Christmas and elation on top of a mountain

With Birthdays and an anniversary consuming pre-Christmas days, Christmas came and went so fast I think I almost missed it. Unfortunately the credit card bills and the endless receipts in my drawer are a constant reminder that something went on around mid December. I tried hard this year to get my children thinking of the real meaning of Christmas and also to think of others and somehow give to those less fortunate than themselves. A number of things came up like giving toys that we no longer played with (though all of a sudden 'we' played with a lot more)to those in need and giving our dinners that we didn't want to eat seemed a popular choice, however I did manage to get my children saying 'What I would like to get" instead of "What I'm getting" and to also look around at others and make them feel happy even if it was just a friendly smile and a Merry Christmas to a passer-by. I was very proud of their own little progress. On boxing day (the day after Christmas we packedc up and headed south to a region called Taranaki which was home to Mt Taranaki, a mountain that my Father-in-law and I decided was a great adventure and something we could do no sweat!!!!! We trained for about a month in the lead up and somehow convinced ourselves and our family that we were up for the challenge. I thought, 'sure I've done nothing for over a year, but hey I have three boys they keep me busy I'll be fine !!!!!!' anyway we were shocked to see such a beautiful and bloody huge mountain in front of us as we arrived at our destination, that was Sat evening just in time to quickly set up the tent (a very cool big tent that actually fits us all in and you can even stand straight up in) Sunday we drove up to the visitor centre and got a closer look, though the mountain was shy and hid himself in the clouds for the most part. We went back into to New Plymoth and hit a hiking store to grab some new items that we now decided we HAD to have and quietly sweated, all the while thinking I hope i can keep up with the other one. 6.30am rolled around very quickly and we found ourselves at the visitor centre carpark pondering whether the questionable weather would hold up and were asked if we wanted to postpone til the next day NO!!!! I could not imagine having to mentally prepare again for the next day so off we went two unaware little creatures setting out on a fabulous adventure. Our guide and one other companion who was even more mentally unprepared joined us on our way to the summit which was 2518m high. It trully was amazing and to be totally honest the ascend was not even that bad, we made good time and had a great time getting there Step grasses sections followed by steep scoria then steep rocky paths that lead to more steep rocky paths that carried up the hill til we reached another very steep rocky climb this led us into the crater that was still covered in snow. We donned crampons and carried ice axes (what were we doing?????) I hadn't even held an iceaxe before now and crampons were for serious snow climbs. Once we trekked over the crater we had to ascend a very steep snowy face and it was only then when there was no more land above us did we see and clamber upon the summit. I think we technically stood on a rock next to the summit due to the Maori peoples belief that the summit is actually a sacred site. In respect to that our guide let us touch the 'actual summit rock however we stood on a rock next to it. The descend was alot more harrowing down very steep rock faces and more rocks and the horrid very unstable scoria where I believe if you could ski well would not be an issue but it bothered me that I had to nearly run face foward done this slippery dirt/rock face all the while dodging big rocks that weren't going to move for you. Despite the hardwork the scenery was magnificent and I recommend it to everyone. We managed the 10km trek up and back well in under 11 hours and it was only the last leg of the journey (maybe 4kms) that we all were physically challenged taking step by step down the track just managing to keep our jelly legs upright. Exhausted but elated we drove home to share our story. I am proud of my father-in-law and myself and have a new sense of just what can be achieved if you just start the journey. I am posting some pics so you can see just what I am talking about

In our constant effort...

In my continuing effort to make our home work better for us, I have decided to move my children in together...to the same room. This had originally been the plan all along, but when VO was a baby and ready to move to his crib, I freaked out. I didn't want one kid waking the other kid up, etc, etc, etc, craziness, craziness, craziness.

Well, 2 years later they sleep through the night fine, they go to bed at relatively the same time, they wake up at the same time. They play in each other's rooms all the time. There is no need for them to be running back and forth all day long. And I need a place for all of my sewing stuff.

So, here is the plan...we are going to move SO in with her little brother, because, quite frankly, that room has the best storage in the entire house. We are keeping the walls white. I am not concerned that their bed spreads don't match. Of course they don't. He is a boy and she is a girl. He, of course, has not figured that out yet, but I am banking on a good 5 to 6 years of them sharing before we will have to move them back to their own rooms, you know, for puberty and fun stuff like that!

And once the room moving and sharing is worked out, then, oh then, the fun will begin! I will be able to leave my sewing machines out all the time. Set up and plug in the ironing board without creating a tripping/fire hazard in my bedroom. My fabric that I am working with will be able to stay on the table. That table will no longer be the dining room table. While I am at it, I am moving my desk and all office related things in there too. I WILL HAVE MY. OWN. STORAGE. CLOSET. FOR MY. OWN. STUFF. It really will be a remarkable achievement.

This room will need to be painted. Because, as much as do love the two-tone turquoise (I really do), it was for SO, not for me. So more fun with paint for JO. And did I mention the closet??

Befores and afters will be posted for your viewing pleasure at some point...I am hoping next week. You know, it is the holidays and I apparently do not have enough to do.

Grosgrain: Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

While looking for gifts to make for a certain gift exchange tonight (I know, nothing like waiting until the last minute, right!) I came across this super cute dress that is just being given away! Hopefully it will be a Merry Christmas to me!!


Grosgrain: Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Help From the Big Guy

How soon is too soon to bust out the "Elf on the Shelf"?

And work it for all it is worth?

I am seeking reinforcements.

Give Me Shelter

I have an addiction.

I love shelter magazines.

I love them.

I can do without Time, Newsweek, People, Real Simple, etc...but I can't do without...

Fresh Home which is my current favorite.

Or Atomic Ranch.

Or Dwell.

Or even This Old House, which we still get from our "old house" days. There is some good, useful information in there.

I was very sad, I repeat, VERY SAD, when Domino closed up shop. Granted, towards the end they started to suck a little bit, things were expensive and the uniqueness of it was waning, but I still LOVED it. I would curl up on the couch, ignore my family and go through it page by page, reading every article and looking at all of the pictures. I got some great ideas from Domino and used them in my home and business regularly. It provided a wonderful source of inspiration to me.

So today, I was so excited to read on Apartment Therapy, that Domino is BACK. Well sort of.

Photo lifted from Apartment Therapy.

Lonny is a new online magazine that is taking some of its inspiration from Domino. But it is online (the jury is still out on how I feel about that - I think I may miss the tactileness (is that a word) of holding the magazine, but we will see!) I have not made it much past the Table of Contents, but so far it looks great and I am so excited about it!

Happy reading to you all.