tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42541556991531097492024-03-13T21:30:54.559-07:00FrolickingA little blog where I share day to day life, ideas and inspiration.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-70278863132134695882013-05-29T18:47:00.001-07:002013-05-31T02:51:50.523-07:00Less Is More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was in the mood for baking biccies this week, and decided to try out <a href="http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/20667/apricot+bubble+biscuits">this recipe</a>. They're really easy to make and absolutely scrummy. Little one enjoyed rolling them into balls and then rolling them into the rice bubbles, but of course, that is all secondary to licking the spoon at the end!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was also an excuse to test out these colourful <a href="http://www.frolicgiftsandhomewares.com.au/product/single-oven-mitt-teatime/">kitchen mitts</a>, which are made here in Queensland (yes, locally made, not imported), and available <a href="http://www.frolicgiftsandhomewares.com.au/product/single-oven-mitt-teatime/">here</a>. There are also matching double mitts and pot holders available, which makes a lovely gift set. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, am I really just writing a post about oven mitts today? Of course not, there's something else on my mind. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over recent years, and especially in the opening of my business, I have become so much more aware of how convenience dominated my purchasing choices in the past, and how I wasn't seeing that each little purchase I make influences and supports the ethical or unethical practices of many companies and organisations. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are so spoilt for choice in this country, with designer homewares and clothing becoming increasingly more affordable to us, but at what price to people and our planet? It's almost impossible for us to be sure about the working conditions and pay rates of the people who produce these items, but all too easy, and tempting, to make a decision based on price alone. But, really, although most of us are on a tight budget, we are in so much more of a fortunate position than many others. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where possible, if I can't be sure of where or how an item is produced, I tend to steer away from the item. Do I really need that pretty set of teatowels for only $5? Or would I be better to pay a little more for a better quality one that's made here in Australia or through a Fairtrade organisation, and maybe have less teatowels? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I encourage you, if you haven't already, to start asking more questions along these lines when you make a purchase, because wherever you can make an ethical purchase, it will count, and we have to start somewhere right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b><i>xSam</i></b></span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> </i> </span></div>
Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-61806004246548351042013-05-24T16:55:00.001-07:002013-06-13T06:03:34.304-07:00Grateful for the little things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That sound of biting into a warm, crunchy slice of vegemite toast...you know it right? I really noticed that sound this morning and there was something so enjoyable about it..maybe the crispness of this morning air accentuated the sound, but I think it was really more to do with the dead silence of the early morning, before the littlies were up. Most mornings are hectic and noisy, punctuated with sibling squabbles, so it was nice to have a short reprieve from that. I was up at 4am this morning, which I guess is what you get when you try to cheat your body clock by going to bed early! Not to worry, it's the weekend, there'll be plenty of time to make up for it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoying being able to make real coffee at home with my espresso maker (thankyou family for my Mother's Day present), and to drink it from a decent sized mug (I still have a few of these <a href="http://www.frolicgiftsandhomewares.com.au/product/large-pushbike-mug/">bicycle mugs</a> for sale in my online store, Australian made too). Although those espresso pod machines aren't very expensive, we've been quite frugal this year, so this was a luxury spend for us. Have you noticed how much more enjoyable some things are when you go without for a while? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The little one was not well this week, we're not sure if she had an allergic reaction or virus, but she came out in a rash on her torso and face, thank God for anti-histamines, that's all I can say! So all is well with the world, now that she's on the mend and back playing happily again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, we have soccer this morning, then we're off to check out a second-hand desk for the lad, and maybe a nice afternoon walk if the weather stays fine. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I might throw on a load of washing, it's the perfect windy day for it, and I'm also thinking of cooking up a <a href="http://www.thehealthychef.com/2012/07/healthy-beef-pie/">warm beef pie</a> with this recipe! </span></div>
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<i style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with Maxabella over at Village Voices for <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/52-weeks-of-grateful-rain/">52 Weeks of Grateful</a>.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>xSam</b></i></span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-58883245372978440022013-04-15T06:57:00.003-07:002013-04-15T06:57:48.638-07:00Sort of Finding Balance<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello there..</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you sometimes look back over the week/s and wonder where the biscuits the time went? And then wonder where expressions like "where the biscuits" came from? Ok, maybe that's just me going cuckoo..but I've had a few of these sort of weeks lately..except that I actually do know where most of my time has been spent..and it's definately not been on the computer, yep, ..just catching up on housework. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I've been trying to make up for housework neglect, in fact </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I possibly (for a fleeting moment) almost missed housework, yes, that's how little housework I did (for a while there)...well lets not worry about exactly how long! The point is, I </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">suddenly have had this feeling of needing to get everything sorted out..almost like that nesting instinct..but absolutely not that! Something was definately up though one day when I found myself scrubbing the floors on hands and knees, hard bristled brush in hand..and enjoying it! Not the getting dirty side, no, I think it was more about the getting lost in the moment side of it that I enjoyed, and now that I think about it, scrubbing the floor is just about the only household chore that cannot possibly be multi-tasked, yep, virtually impossible, I'd say!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hmm, maybe what's really going on is that I'm sort of finding balance. I spent so much time getting my business up and running last year, that, I admit, other things fell behind just a little. Now that it's up and running, I guess I feel the need to get things back to normal on the home front, but not just that, to be more disciplined with the days and times that I work in my business, I guess it's all about time management really, which, I have to admit is not exactly my strongest point. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>How do you organise your time to keep everything in balance?</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>xSam</i></span></div>
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Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-28230686222492276572013-02-28T21:54:00.000-08:002013-02-28T21:54:07.620-08:00One Of Those Weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been "one of those" weeks.. constant rain, testing children, unexpected challenges, and copping the brunt of other people's impatience and rudenes..nothing life shattering, just enough to push me to my limits, but nothing a little chocolate (most of a block) couldn't fix!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm so grateful to have lovely girlfriends to vent with and to help get my mind off things, amazing what a cuppa and a change of scenery can do!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grateful for a husband who just takes over when I have "nothing left in the tank", and literally collapse on the couch. This is rare for me, but it happened this week, everything caught up with me!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm grateful for the weekend too..there are no plans in place..no schedules to follow or places to be..I'm hoping to sneak in a little "me time", and maybe a change of scenery with a day trip (no point waiting for the rain to stop, looks like its hanging around for a while).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What are you grateful for this week?</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in (it's been a while) with Maxabella over at <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/grateful-for-the-village/">52 Weeks of Grateful</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">xSam</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-78702514283499792342013-02-15T05:36:00.003-08:002013-06-13T06:08:43.682-07:00What We've Been Up To Lately<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a while since I posted anything..what a busy few weeks we've had..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've settled back into the school routine, yep third week down already! And I've started as playgroup leader one morning a week, which is quite demanding, but rewarding. Man, I feel as though I work fulltime, ..managing to keep things flowing for now..but we'll see how long it lasts, he he!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baking cheesecake for hubby's birthday, of course not without setting the oven on fire!..and then putting it out quicksmart..with a cupful of sand (somebody later suggested a wet teatowel would have worked too, and probably a lot easier to clean up, but hey, whatever works at the time right?). Anyway, the cheesecake turned out perfect in the end, as it happened, I learned you can pull it out of the oven 3 times, and it makes no difference! Think I'll make more cheesecakes - Yum!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, and let's not forget that we're getting ready for our <b>very first market</b>..that's right..</span><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Mummy Tree Markets</b></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> </b>- Chic Inspired Unique..can't wait..there's still so much still to organise, and only one week to go! Here are the details if you happen to be in Brisbane next Saturday and are looking for a nice afternoon out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">It will be a fantastic afternoon of shopping and family fun, and our stall will be in the undercover area. I'm looking forward to showing off some beautiful locally made and designed wares, meeting lots of lovely people and doing a little shopping myself. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>How do you like to shop? Online, markets, large shopping centres, locally?</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>x Sam</b></span></div>
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Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-86826089479595970342013-01-10T22:15:00.002-08:002013-05-31T04:57:29.106-07:00Two Weeks To Go <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't believe we only have two weeks left of school holidays. For us, the time has been flying by!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How nice it has been to sleep in, not have to organise lunches, uniforms etc, to not have to be anywhere at any particular time. I've been fortunate enough to have hubby home for three weeks, which has made such a difference. We've had lots of little outings, mostly to stay cool - trips to the beach, to the pool, all ending with an ice-cream! There've been bike rides, bushwalks, inflatable pools, and a little technology thrown in, ok more than a little, but I feel like we have a pretty good balance happening with that. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It hasn't all been r & r though..my little store has kept me tucked away in my office far longer than desirable, but all so necessary to get set for 2013. It's been a bit of an eye opener, this working from home thing, difficult to draw boundaries, and hard to know when to "put the tools down" so to speak. I expect when school goes back I'll be able to settle into a better routine, something I'll have to work on if I'm to achieve a better level of balance in 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aside from the challenges, I'm loving my job, especially supporting other little businesses, and being surrounded by beautiful things..things that are made locally, </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">things that are unique and made with love..</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frolicgiftsandhomewares.com.au/product-category/toysactivities-sets/">Handmade Doll</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">things that are sustainable and made ethically..</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frolicgiftsandhomewares.com.au/product/vroom-wooden-car/">Vroom Fairtrade Toy</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When new stock arrives, I'm like a kid opening presents, it feels like Christmas allover again..</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But lovingly wrapping them and posting them off to their new home is even better! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Just over two weeks until school is back..what do you have planned?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xSam</span></div>
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Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-35907830893513895442013-01-04T17:21:00.001-08:002013-01-04T20:49:24.585-08:00Fresh Start Inside & Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">I love a New Year, don't you? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">It's a </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fresh start..something that is needed sometimes. </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love that it coincides with summer too because</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> there's something about summer that spurs me on to put my thoughts into action..</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me, at the moment this means taking better care of myself, on the inside and outside..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>For the inside I'm enjoying..</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Delicious salads like this one above with salmon and pearl couscous (from Australian Good Taste).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you believe I only recently discovered pearl couscous? I had this salad at my brother's place Christmas day, and had to make it at home, absolutely delicious as a side salad or as a meal</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>For the outside, I'm enjoying..</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Organic Skincare for face and body</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This handy little travel pack from Absolutely Gorgeous is available at my <a href="http://www.frolicgiftsandhomewares.com.au/product/absolutely-gorgeous-travellers-pack/">online store</a>, and contains everything you need to kickstart your skincare regime for 2013. Australian made and owned, it smells and feels delicious on the skin.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plenty of natural and ethical products in my <a href="http://www.frolicgiftsandhomewares.com.au/">online store</a>, something I'm growing more passionate about each day. There'll be lots more of them popping up throughout the year, along with some great offers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoying days at the beach, plenty of sunshine, getting outside and all the naturally good things Summer has to offer. </span></div>
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<b style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's to fresh starts and naturally good things in 2013!</b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>xSam</b></span></div>
Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-56253951753852095632012-12-30T19:30:00.000-08:002013-06-11T07:19:50.646-07:00Hello 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oajpZABu-FI/UOEFc8obmfI/AAAAAAAAA2I/i9VfAollDg0/s1600/iStock_000022385331_ExtraSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oajpZABu-FI/UOEFc8obmfI/AAAAAAAAA2I/i9VfAollDg0/s640/iStock_000022385331_ExtraSmall.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, I'm getting a headstart on 2013, there is no time to waste!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did Pilates, found s</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ome healthy recipes, and g</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ave myself a good talking to..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's going to be a busy year ahead.and I can't wait, but I need to be just a little prepared. I'll be working on building my little business, along with being more involved with my daughter's playgroup, also balancing school commitments and focussing on spending quality time with my kids during these early precious years.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2012 I really didn't find a balance at all, and in particular didn't take care of myself, as all of the above took priority.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, this year, I'll be making some changes, so</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> that I can give more to my family, and</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> have more energy to deal with whatever the year has to bring.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No New Years Resolutions, j</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ust positive thoughts backed up with actions</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't control what the year may bring, but I can </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">control how I approach it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Do you have any tips for me on finding that balance?</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Wishing you a very happy and healthy New Year</b>, and thanking you for your kind words throughout the year, it really means alot to have your support. I hope to see you on the flipside of 2012!</span></div>
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<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>xSam</b></i></span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-4809515156640725782012-12-29T18:35:00.004-08:002012-12-29T18:35:55.143-08:00Grateful for Family Closeby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grateful for </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">family who live fairly close...</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Close enough f</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or most of the family to spend Christmas together..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the beach</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gLsHqK-GEk8/UN-m8Tj4wGI/AAAAAAAAAy8/Kcx-P8u1Me8/s1600/christmas2012collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gLsHqK-GEk8/UN-m8Tj4wGI/AAAAAAAAAy8/Kcx-P8u1Me8/s640/christmas2012collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">..and in the bush.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although a couple of little roadtrips were involved, I'm well aware that many people are separated from their families by much longer distances, work commitments, expensive plane trips, and other circumstances, making it difficult to get together. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year, our trip was just far enough for us to stay a couple of nights and spend genuine quality time with both sides of the family, to reconnect, cook together, laugh, eat, drink and swim.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a relaxing time we had..and I realised we could be doing this more often, just a short drive..and so worth it. The kids enjoyed so much hanging out with their cousins, and over Christmas I realised I need to make more of an effort to keep all family connections strong.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">J<i>oining in with lots of lovely people over at Village Voices for the final 2012 <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/52-weeks-of-grateful-making-it/">52 Weeks of Grateful</a>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>xSam</i></b></span></div>
Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-46384563576537636192012-12-14T14:59:00.001-08:002012-12-14T19:41:26.980-08:00Grateful for Lovely Messages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>"May the spirit of Christmas</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i> warm your heart</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>May the joy of Christmas </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>give you happiness</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>And may the message of Christmas </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>stay with you through the New Year"</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;">I'm grateful to have been given a lovely handmade card from a beautiful friend with this message on it this week. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the next week</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I still have some serious work to do..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 presents to buy</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">last minute orders to send out </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A hair appointment to make</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carols by candlelight to be attended</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baking of biccies and rumballs</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">..and somehow deal with tantrums, tears and </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"what are we doing today"s in between! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll admit, I'm not so organised this year..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and with school holidays having just started,</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How are you approaching this coming week?</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/grateful-little-trips/">52 Weeks of Grateful</a> over at Village Voices</span></i></div>
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<b style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xSam</b></div>
Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-27209028850176428312012-12-08T11:57:00.001-08:002012-12-08T12:34:53.022-08:00Grateful for Simplicity<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnbpDjIXGdU/UMOZtA67EWI/AAAAAAAAAv0/QC0lQaMAedM/s1600/101_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnbpDjIXGdU/UMOZtA67EWI/AAAAAAAAAv0/QC0lQaMAedM/s640/101_0053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've made a few changes to my blog.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stripped it back a little,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">changed the name,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but it's still me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a little raw, I know..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Things have been rather hectic lately,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So a little simplicity is in order.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inspiration will come..in time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These things can never be rushed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Grateful for simplicity</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you're finding some simplicity</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/52-weeks-of-grateful-help/">52 weeks of grateful</a> over at Village Voices</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xSam</span></div>
<br />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-55584718326379677192012-12-03T13:54:00.002-08:002012-12-03T13:54:36.424-08:00A Little Store Has Opened - Not Taking Over The World or Anything<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't quite remember when or how the idea came to me, but sometime earlier this year, an idea planted itself in my heart..the idea of an online gifts and homewares store, with handmade and locally made products.. I wasn't looking to take over the world or anything, just be able to pay some bills and be at home for kids.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a ride the last six months have been...but we're finally <a href="http://www.frolicgiftsandhomewares.com.au/">Open</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I mentioned, not looking to take over the world, just to be able to pay some bills, and be at home for the kids. I'm finding added bonuses though - I'm enjoying the work, meeting lots of lovely people, and the feel good factor of supporting other local businesses. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It can be a harsh, competitive world, this commercial one, but I'm not getting drawn into all of that, just taking each day as it comes, not overly worrying about what others are doing, just focussing on what I can give. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm looking for more handmade products too, maybe you'd like to see your handmade things in my store, or you might know of a great locally made product that is looking for more stockists..I'd love to hear from you! Check it out <a href="http://www.frolicgiftsandhomewares.com.au/">here</a>, and see what you think..Oh and we're running an <b>Opening Sale with 15% off</b> this week only, feel free to share with your friends. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope your week is kind to you!</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xSam</span></b><br />
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<br />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-75487188542166816462012-11-09T14:17:00.002-08:002013-01-04T14:59:06.696-08:00Grateful for Keeping Calm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pic sums up how my week went down.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Someone let me down BIGTIME. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After I got over the initial shock and dissappointment, I decided to move on as quickly as possible to find a solution, there was no time to waste.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grateful for being able to keep a calm head in a challenging situation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grateful for a husband who is supportive and believes in me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grateful for family and friends who showed they cared, and jumped in with offers of help and support.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grateful for an inner strength, and perspective on this situation, it is not the end of the world, just a stumbling block to be overcome, and probably will work out for the best in the longrun.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>What are you grateful for this week?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with Maxabella Loves over at <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/52-weeks-of-grateful-drop-in/">52 weeks of Grateful</a>, why not grab a cuppa and pop over there!</span></div>
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Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-35850331543886234722012-10-05T04:53:00.001-07:002012-10-05T04:53:59.081-07:00Grateful<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Grateful for Minimalism, Op Shops, & Clever People!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look what I made!! Ok, technically I didn't actually make it, but an unknown clever and patient person did, and I am so very grateful for it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As mentioned in my previous post, we went camping last week, but I think I forgot to mention that come night time, it was freezing! Oh yes, and the tent we bought last summer..not so good in the cold weather. But mostly, due to my husband's minimalist approach (to everything) and a complete lack of room in the car, we didn't take enough blankets, so I certainly froze my tooshy off that first night, ending up with an extra 2 layers of clothes on. As luck would have it, the nearest town was but a fifteen minute drive away, so off we went the next morning (my sister-and-law and I), on a mission to gather warm blankets for the remaining two nights of our camping trip (chocolate too, along with water, bread and other stuff you're supposed to take along apparently).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Within about one minute of entering the town's local op shop, I snapped up a couple of handy beige flannel blankets, but when my sister-in-law pointed out this crochet one, I have to admit, I hesitated at first. I've had all intentions of crocheting one myself, did I really want to buy one someone else made? Hmmph, who was I kidding? I'm still struggling to finish a granny square cushion I started at the beginning of winter! Needless to say I relented, and purchased the piece of snuggly, retro goodness, glad I did too, it is lovely to snuggle under with my first coffee in the morning, the kids adore it too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though some other clever, patient person crocheted the blanket (thankyou whoever you are), it no longer feels like someone else's blanket. The smell of campfire has replaced the smell of mothballs (can't bring myself to wash it yet, plus I have enough washing to do as it is at the moment), and there's memories in there too, stories, from our wonderful camping trip. Oh, and I </span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">will</i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> make one of my own..one day!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are you grateful for this week?</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with Maxabella over at Kidspot for <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/52-weeks-of-grateful-garden/">52 Weeks Of Grateful</a></span></i></div>
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Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-23708426261524216412012-09-23T04:05:00.005-07:002012-09-23T04:05:54.700-07:00The Absent Blogger<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lately, I feel like I've faded into the background of the blogging world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My blog has been so quiet, I haven't been posting or leaving comments very often, I've wanted to, tried many times, how I miss it, but it just hasn't happened. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish I had more time to read your blogs, I think about you all often, and wonder what you're all up to, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So many things have taken my focus lately, including those dreaded winter bugs, which are still lingering. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the time I've have to spare I try to keep things running in the household, not sure I'm doing such a great job of that at the moment either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure this is all temporary though..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots of decisions are being made, staying focussed on what I believe in, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">how this is reflected in what I do, where I want to go, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and working with what I have.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you understand and still tune in to my blog when you can, as sparse as my posts may be of late. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There is an exciting venture in the making, which I can't wait to share with you when the time comes..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're off camping for a few days tomorrow, so I will be forced to cut ties with my computer, switch off and just be with my family...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I think this is much needed right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really don't like the number of I's used in this post, as it's not all about..well ..you know!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Have you been absent from blogging for any length of time? Have you lost followers from this absence or found that people just lost interest in your blog? I'd love to hear from you, even just a Hello!</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>By the way, the above photo is of the mountain "The Ship's Stern", which is located in the Lamingong NP, Qld, taken by my husband on a bushwalk he went on recently with a group, not bad for a point and shoot camera!</b></i></span></div>
Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-17276668118374790402012-08-22T18:32:00.001-07:002012-08-22T18:32:26.797-07:00Open For Business<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/FrolicGiftsandHomewares">Open for business</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well hello there! Seems I took an extended and unscheduled break from blogging, I really don't know where the time goes, but I do know that I missed blogging and visiting all of your lovely blogs! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a few things I've learned over the past month or so:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Starting up a business takes way longer than expected - I'm starting to wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew! Have I dived in too quick? Maybe, but then it's all part of the adventure right? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Nothing gets done once your little one drops their daytime nap, in fact it's better to get out of the house rather than <strike>be driven nuts</strike> having everything pulled out and thrown on the floor as you're trying to tidy up the house. And if I think I can get some quiet time to myself, I'm just asking for trouble, so it goes without saying that blogging has gone out the window during the day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Sleep is good and necessary, as I've learned since going to bed at a half-decent time (so again, no blogging).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Birthdays are really "birthweeks", there's the actual birthday, then there's cakes to be baked for school or daycare, then of course the family get togethers. So with both of my kids' birthdays within two weeks of eachother, this has been kind of a busy time for us!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- And lastly, how filthy is my house? How have I let things go like this?..the glass doors, through which I saw clearly..once! So what am I doing here then, blogging? Hmm, I guess I'm going to have to step things up a notch if I'm to become a work from home mum!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">Anyway, all that aside, I finally have my own madeit store open and would love for you to pay a visit over <a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/FrolicGiftsandHomewares">here</a>. I'm also in the process of setting up my own webpage which will feature an extended range of items, handmade along with lot of other unique goodies from various places.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">In the meantime, I can be found "frolicking"on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Frolicgiftshomewares">facebook</a> so why don't you join me there, drop me a line and keep updated on new products and giveaways. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">Now I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what you've all been up to!</span><br />
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Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-59735181918263212662012-07-04T20:01:00.000-07:002012-07-04T20:01:17.871-07:00My Creative Space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQD6Xb5IjKs/T_T-jd28ysI/AAAAAAAAAmA/zMgZTcakbfI/s1600/2012-07-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQD6Xb5IjKs/T_T-jd28ysI/AAAAAAAAAmA/zMgZTcakbfI/s640/2012-07-05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Working on a few designs for my online store opening up soon. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The personalised name cushion is going to my nephew as a christening present, but I'll be whipping up a few more for my shop, I just love the three little pigs fabric and I'm really enjoying hand embroidery at the moment. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm hoping to get this store open very soon, but there's still a little work to be done, a few things to nut out, it's all very exciting, daunting, but very exciting!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The idea of being able to work from home sounds good to me, it means I can do more of what I love, work around the kids and be home for them. Too good to be true? Maybe..well atleast I'll have fun trying!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Tell me, do you work from home? Any tips for me, just starting out in this business?</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/my-creative-space-for-those-who-make-create-and-share-8/">My Creative Space</a> over at Village Voices today.</span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #ff99cc; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">x</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #746a80; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">Sam</span></i></b></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-12263839061552860072012-06-28T19:49:00.000-07:002012-06-28T19:52:50.495-07:00Grateful<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grateful for pets and the kindness that they bring out in my kids.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lately I've caught quite a few moments that made me stop and smile and just feel so grateful..moments where my kids are being so gentle and loving with their pets. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QCrriuD3C8/T-zW1i1f7QI/AAAAAAAAAlg/LnbsrV0gklI/s1600/P1050080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QCrriuD3C8/T-zW1i1f7QI/AAAAAAAAAlg/LnbsrV0gklI/s400/P1050080.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to admit that since having children, our pets have kind of taken a back seat. Not to mention how they've put up with their fair share of tail pulling, chasing and general noise from the kids, but lately I've really noticed my kid's have developed a very special relationship with their pets. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are forever checking up on their furry friends, making sure they have enough food and water, that the dog has his warm jacket on, and often let him inside to warm up (well afterall, the cat gets to be inside whenever he pleases). </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I often catch the kids enjoying quiet moments having a chat with their furry friends and patting them gently, worrying about them if they are sick or injured, which restores my faith in their kind and caring spirits. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It really warms my heart to see the trust that the kids have built up with their pets, the love that they express and the satisfaction that it brings them to be with their pets.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I admit that I have often questioned whether we made the right decision of having pets, with the responsibility, extra work and costs involved, but I just can't imagine our life without them, or how my children would learn the valuable lessons of friendship, kindness and responsibility that come with owning a pet.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Joining in with <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/52-weeks-of-grateful-reunions/">villagevoices</a> for a Grateful reunion today, why not pop over there?</em></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #ff99cc; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">x</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #746a80; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">Sam</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #188c65; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;"></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-54910333716948842082012-06-13T17:53:00.000-07:002012-06-13T17:53:48.861-07:00My Creative Space - Completed Granny Square Cushion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MK-3XHZR8tM/T9kzKYQ1j4I/AAAAAAAAAkg/-dPDx9l1C8E/s1600/P1050071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MK-3XHZR8tM/T9kzKYQ1j4I/AAAAAAAAAkg/-dPDx9l1C8E/s640/P1050071.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may remember I was working on a s<a href="http://wwwathomewithsam.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/my-creative-space.html">piderman granny cushion</a> for my son last year. I decided against applying a spiderman applique to it (couldn't find one anyway), however, I couldn't decide or find the right buttons for it. So it's been floating buttonless around the house for months, and really annoying me as the insert keeps hanging out and getting pulled out by the kids. Well I finally found some buttons and finished it off this week. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAFTrn9rrtg/T9kzyYwCrSI/AAAAAAAAAko/kQTMWLmeI3g/s1600/P1050077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAFTrn9rrtg/T9kzyYwCrSI/AAAAAAAAAko/kQTMWLmeI3g/s640/P1050077.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm still not sure that I like the wooden buttons but I think they do enhance the vintage feel and are practical for fitting through the large holes. I could have sewn up the opening, but this way the cover can be removed and washed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is one of my first granny square projects, and being impatient as I can often be, I made the mistake of not sewing in some of the ends, so please don't look too closely..I had to go back and fix up those loose ends..BIG Lesson for me - Don't cut corners, it just means going back and fixing later (that's if it's not too late and hasn't become unravelled or lost it's shape).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>So have you tied up any loose ends this week? Maybe you finished something that you've been putting off. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with lots of clever and crafty folk over at <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/my-creative-space-for-those-who-make-create-and-share-5/">My Creative Space</a> today.</span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #ff99cc; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">x</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #746a80; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Sam</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #188c65; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-75651416771707292532012-06-08T19:23:00.000-07:002012-06-08T19:23:16.996-07:00And The Winner Is..<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JCbgcVZDaVk/T9KwWTE7H8I/AAAAAAAAAkM/jb8-ZvVnc0Q/s1600/P1050047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JCbgcVZDaVk/T9KwWTE7H8I/AAAAAAAAAkM/jb8-ZvVnc0Q/s640/P1050047.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was one of those mornings, lots of arguing, yelling and teasing, all before breakfast.. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, after enjoying some lovely free range eggs from my mother-in-law, numerous coffees, and some fresh air at soccer, things are starting to look up! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it's time to draw the winner of </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my </span><a href="http://wwwathomewithsam.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/giveaway-for-my-birthday.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">giveaway</a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little one assisted with much enthusiasm..</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VC_EQXIoa0/T9KvgCAIFcI/AAAAAAAAAkE/Hsf75bx_2Wk/s1600/P1050054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VC_EQXIoa0/T9KvgCAIFcI/AAAAAAAAAkE/Hsf75bx_2Wk/s640/P1050054.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and the winner is..</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rLqgPChO4Pk/T9Koyfdvz7I/AAAAAAAAAjs/_c1IGd81S2I/s1600/P1050055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rLqgPChO4Pk/T9Koyfdvz7I/AAAAAAAAAjs/_c1IGd81S2I/s640/P1050055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Congratulations <b>Miss Mandy</b> from <a href="http://www.alittlespacelikehome.com/">A Little Space Like Home</a>! </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please email me your address at samantha.hardt@bigpond.com so I can send out your prize right away!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for all your lovely bloggy birthday wishes, </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and thanks for entering my giveaway!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sun is shining, and although we don't have any set plans for the weekend,</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> this is how it's looking so far:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b> I'm off to look for a new (pre-loved) sewing machine this afternoon </b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b> Family Wii night tonight (suggested by my son)</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>If the weather is kind, a little country drive tomorrow</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>A little baking </b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>A roast dinner</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>A little crochet</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Loads of washing (but lets not think about that)</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Plenty of snuggles, hot choccy & lazing around in pj's (hopefully)</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What's your weekend looking like?</i></span><br />
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<b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #ff99cc; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">x</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #746a80; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">Sam</span></i></b></div>
</div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-16152124660039024462012-06-07T19:54:00.002-07:002012-06-19T19:10:48.255-07:00My Week & Last Chance To Enter Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a busy week, I don't know where the time has flown, but I'm really looking forward to the weekend, and hoping the sun will keep shining..here's a few things I'm loving this week!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coffee and shopping with Nanna, although she lives just less than an hour away, we don't see each other as often as we'd like, so it makes our time together even more special..</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">*This photo of my daughter and her Nanna has been removed for internet security purposes.</span></i></b>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Simple, healthy breakfasts, porridge with apple & cinnamon..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bringing home goodies from the library, it's such a great way to fill in the morning with the little one..</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKLarHERyN0/T9FkcLGUbEI/AAAAAAAAAio/Ut33HQoA2aw/s1600/P1050042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKLarHERyN0/T9FkcLGUbEI/AAAAAAAAAio/Ut33HQoA2aw/s640/P1050042.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, and after months of persisting with growing little one's hair (including growing the fringe out), we'd had enough, so it was off to the hairdressers for a chop. Although I did adore her lovely long locks..it's so much easier to manage now..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And lastly, getting some washing done, after the rainy week we had last week!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But before you leave me <b>don't forget</b> to enter my little birthday </span><a href="http://wwwathomewithsam.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/giveaway-for-my-birthday.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>giveaway</b></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, there's still time, it'll be drawn tomorrow! (sorry, only applicable to Australian entrants).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, how's your week been?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with <a href="http://meghanandmark.blogspot.co.nz/">Things I'm Loving</a> and <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/52-weeks-of-grateful-out-came-the-sunshine/">Grateful</a> today.</span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #ff99cc; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">x</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #746a80; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">Sam</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #188c65; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">*This post has been edited to remove photos of my children, for internet security purposes.</span></i></b></div>
</div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-11197711094546850012012-06-01T18:14:00.001-07:002012-06-01T18:14:13.096-07:00A Giveaway For My Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q7Pf2TVg-Yc/T8lmFIgUrPI/AAAAAAAAAg0/HY8TqqWpx_w/s1600/P1050019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q7Pf2TVg-Yc/T8lmFIgUrPI/AAAAAAAAAg0/HY8TqqWpx_w/s640/P1050019.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because you read my blog, because you have left lovely comments and words of support, because you are here reading my blog today, and because my blog has <strong>just turned one</strong>, I'm grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, what would really make me smile on this special occassion would be to wrap up a few of my favourite things, tie them up with string and send them to a lucky blogger, yes, I'm having a little giveaway, my very first giveaway!</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How quickly this year has flown, I feel as though my blog is evolving with me, who knows where it will all lead to, all I know is I'm looking forward to many more posts, getting to know you a little better, and sharing this amazing journey with many more bloggers too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you would like to be in the running, just drop me a line below and if you're not already a follower and you would like to be, then why not join me?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A name will be drawn at random, the old fashioned way, this time next week, so best of luck!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/52-weeks-of-grateful-opportunity-rocking/">grateful</a> today!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #ff99cc; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">x</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #746a80; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Sam</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #188c65; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"></span></i></b></span></span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-26957462967622067012012-05-30T22:01:00.001-07:002012-05-30T22:01:31.328-07:00My Creative Space - Dabbling<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Making</strong> some progress with this..</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">{should look like a granny square cushion when complete}</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Thinking</strong> about doing some more of this..</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VGoRW3B5V54/T8b0jmV2T_I/AAAAAAAAAf8/3MHm_7KFFXU/s1600/P1050008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341px" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VGoRW3B5V54/T8b0jmV2T_I/AAAAAAAAAf8/3MHm_7KFFXU/s400/P1050008.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">{acrylic on canvas}</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Getting</strong> diverted with quick projects, like this..</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Pondering</strong> lots of ideas at the moment..</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Preparing </strong>to open up my own little online store..</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Wondering</strong> what I should focus on the most!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Dreaming</strong> about making a living from my craft..</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Do you dabble in lots of different crafts or focus on one or two? Where do you start when it comes to setting up your own business?</em> Lots of questions I know, just a smidgeon compared to all the ones running through my head..maybe you have just one teensy weensy answer!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with many talented folk over at <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/category/my-creative-space/">mycreativespace</a> today, go on, you know you can't resist a look see!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #ff99cc; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">x</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #746a80; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Sam</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #188c65; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"></span></i></b></span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-49156373879974405632012-05-24T19:20:00.000-07:002012-05-24T19:20:41.566-07:00Can't Complain<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't complain about my week..</span> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_M9noPunfk/T77e1NygLrI/AAAAAAAAAeo/Xznyr4SknAc/s1600/IMG_0411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" qba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_M9noPunfk/T77e1NygLrI/AAAAAAAAAeo/Xznyr4SknAc/s400/IMG_0411.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">found a little quiet time to work on a granny square cushion in some of my favourite colours, </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">and enjoy my morning coffee from my new $2 mug.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">Blue suede shoes, $10 at Big W, suits my budget!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoyed some special one on one time with my son (but didn't get a photo, too busy chatting). W</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e've been doing this every Thursday after school, either going to the library together, grabbing a milkshake, or just having a good old chin wag. He loves our special time together (so do I).</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_M5DIbGcpc/T77mTp6Zi_I/AAAAAAAAAfE/_6KHgmp3Y2g/s1600/P1040892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225px" qba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_M5DIbGcpc/T77mTp6Zi_I/AAAAAAAAAfE/_6KHgmp3Y2g/s400/P1040892.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">And the grand finale, presented with this original lego creation last night, inspired by rockstar lego minifigure. I love the creativity!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining in with <a href="http://meghanandmark.blogspot.co.nz/">Things I'm Loving</a> and <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/52-weeks-of-grateful-getting-to-know-the-family/">Grateful</a> today, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a couple of lovely linkups.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It's looking rainy here today, but we're enjoying watching the rain through the window, listening to music and making cubby houses.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">Wishing you a fabulous weekend! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #ff99cc; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">x</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #746a80; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Sam</span></i></b></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254155699153109749.post-18811495045782066492012-05-20T01:39:00.001-07:002012-05-20T01:47:28.011-07:00Vintage Finds<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">Once there was a lonely little ramekin. It was picked up at an op shop by a hopeful thrifter, who vowed that one day she would find it's family. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">It was a useful little dish, who kept itself busy with odd jobs like mel</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">ting butter, separating egg whites, but despite this, never quite felt like it belonged anywhere, it was as though it was meant for some other purpose...</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41LDjmRd9ig/T7eKeSnOVBI/AAAAAAAAAd0/FjIyn3e9f1g/s1600/P1040851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41LDjmRd9ig/T7eKeSnOVBI/AAAAAAAAAd0/FjIyn3e9f1g/s400/P1040851.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">Then, one day, it was re-united with it's family. It turns out they were living just one suburb away from each other all this time.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egk_Bnm5eDQ/T7eK6sy05uI/AAAAAAAAAd8/F8xUauUqdlo/s1600/P1040852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egk_Bnm5eDQ/T7eK6sy05uI/AAAAAAAAAd8/F8xUauUqdlo/s400/P1040852.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;"><em>And so the little ramekin no longer felt alone, </em></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;"><em>and finally found a purpose, fulfilling important jobs like..</em></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPyc863IeYU/T7iMrhuosvI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/OM8Yt6c2BT0/s1600/IMG_0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPyc863IeYU/T7iMrhuosvI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/OM8Yt6c2BT0/s400/IMG_0449.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">baking <a href="http://melbournelarder.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/ultimate-comfort-food.html">old fashioned custard</a> for the whole family.</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;"><em>Don't you just love happy endings?</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">Joining in today with Sophie and <a href="http://herlibraryadventures.blogspot.co.uk/">Her Library Adventures</a> </span></em><em><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">for Flea market Finds</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>For more vintage finds go </strong><a href="http://wwwathomewithsam.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/thrifting-therapy.html"><strong>here</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="http://wwwathomewithsam.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/vintage-finds-something-special.html"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></span></em></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #ff99cc; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">x</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #746a80; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Sam</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637871167233016914noreply@blogger.com8