{Day 5} 21 Day Challenge

I hardly ever use my pc on the weekend never mind blog! But Rhonna's challenge is still on going even over the weekend, so I thought I would stick to it and be CONSISTENT.

It's not an easy weekend for me as it is 6 months since my brother passed away. I am battling to hold it all together, to stay positive, to stay consistent. I have relapsed since Friday due to this, but I know tomorrow, Monday, will be better as then I am back in routine. Weekends are hard, I loose focus cos I have no routine or direction. I haven't given up, I just need a breather and tomorrow will be back on track.
I have, however been creating and this has helped a great deal. It makes me feel worthwhile to know what I creates inspires others. Sharing my story is not always easy, but I feel if it can help someone else, then I need to do it.

I have tried to leave comments of a few of the 21-ers blogs, and it asks to choose a type of account, which I do, and then write my comment and press "post comment" and then my comment disappears and it does not end up on the blog I just commented on! It is so frustrating!
So if one of the blogs is yours, please tell me what I am doing wrong, as I would love to comment on your posts!
Treasures
Michelle Roycroft { I wanted to tell you that I Can help you with your blog !) give me a shout
scottshandmadecrafts
They all ask for the same format, so I don't know if that has something to do with it.

Can anyone help or tell me why I can't post?

{21 Day Challenge-Day4} and other things

Day 4

{click to view larger if you wish}


Day 4 has been fabulous!!!

It started off a bit rocky, but gradually the day got better and better. I can honestly say it's the BEST day I have had in a LONG time. Nothing spectacular happened, as far as days go, it was ordinary. But a few good things happened!
- A while ago I ordered some things through Etsy from a couple of friends and the new Artful Blogger and Somerset Studio magazines from Stampington and they ALL arrived TODAY, at the same time!! I had this huge pile of parcels to collect from the PO. It was fantastic! I felt so SPOILED!!
Gorgeous tags, notebook, poker chip embellishments!
So that was one great thing about today! Also I joined a friend of mine for coffee, something I haven't done in a while. Bought a fabulous jacket that I had looked all winter for and now that Spring is here and it's getting warmer, I found the one I had wanted! {oh well can wear it next winter!}

After school today, I sat outside with my children, on a blanket and we had a picnic under the trees, with the warm sun filtering down between the leaves, and the sound of birdsong floating on the breeze. It was just perfect. To be outside and feel the warmth after such a long winter. We ate our lunch, giggled and they did their french knitting and I did mine... SIGH {floating away on a cloud}
Besides all that, I achieved my goals today as set out for this challenge and it felt so good.
I realized that I can be a force for good and that even if some don't notice the good I do or see me for who I really am-just a girl who makes mistakes but who underneath it all has a good heart and just wants to share and make others happy...that some DO notice.

I got the sweetest email from my dear dad {he just turned 73} telling me what a great daughter I am and how grateful he is towards me for a number of things...and how proud he is of me for becoming who I am today and for the great kids I have....but the whole email just made me cry, I was so touched....to know he feels that way. {shedding a few now!}

This year has been incredibly hard because in March this year, 6 months tomorrow, my eldest brother {45} died very suddenly of a brain aneurysm. He lived in New Zealand{had immigrated 3 years previously with his wife -married 18 years-and their daughter who just turned 7.} I had not seen him in all those 3 years and the family came for a full month to stay with us in December last year and we went away on holiday for some of that time camping. It was the best holiday ever and I got to know my big brother as a friend. Just two months later his wife phoned to tell us he had suddenly collapsed in his office, complaining of "the worst headache" of his life, vomiting and blacking out. He was rushed to hospital and later transported by air to a larger facility. He was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and they operated to clip it. However the swelling was too much and after 3 days he was pronounced brain dead....all of this while the rest of my family..my dad, me and my sister are thousands of miles away and my other remaining brother in the UK....so helpless. We all thought he would pull through..we were waiting...It all happened so quickly before any of us even had a chance to make any travel arrangements....
His wish was not to live on life support, and my sister in law phoned to ask if we wanted her to keep it on so that we could fly over to say goodbye. None of us wanted to. We didn't want to see him like that, to have that being our last memory. He was gone.

So it's been 6 months...some days have been so hard I have thought I couldn't even face the day, I went through depression and of course all the stages of grief. It still hurts, just like it hurt now even to type all of this...but I know its all part of the healing process and the only way to heal is to deal with the emotions and pain so that I can take the next step to moving on. Death is never something you "get over" you just learn to live with it day by day.

So on a very personal level...this is why this challenge is so important to me...I need the motivation to keep positive because sometimes it's so hard to remember who I was before he died. I guess I was naive, but I feel like I lost my sense of adventure and my SPARK when he died. TODAY was the first day I have felt ALIVE in every sense of the word.

Thank you Rhonna....more than words can say. {okay really sobbing now!!}



Moving on before I flood my studio!!
I have this blogwear set available for sale in my sidebar, made from My Vintage Dream kit.
1 blog background, 1 blog header and 2 blog buttons and full instructions on how to install.





Yesterday I made this heavenly chicken pie....Took these photos while enjoying the process....sheesh...Rhonna's challenge rubs off onto everything I do these days! :)And a little self portrait I did....hello! {and bye!} off to comment on fellow 21-ers!

21 Days-Day 1, 2 and 3

I am doing Rhonna's 21 day challenge. The thought behind this is that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. Who would of thought? LOL! I of course have a huge MOUNTAIN of things I need to change about myself-who doesn't? But I figured I would concentrate on 3 things that pretty much set the scene for a lot of things to follow after that.

1} Be POSITIVE and Show ENTHUSIASM

I used to be a very optimistic, positive person, and in a lot of ways i still am. It's not like I go around like Eeyore with a little black rain cloud over my head...I am generally a happy person, I smile and joke a lot, everyday. The smallest things amuse me...I guess being positive as in I can make a difference, I can be a good influence in others lives...but it has to start with me. I also need to show more enthusiasm....the weird thing is that when someone does something great for me or gives me a compliment or a gift, I SO appreciate it and inside I am squealing with excitement, I just have a hard time bringing that across, I need to be visible so that I don't offend others.

2} Be on time!
I am so often late for things: late to take my kids to school, late for gym classes, late for important meetings, late , late LATE. It has to change! ha ha!!

3.} BE Consistent!!

I always seem to know what I want, it is just how I end up getting it or achieving it that is the problem. I do things in a very round about way sometimes, get side tracked, de-motivated and this ties in with point number 1-feel powerless and so get negative and then don't get anything done or little of what I plan to do! I achieve lot most days, but sometimes not the things I really need to get stuck into...It's a nice mixture of procrastination, despondence, and feeling over whelmed sometimes. I just need focus and to concentrate on one thing at a time until its done and then move on... This point is very general, but it applies to lot of things I am working on in this challenge, some of which are personal.

So with that in mind.. Day 1
{click on image to view larger if you wish}
I've had fun cutting, pasting, sticking, decopaging, painting!

day 1

Day two:




Day 3

I'm having fun with it, and I know it's only the beginning, I have done the challenge before (see sidebar) so I know there are BAD and GOOD days and you just have to take each day at a time, you might fall, you might relapse...don't give up...keep going...I did it last time, and I know I can do it again and if you are a fellow 21-er, then you CAN do it too!
Today I actually was on time in getting my son to school-granted it helped my husband took my daughter to school, but I left early and he got there with time to spare instead of running like the wind as the bell rings!! -amazing and it felt so good because I got at least 30 minutes EXTRA out of my day!!

21 Days!!! I am so excited!!

I am so excited!! Rhonna Farrers 21 Day challenge is starting again! I took this challenge in 2007, it was such great fun! I am definitely doing it again, starting today!

I have already got out my paints and brushes, and goodies and started!! Will post my pages as I do them.


I just wanted to show you this beautiful clock I bought for my studio..it is so pretty...
And since I am feeling all arty and inspired today, I made you this little word art. Please do not claim as your own. Copyrighted. I just love this quote and it sets the scene for me today.

Enjoy!!

new stuff on Etsy!

I have some new stuff for sale on my Etsy!
I had fun making tags...lot's of them yesterday!




I am so excited too cos tomorrow we are taking our kids to go and play in the snow!!! My husband has never been in or felt snow (I have) and my kids have never either. We can see it when it is very cold, like today, on the highest peak of my mountains..but that is as close as it gets. So tomorrow we are driving two hours to get to it! It is a surprise for them!!! *squeal*

Enjoy your weekend!!

Renovations and decor

If you are wondering why I have been so quiet, it is because I have been very busy with home renovations and decorating! I painted my dd's room purple -she is 5 and this was her color choice....love how it came out. Then the brown wooden desk and chair (which I have had since I was a little girl) didn't quite match or fit in anymore, so I painted them white.



Then I though, seeing as though I am painting, I might as well carry on and I bought paint for my study and redid that. A french style blue which is gorgeous. I also then painted my brown bookshelves white and it is amazing what a lick of paint does to the place-freshens it up and adds life and space and everything seems bigger and brighter!





This weekend my husband started in my daughters room, during the week I unpacked her entire room and basicaly moved it lock, stock and barrel into my room, and then he ripped out her carpets and skirting boards and we layed bamboo flooring. We finished on Sunday night. It is gorgeous. We have put the prima and sealant, varnish on and now we have to wait for a few days to allow the floor to "cure". And then this weekend we are tackling my son's room and the weekend after that my bedroom! And then it will all be done.

Flooring makes a huge difference, I don't know about you, but with carpets in the kids rooms, they don't last. My kids are not allowed to eat or drink in their rooms, but even so, all kinds of stuff ends up squished into the carpets and you end up steam cleaning a few times a year which here in SA can be quite a costly business.

I took some cute photos of my cat on the weekend, I swear she knew I was photographing her and began to "pose" for me! And played aroudn with a mini Paris souvenir I got while there!

Joyful altered Journal by Bonniemommy on Etsy

Joyful altered Journal by Bonniemommy on Etsy
Now for sale.
A one of a kind altered journal handmade by me. Follow the link!

Photos, dresser and recipe for you

Just wanted to share some fun things today.
First of all a few weeks ago I went to my favorite little town , Stellenbosch. And I took these photos. Stellenbosch is one of South Africa's oldest town's. The French hugenots or settlers came and so Stellenbosch has a lot of french influence-to the street names, decor and even the feel of the town. You will find little bistro's with table and chairs on the sidewalks. Walking along the cobbled streets, you will find many beautiful decor, art and gift shops. Having been in Paris, I can definately feel the similarities! I love the quote on this sign board, it says " Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow."


A view from a little cafe we sat in and drank coffee.
Over the weekend I bought this gorgeous Welsh dresser from one of my favorite shops-Tutta Bella. I don't think they have a website, but you can see them on flickr here. They are a gift and decor store but specialize in cupcakes for all kinds of events and functions. Gorgeous cup cakes and they taste delicious too! The other day I had a triple chocolate cupcake and I am sure it had a spot of liquer in the icing sugar-was too delicious!

So this is the dresser I bought. I am in love with it.



Taken at night with a candle lit.
Now the recipe...
This is an origial South African recipe called Bobotie. It is really easy to make and totally delicious. You serve it with rice.

Mince mixture:
2 onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons oil
half tablespoon butter
500g mince
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup grated carrots or apple (optional)
1 cup raisins (optional -I alwasy add this as it makes it extra yummy)
half a cup of chicken stock

spices:
1 teaspoon of EACH of the following:
coriander
tumeric
sugar
half a teaspoon of ginger
half a teaspoon of cinnamon
pinch of cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons garlic and herb seasoning

optional:
1 tablespoon lemon juice,
2 slices white bread soaked in chicken stock, lightly squeezed and mashed with a fork.
(I personally leave the bread part out as I cannot eat bread)


Topping:
3 eggs beated with half a cup of milk
bayleaves to decorate

Method:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees c.
stir-fry the onion in the oil and butter
Add the mince and stir fry until crumbly and browned.
Add the garlic, carrot/apple or raisins, spices and sugar.
optional: add the bread and lemon juice
simmer on low heat for a few minutes after adding the stock. Don't
make it too runny. If it appears to be runny and not "saucy" add a tablespoon
of flour you have premixed in a little water to the mixture to thicken it up.
pour the mixture into a oven proof dish and then pour over the eggand milk mixture
and decorate with the floating bay leaves.
cook in the oven at 180c for 35 minutes.
Serve with rice.

Would love to know if you try this and what you think!
It's always fun to try other cultures food! This is what it looks like, I made it last night!