How Things Unfold

Last night I spent a most pleasant evening in the company of some beautiful women swapping gifts, stories, laughs and sharing calories together.

This wonderful selection of chch bloggers:

It's interesting how unexpectedly friendship creeps up. These women are very dear to me, I like them and I like the things I learn from them. I didn't think about the fact that last night was probably the last (and first for some of them) I would see them for quite a while. I'm glad about that because I would have been a bit (lot) emotional.

And so I sit here eating left over lolly cake and brownie for breakfast and I reflect on how much I might have missed out on if I hadn't taken that step out from behind the screen.

What richness of shared experiences, stories laughed at, pieces of someone's pyjamas! I might now have.

Christchurch bloggers I am so thrilled to be counted among your company. Privileged in the things I have learnt from you. Honored that you would be prepared to share your real life journeys with me.

You are fascinating, intelligent, interesting, creative, talented, kind and hilarious women. I am grateful for the parts you play in my story.

xxxx

love you more than eating naughty leftovers for breakfast xxx

(photos care of Sophie, used without permission - yeah I know I love living on the edge like that!!)

Make My Week and Wardrobe Thursday

With 2.5 weeks left to pack my house, we really want to have it all out and sorted by Christmas Eve,  I'm really feeling the urge to sew!

Yeah, very helpful especially as I still have Christmas gifts that need sewing.....

so here is my super, duper, polka-dotty, swirly aroundy new dress.

Which I love and I think it would be a shame not to have used the fabric before I left.

Styled up with favourite hair clip ever (made by Holly),  op-shop shoes, a hand-me-down cardi, an on sale belt from Max and a bit of channeling my inner Marilyn.

Joining in here with other creative ladies


and here with other stylish hotties (on Wednesday)

Love you more than the combination of navy, white and red xxx

We Recommend - Making A Difference

Sometimes it all becomes a little overwhelming this Christmas shopping and want, want, want and should have, must have culture.

When you feel like the person on the other end of your gift isn't really fussed here or there about the gift, or when they own everything they need and want, or when the thought of having to come up with one more idea is one idea too many....

how about a gift that changes someone else?

A few different places do these kind of gifts and I like the idea of matching a person up to a passion.
child fund, tear fund, world vision, oxfam, save the children - are all easy choices

A gift of 3 orchard trees for an avid gardener and giver of their own produce

school supplies for the person who believes in learning

a malaria net for the constant hypochondriac in your life (perhaps don't tell them I said that, but hey let's provide a solution for someone who actually needs one!).

Want to do something closer to home? How about a magazine subscription for their local SPCA, Doctor, Hairdresser (somewhere else they spend a lot of time waiting), give it on their behalf and they are instantly client of the year.

New books for a local school library (check if they have a wishlist) with a 'donated by' card in the front.

A lovely soap for them and a set for the local shelter or city mission.

A cake on their behalf to road-workers, charity shop workers, cancer society, fire fighters, the police....

but don't leave it at the gesture  get your kids to draw a picture of the recipient and how it makes them feel,

and tell them why you did it,

a card that says
' I wanted to make an impact this Christmas the way you impact me. Maybe you don't realise that I'm watching but I am. Because of your generous, thoughtful, kind (insert appropriate descriptor here) nature I wanted to pay that same thing forward. In your name I have ....... because I love you, because you inspire me, because you change the world.'

How could that not cheer someone on Christmas day?

Do you do 'make a difference' styles of pressies'?

We Recommend for Christmas 

our posts about genuinely lovely things

Thanks for your recommendations. Button code on the right.

Love you more than a newborn chick xxx

You also have time to enter for the size 4, size 10(kids) or unicorn transfers if you want to.

Hello Advent Swap

When a parcel arrives sealed with heart tape and the name of the sender is Cat

you can be fully convinced that you are going to be the recipient of a great deal of thought and love. Cat is just one of those people who couldn't be half-hearted even if she tried. She's just a great big goo-ball of love that lady.

Look at the dear wee measuring tape ribbon they are tied up with!

...and because I know you aren't the jealous, vengeful types but are looking forward to celebrating all my treats I thought I'd share each Tuesday what treats have arrived.

Day One:

Knitted Wreath Christmas Decorations - I love that my tree has almost no shop bought decorations - it's a handmade fiesta and these look so cute.

Day Two:

Oh yes hello aniseed flavour - how I do love you so.

Day Three:

Cue my children singing 'Pop, Bang, Crack goes the Christmas cracker'.

Thank you, thank you Cat I can imagine how fast your knitting needles have been clicking! xxx More treats to show next Tuesday.

My partner was Tracy - lover of all things orange and you can find what I sent if you visit her.

Love you more than squishy packing noodles xxx

B.M.W.B - Advent-ure

This year I want Advent to have more of a sense of the anticipation of 'coming'.

So we'll still be doing a range of activities (and of course I'll be unwrapping treats everyday from my marvelous advent partner - more about that tomorrow) but in all of them I want to engage with more meaningful conversation and thoughtfulness around the season.

Here are our advent activities for this season:

1. Decorate the Tree and do Faith for Families Advent Family Night

Also read and talk about - Dean, Faculty of Theology in Catalonia
“This tree shows that even in the heart of winter, when everything is dry and the trees have no leaves, it is still green and so a tree which symbolizes life. And this life has a name - Jesus Christ."

The Christmas tree is a symbol of life and hope, that is decorated with ornaments and lights around the world. The decoration shows the importance of the birth of Jesus.

2. Unwrap Decoration (handmade ceramic star - they always get a handmade decoration each year)- Read  Matthew 2 v1-12 Talk about what the star might have looked like?

3. Book – Song of Stars - Talk about the sense of anticipation and coming

4. Make Washi Candles - read - Read John 8 v 12

5. Christmas book reading marathon

6. Watch The Nativity Movie - read Read Luke 1v 46-56

7. Book - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Why do you think giving presents is important at Christmas?

8. Make Reindeer Noses for friends - can you remember the reindeer’s names? Who do you want to give these to and why? Read – Proverbs 27v18. Why is honour important? (CEV)

9. Book -  Simone's Book, Do an 'angel hunt' through the Biblical accounts of the birth of Jesus - Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds etc

10. Hang Bunting (thanks Nin!) and talk about why we celebrate

11. Attend and help with a community carols evening

12.  Book - The Nativity by Julie Vivas - What is your favourite page? What does it tell you about the arrival of Jesus?

13. Make Crowns for the Kings

14. Watch Shrek the Halls

15. Do a Nativity show for Mum and Dad using the nativity magnet set (thanks Leonie)

16. Listen to carols and have fondue - What do you think is special about Christmas and Advent?

 17. Make cookies for people we love and pray for them

18. Book - The 3 Trees - which tree got the most special job? Why do you think that?

19. Read Luke 1v26-33 The Message version. How might Mary have felt?

20. Do a mini-chocolate bar drop in the letter boxes on our street on the way to school.

21. Watch Arthur Christmas and have friends to stay

22. Read and Act Luke 2

23. Fill in a map of Jesus' life

24. Open Christmas PJs - Read – Psalm 4 v7-8

Becoming the Mama I want to be is about taking time to enjoy the journey of parenting, to honour it's value and to hopefully inspire and encourage each other. 

Simple. Achievable. Intentional: becoming the mama I want to be

Button code on the right if you want it

Love you more than a well planned list xxx

47 and 48/52

Before I know it it will be 52/52 and I don't want to fall off the wagon so close to the end

Here they are these boys I love so wholeheartedly

and these are from the same week - what can you do??

Love you more than superb organisation xxx

Random Friday Thought

Pantyliners

Not sticky enough to stay put

and yet sticky enough to give you a free waxing when they fold in half?

What's with that???

love you more than a really comfy pair of underpants xxx