm afraid.  Sometimes I just know that everything will be ok.  I remember that God is in control.  I get comforting messages from the bravegirlsclub  I breathe again

Leadership lessons from Nelson Mandela

I recently attended a talk by Debora Patta on the Leadership Lessons from Nelson Mandela.  As a journalist, Debora worked closely with Nelson Mandela after his release from prison, and during his first few years as President of South Africa.  She is a phenomenal speaker. 

Here's the list of Leadership Lessons...

Courage is not the absence of fear, but how you deal with your fears.  There were many time when Mr. Mandela was afraid, but he didn't show it. The more you pretend to be brave, the braver you become.  Courage is a lost virtue, and needs to be rediscovered in the workplace of today

Know when to say no, and let your no be firm.  No is a lot kinder than ambiguity and uncertainty

Learn to persevere more.  Mandela was a marathoner in his thinking, not a sprinter.  He focused on the long term end result of an issue, not short term quick-fixes.  We give up too easily, too often

Do the right thing, even if other people perceive it to be the wrong thing.  Speak truth to people in power, even if you are afraid

Mandela believes that everyone has one core principal in life (I wonder what mine is?  What is your core principal in life?)

You have to know when to compromise

Grow your own garden.  Mandela tended a small vegetable garden during his years in prison - he says it helped him to disconnect from the world and put things into perspective.  He still tends his garden today.  Everyone needs a hobby.  Take time to switch off and reflect.  The deepest insights come from these quiet times

Think laterally when trying to solve a problem.  Mandela used rugby to unite a society which was deeply divided along racial lines.  Go outside the box, look for unusual solutions

True leadership is about humility and serving others

Weekend in review

Oh my goodness, I definitely have a bit of the winter blues, and I've been battling a sore throat and ears for the last week.

Pansies always make me happy, so I planted a few trays of smiling faces (gesiggies) near my front door on Saturday.

I always need somewhere to put my handbag and the things that I am carrying when I get home, while I fight with the bunch of keys to open the doors.  This butler's tray from Lifestyle Garden Centre is now the catch-all at my front door.  And it will be perfect to serve welcome drinks to visitors in summer

Leonie and I went to Steve Hofmeyr's Haloda show at Emperor's Palace on Saturday night.  It was a coincidence that we both decided to wear red!  Steve's music was awesome, he is a gorgeous gorgeous delicious man (yep - I have a total crush on the South African bad boy of Afrikaans music), and I loved catching up with Leonie - we've both just been sooo busy during the past few weeks that we rarely speak to each other

I haven't had much time to play on my ipad, so a few extra lessons will be helpful.  I found this magazine at the Cape Town airport bookshop last week.  Most urgent - I need to figure out how to back up my ipad

It was freezing cold and gloomy weather on Sunday, so I spent the day in my scrap room.  I made these gift jars for some friends

My article on travelling to Italy with Ali Edwards has finally been published in the Scrap Affairs magazine.  The Editor didn't tell me it was being published, my friend Pat let me know.  Whatever...

I am packed and ready to roll - the Scrap Addicts and Pat are scrapping at the Good Shepherd Retreat this coming weekend

...and this is how my workweek starts on most Monday mornings.  I work on my laptop in my study and miss Ruby catches a cuddle 

I've got a good week to look forward to - I'm taking my staff out for a mini spa day and high tea tomorrow, I'm going to a talk by Martha Beck on Wednesday, and then we're heading off on a scrapbooking retreat on Friday

Just a list

eating  |  soft boiled eggs and buttery toast

drinking  |  more tea than coffee

reading  |  "A sweethaven summer" by Courtney Walsh

wearing  |  Flowers by Kenzo perfume

planning  |  a scrapbooking retreat later this month to the Good Shepherd convent

hoping  |  that the home renovations come to an end really soon

missing  |  my brother Robbie and his family.  And Bella

thinking  |  how lucky I am to have such awesome friends

12 things on 12 June 2012

1.  I am really missing my creative therapy of scrapbooking and doodling.  I made these promise cards on Sunday for the Bible Study girls, the first bit of creativity in my new home.  Just some stamping and washi tape.  Loved the creative process

2. I am in Cape Town for 2 days on business

3. Purple is my new favourite go-to colour right now.

4. I made chicken curry for our Bible Study lunch on Sunday.  It was delicious

5. I'm doing a 6-week 'my living canvas' online workshop with Christy Tomlinson.  I have been too busy to even start week 1.  The group is already finishing week 4.

6. My friend Leonie and I are going to see Steve Hofmeyr's show "Haloda" at Emperor's Palace on Saturday night.  I love his music.  And I think he's a hottie!

7.  So many people have commented on how gorgeous my Italian leather handbag is.  I bought it in Venice last year

 8. I have booked to attend 2 solitary creative retreats during the next few months

9. I'm browsing through Jennifer Louden's "the woman's comfort book"

10. I'm in love with owls as a decorative concept.  Owls make me happy.  I haven't heard any owls hooting in the night since I've moved home.  I hope they come visit me soon

11. Kelly Rae Roberts says "telling the truth about your beautifully messy and magnificently complicated life is a transformative gift. For yourself. And for anyone who’s listening".  I agree.  That's why I blog

12. Miss Ruby had her first adventure outside in the garden of our new home on Saturday.  She sniffed everything

Ruby turns 5

Happy Birthday sweet baby girl.  I love you more every day

Unsettled and uneasy

I'm not settling well into my new home.  I'm feeling overwhelmed, unsettled, uneasy, and very tired.  I usually deal well with change, but this prolonged period of having several contractors and workers drilling and sawing and painting and banging is wearing me down.  I'm tired of having dust and dirt everywhere, of mess, of having to clean up the dirt that is carried in on the workmen's boots.

I lay awake for a long time last night, and I prayed. 

I know that I am unsettled because I don't yet have any happy memories of my new home - I'm missing the sound of friends and family and laughter, the smell of good food and flowers, the joy of hours spent scrapping with the Scrap Addicts.  I'm missing the peace of just being able to slow down and relax in a comfortable home that works, and not have to do any jobs, not have to unpack a box or fix something. 

All 7 internal doors are being replaced on Friday, and then most of the major work will be done for now. 

I've done some research and will perform a Christian home blessing this weekend.  I am going to bless my home with peace, harmony, safety and joy.

Weekend in review

It was my mom's birthday last week, so my brother Robbie and his wife Tonia and I arranged a getaway to Raaswater Lodge in the Northwest Province.  The accommodation wasn't great, but it was lovely to spend time with my family.  A good break from the endless boxes and builders at home.  The weather was still lovely and warm during the day, but really cold at night.

Happy Birthday mom!

Elizabeth was battling a cold, so wasn't feeling great

Kataryn was niggly with sinus

 

Tonia and Kataryn

3 generations of the Pope family