Hello March........................

A Quirky Girl Creation

With the new month upon us here are some things I would like to achieve this month:

Celebrate my 20th Wedding Anniversary with Hubby tomorrow (06.03.13)
Purge more items from our home
Load up more Trade me auctions
Locate and visit an antiques market/fair
Create more
Scrapbook more
Eat better
Incorporate more excercise into my life!
Reduce my spending


What do you have planned???

 

Decluttering...............

WOO HOO I did it

I have managed to declutter another 100 items from my home!!!

So that is a total of 200 items consciously from my home!

I am amazed at how much stuff I have gotten rid of and have not made that big a dent in our household items!

I am hoping with my plan to try and declutter 365 things next year I will notice a difference.


1. Wooden CD Tower given to Hospice Shop
2. WW Eating out Guide given to Hospice Shop
3. Cadoo Game given to Hospice Shop
4. Round Mirror - to Hospice Shop
5. Glass Jar to Hospice Shop
6. Old Bathroom Scales to the Hospice Shop
7. Craft paper given to Hospice Shop
8-10 Three old frames of my parents thrown
11. Old computer discs thrown
12. Old Folder thrown
13. Old Towel Thrown
14-15 2 Pairs of Jeans sold on Trade Me
16-17. 2 photo Albums given to Rochelle
18. Book sold on Trade me
19.Old tin used for gift exchange
20. CD sold on Trade me
21-25. 5 Items thrown in inorganic collection
26-28 3 Items used in gift exchange
29. Old pair of shoes thrown
30-32 Three trays donated to Garage Sale
33 An old bikes of Liams donated to Garage sale
34. Book donated to Garage Sale
35-36. Bowl and Platter donated to Garage Sale
37. Old but New Coconut drink container donated to Garage Sale
38. Set of wine glass charms donated to Garage Sale.
39-42 4 Items of clothing donated to Garage Sale
43. Crop o dile sold on trade me
44-47. Eylets sets sold with crop o dile on trade me
48. Hanger donated to garage sale
49-50. Stampin Up heat gun and embossing powder sold on Trade Me.
51-57. 7 pairs of shoes put into the inorganic collection
58. Old bag in inorganic
59. Old Frypan in the inorganic
60-80.Cleared out old clothes of Liams - thrown and placed in clothing bin.
81-88.Used 8 tins to craft up nephews and cousins kids Christmas gift.
89-90 2 Pairs of Courtneys shoes donated to clothing bin
91-92. 2 Old sheets thrown out
93. My old back pack thrown out
94. Favourite Dress Thrown out that was wearing thin :(
95. Pair of shoes thrown
96. Old sunglasses thrown as broken
97. Bag strap thrown as not required
98-100. Threw out 2 pairs of old shoes and some jeans on hubbys!

Home Made Christmas Gift................

Inspired by this picture - I decided to make "Ice Cream Sundae Making Kits" for the children that I give gifts to at Christmas.

They are 3 nephews and 1 niece along with 4 boy second cousins and  2 girl second cousins (My cousins kids!)

So thats 10 children that I need to give a christmas gift too and of which I like to "make" them something special each year.  Now two of them are under 1 so they didn't keep a kit as such just part of it.





Past gifts have been:
Family Summer Fun Buckets - Just add water! (water bombs, water guns, etc)
Individual Treasure Boxes for keeping speacial things in
Canvas with name and photo on it


So I had been storing collecting hoarding these tins  below and have wanted to use them for something as I couldn't bring myself to throw them out - I mean look at them - they have to be good for something! (there are more I am ashamed to say but not many more - LOL)

 

Ok so now that I knew what I wanted to do with them - they needed to be covered:
Thats when little people are brought in to help with the gluing!

Liam holding onto the tin while I apply the glue

Roughed up a bit

 

Held together waiting for the glue to dry

I also roughed them up a bit with sandpaper to help the glue and paper adhere together.

I  had already measured the tins before gluin and cut some black paper to wrap around the tins, they are slightly longer than the paper I had so I needed to add a little bit onto the end.

Double sided tape used to add the extra.

 

Once that was done I "banded" them all in different colours along with co-ordinating lids and attached a front label



All banded and waiting for the front label

I also used stickers to write there name on the lids.

Looking pretty

Close up of the label. - I am still on the look out for larger ice cream themed stickers to add to the label as I think therse are too small - not worried if I don't as I am sure the kids don't care.

 

Now to add the ingredients - This part took a while to decided exactly what I wanted to  put in and as I had already purchased different sized little containers so I needed to be able to use them up.

Pictured is 100's & 1000's, mini M&Ms, Baking jelly beans, Chocolate Hail, and some other sprinkles

I couldn't resist there cellophane bags and filled them up with mini marshmallows!

 





 Now every ice Cream Sundae needs a special bowl to be enjoyed in don't they:

This size one was for my cousins children and they are in this blue, green and a pink one.

These ones are for my nephews - all blue ones

 

The all also got a spoon with there name engraved on them

The larger dishes got the longer dessert spoons and the smaller ones just a normal teapsoon.

 

I then hunted thru my other stored collected hoarded items and located gift bags to put them in individually.

Here they are already and waiting for there label - JUST ADD ICE CREAM!!!!

 

The two littles are getting dishes and spoons and a little something extra since they are too small for the ice cream sundae toppings. - I hope to upload a photo soon of the extra gift - just finishing them off.

Simple Living.............

What is Simple Living?

Identifying what is most important for you and eliminating everything else.

Freeing up time for doing what inspires you and being with the people you love.

Decluttering your mind, your everyday life and your virtual life.

Single-tasking and learning to diminish stress.

Striving to live frugally by wanting less and buying only what is necessary.

Slowing down and being actively present in the moment.

Living a healthy life, including cleaning your home and your body, eating, exercising and thinking.

Striving to be green and sustainable as much as your surroundings allow.

Enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Simplifying your goals, tasks and expectations

 

Check out Kanelstrand for more great ideas!

The Joy of Less...........

I am in the process of reducing/decluttering things from my life, including possessions and weight!

The book that has helped me the most with the possessions is "The Joy of Less"

Source

This book has really helped me with reducing the items that we accumulated when my parents passed away, the emotional attachment to things is so great that we tend to hold onto to items that we personally don't really want in our life's but feel compelled to hold onto because it was our parents.

The same thing goes for items that we are given as gifts that we may not particularly like but keep and maybe even display in case they turn up.

She talks you thru from starting over to everyday maintenance and everything inbetween.  They system is called STREAMLINE and each letter represents a process you do to help with the items deciding if they stay or go from your home.

She then helps you work thru each room and how to organise that room to its full potential.

I have managed to declutter over 100 items from our house so far and it hasn't even made a dent in our possessions, mainly due to me flitting from room to room.  But as proven by the book I need to knuckle down and do each room completely before starting on the next! Slowly and surely I will get there - The craft/office/storage room is first!

If anyone is thinking of decluttering I can definitely recommend this book

Simple Living..........

Living a Busy Stressful Life?

Feeling the pressures of Life?

Just can't see any way to break free of the stress?

How about you check out this great blog - Kanelstrand and take the Simple Living Pledge
This is what Sonya has to say about Simple Living:

What is Simple Living?

• Identifying what is most important for you and eliminating everything else.
• Freeing up time for doing what inspires you and being with the people you love.
• Decluttering your mind, your everyday life and your virtual life.
• Single-tasking and learning to diminish stress.
• Striving to live frugally by wanting less and buying only what is necessary.
• Slowing down and being actively present in the moment.
• Living a healthy life, including cleaning your home and your body, eating, exercising and thinking.
• Striving to be green and sustainable as much as your surroundings allow.
• Enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
• Simplifying your goals, tasks and expectations.

So what are you waiting for - go check her out!

The three week challenge starts on 1st February - so hurry and help create the life you deserve!

See ya there

Whats The Weigh Day...............................

Starting Weight: 115.6 – 21.05.11

Last Weeks Weight:112.5

Weigh In this Week:111.7

Loss this week:-.800

Total loss so Far:3.9kg

Thoughts on the week that’s been:
I continued using the Wendie Plan formula again this week and it has gone well,
NSV: – I was given a Freddo Frog on Friday and it sat on my desk till Tuesday when I used it as part of my +10 day!
I also did the family shopping and did not buy any chocolate bars for a snack!

Food wise: - I am loving my corn thins with banana for my mid morning snack, but I feel that it needs something else with it – so will experiment with that a bit.
I really struggled , funny as it sounds, to eat the 31 points on my high day – I believe this was mainly due to have low point filling foods through out the day (oh the dramas of a weight loss diva!) which is good and bad!

Exercise Wise: - No walking on Tuesday due to a last minute change of plans for hubby. But I have started teams training and my burlesque class which is working the muscles and builds up a sweat!
I did manage to walk on Thursday and Friday so that was good, it helped ease the soreness in my thighs from the burlesque class on Monday night.

Mind Wise: - I am still feeling focussed and with changing up my food intake it will help as well – I am still in the process of decluttering my house and loading up trademe auctions so I am being kept busy there!

The week ahead:
Well the soccer tournament got cancelled again – so the weekend was quiet – the working week – brings nothing different so onwards and downwards!

Mid Month Goal Update

Here is an update of where I am at with my June Monthly Goals:



1. Walk on Fridays to work
1st week was a no but I did walk the Tuesday of the week so all good
I have  walked to work today and tomorrow should be all good as well.

2. Have fish for dinner once this month
As of 18.06.11 completed and it was YUM!

3. Complete 4 scrapbooking pages

4. Attend a community/night class as per 43 List
As of 13.06.11 - My Burlesque evening class began - YAH!

5. Load up my Trade me Auctions
As of 08.06.11 I have loaded up 30 auctions

6.Sort thru craft Room Wardrobe and throw out stuff not used in over 6 months
As of 08.06.11 I have begun this process and have thrown out over 20 items, loaded up over 30 trade me auctions to sell items and have also sorted out items to give to the Salvation Army

7. Purchase a new pair of pants and a new top for winter

8. Join up for the team event in September Ceroc Champs
As of 08.06.11 I am officially signed up for the Counties Ceroc Team for Champs

9. Seek out someone to enter in the Battle of the Sexes at September Champs
As of 08.06.11 - I have a partner for Battle of the Sexes!

10. Loose 2 kg this month.
As of 04.06.11 I have lost a total of 1.4 - woohoo!
As of 11.06.11 I have lost a total of 2.6 - woohoo!

Decluttering Tips...........

As I have previously mentioned, I am in the process of decluttering my home and life, so I thought I would share these pearls of wisdom that I came across on Unclutterer.com

Six Reasons to let it Go

Are you trying to decide if you should keep or get rid of something? These are six reasons to trash, recycle, sell, or donate an object:

1. You don’t use it, love it, need it, or want it.

2. It’s broken, busted, damaged, or destroyed and you haven’t fixed it in six months or more.

3. You have multiples of the same object, and the other one is vastly superior in quality.

4. It’s expired.

5. You don’t have anywhere to store it.

6. It doesn’t fit in the life you desire.


So has anyone else done a big declutter,purge?
How did it go?

Purging and Decluttering!

Well its the Queens Birthday Long Weekend and with the extra day off I have decided to declutter parts of my house:

The following is the list of things I have Thrown Out:

2 old pictures
3 shoeboxes
2 small cane basket
Over 20 small boxes that I was keeping to use for templates to make gift boxes
2 Old baby fomula tins
Old cardboard

This is the list of things I am going to give to the Salvation Army shop:

Over 20 items of kids clothing
2 craft envelope templates
1 small kids backpack
Old picture frames that I brought from the salvation Army shop and never used
2 Books
5 old old CDS

This is the list of things I am planning on putting onto Trade me to sell:

2 WWF Wrestling figures
4 sets of cufflinks
13 craft punches (5 Sold)
1 old brooch and earrings set
1 small craft trimmer (sold)
2 Creative memories paper sets


And would you believe that most of this came out of my craft/office room!
This is just till lunchtime lots more to do.