Life in a Folder

I've been wanting to get a Filofax for ages. I cleared out my bottomless handbag the other day, and in amongst the knitting, magazines, make-up and old receipts I dug out a grand total of six notebooks. Six! All with different purposes!! Time to get organised and have everything filed in one place I think! So at the weekend I treated myself to a Domino Filofax. A very reasonable price and my favourite colour! Perfect!

I had to restrain myself in buying all the different inserts! But I did purchase an extra set of notepaper, because I tend to make an awful lot of lists and take a lot of notes! Unfortunately the diary doesn't start until the beginning of July, so I have to wait to insert all my plans, but I did immediately set to work in making lots of lists and separating them into categories! (Oh the geekiness!). Here's my things to do....
... and my spending record - please ignore the two (2?!) entries for Starbucks, I have no idea how that happened! Anyway, on the whole am feeling a lot more organised, and my handbag is feeling a lot lighter!

Stitchy Stitchy

Remember last week I showed you the appliqued lion t-shirt which was on its way to my new baby niece? Well, in my stitching experimenting this is another one that I came up with. I love this pink fabric. It's from Saffron Craig's Fields range, I believe I got it from Fabric Rehab, although they no longer have it in stock, but it's well worth asking them if you like it.

Beautiful Books

How cool are these book covers? I only bought two unfortunately, but there are a whole series of classics with covers designed by an illustrator called Coralie Bickford-Smith.
She's done two sets, and I've got Wuthering Heights and Alice in Wonderland so far, but I'd love to collect them all. They would look amazing just lined up on the bookshelf in the alcoves in our living room. At £12.99 each it might have to be a gradual progression though, so if anyone's in the business for buying me present.... *hint hint* ;0)

Squares

At the moment I'm knitting squares. Eventually they'll be turned into baby blankets for still born babies, but for now I'm content to just be knitting squares. How cute are these colours together? I'm thinking I might be able to get two or three checked blankets out of these two balls of yarn. The blankets don't need to be big, as the babies are normally so tiny. It's so the mothers can take something home as a precious memory - apparently they often want to take home the hospital sheets, but the hospital needs to keep those, so they'll be given a knitted blanket instead.

I love how the stitches look so neat all together. If I'm just knitting on the train on my own, I like to pray for the mother and family who might end up with the blankets. I hope that through having something carefully handmade they might know that there's people out there who care, and who are praying for them. Who knows how God might use a baby blanket. When they're all sewn up I'll try and show you pictures.

When I have chunky yarn, myself and some girls from church are knitting scarves for rescued girls who have been sex trafficked. The A21 Campaign is doing an amazing job in helping to abolish sex slavery Greece and Eastern Europe so the scarves go to them. It's nice to think that through making something for someone, and praying for them, that God might use it to let them know that they're loved and valued. It's just a small thing, but a precious thought.

Park Life

Yards from my house, there's a huge park which is used by the whole community. If there's one good thing about London parks is they're really well looked after. In built up areas like mine, it's really important to preserve the open spaces and make them areas where the whole community can come and exercise, spend time together and appreciate nature. I love our park!Seeing as summer seems to have come to visit, I took the opportunity to head out there today to have a play with my camera. Now, I'm no photographer, but it was nice to take a walk and look at all the tiny details of the gardens through a lens. I spent most of my time in the Ornamental Gardens, which are absolutely beautiful, and you could think you were in one of the Royal Parks if you didn't know. There's so many different sections, with different types of flowers and trees, landscaped rock gardens and rose gardens.

We even have palm trees!

... And a totem pole for some reason!

When I look at all the flowers, the detail and the intricacies of nature, it makes me wonder how anyone can doubt the existence of a divine creator. How could this wonderous beauty come into existence without some sort of outside force guiding the way? And this beauty is just to be found in a man-made park, imagine the wonder of creation which is out there in the wild, in the places that we don't see, those hidden places!

Those hidden places, in the depths of the sea, the deepest darkest jungles, where there's no one to admire the beauty, they were still created by an awesome God, so that they would bring glory to Him. So that one day, as the human race continues to discover the unknown, as creation unfolds to our finite minds, we might come across all these hidden beauties and wonder how they got there. How? By a divine, awesome God who took care in carving out this wondrous beauty and binding it all together on a planet where we might slowly discover it. How awesome is that!

"Take a look at God's work. Who could simply and reduce Creation's curves and angles to a plain straight line?" ~ Ecclesiastes 7:13

"Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them."

~ Psalm 69:34

The Last Supper

Oh oven chips, how I love thee,

But you and me, we're just not meant to be,

It's time for us to say our goodbyes,

As truth be told, you're bad for my thighs!

That's right, it's high time I started getting a little bit more active, eating a little less convenience food, drinking a little bit more water, getting better sleep and generally being HEALTHIER! I've also come to the conclusion, that I need to go full pelt, 100%. Go cold turkey on all the bad stuff, and absolutely crazy with the exercise, otherwise I will very quickly slip back into bad habits.

I'll let you know how that takes shape!

This is what I got up to at the weekend. How cute! It didn't take too long to do but was nice to get some confidence on the sewing machine. This is now on its way to a special little girl called Grace. :0)

I also had a play with another one but no pics of that one at the moment.

A bit of nostalgia...

Thinking about my favourite book, Emily, yesterday, got me to thinking about other books that I used to enjoy. This one was the first that sprang to mind: Tall Inside, by Jean Richardson. Now, if you know me then you'll know that I'm pretty small and have yet to reach the 5" mark! So when I was a child I was really slight, I look back at some pictures and think I look like some kind of pixie! Sooo glad I grew into my head!

Anyway, so the point is, that I really related to this story. It's about a little girl who is small and she's at the circus and is feeling a bit insecure about it. Eventually she hides in a corner and cries, but then a clown comes along and tries to cheer her up. Turns out, he's small too and is just wearing stilts! I think that's how it went anyway, but I remember loving it!

Another one of my favourites is the bible story, Zacchaeus. Once again because he was short! I can see a pattern emerging!

Emily the Travelling Guinea Pig

I was looking through my bookcase yesterday and I came across this, Emily by Emma Smith. I remember as a child I felt so special because I had a book that was named after me! Myself and my sister would often share our books and toys but this one book was so clearly mine. I'm not normally one for hoarding books. I have so many but none that I keep for years and years - this one, I've never been able to throw it away.

You can see I wrote my name in the front, 4M, Oaklands Junior School. So I must have been about 8 when I was given it. I don't have a clue who gave it to me. The words "From Charlotte" are also written in the front, but I don't know who Charlotte is! It was published in 1960, and when I looked it up on Amazon there was one copy, being sold for £65!
Emily was a guinea pig who woke up one morning and decided to go on an adventure. The book chronicles this adventure and also lets us know how her husband is getting on at home, fending for himself! At the end she gets homesick and decides to head home. Every so often there's these darling coloured pictures on glossy paper - I remember looking forward to those pages!

Of course I wasn't named after Emily the guinea pig - I was born in the 80s! But it was so lovely to have a namesake to make me feel special.

I was actually named after this girl, Anna, of Mr God, this is Anna. Ok, so my name is Emily, but my middle name is Anne, and I found out recently that my mum was reading this book when she was pregnant with me, so my middle name is in tribute to Anna - a young girl who has such childlike faith in God. It wasn't until last year that I actually read the book and was horrified to find that Anna dies at the end! (Sorry if you wanted to read it!) - but it is a beautiful book.

Hello Petal!

I went into Sainsbury's the other night to buy breakfast bars and cheese. I came out with a dairy milk, a copy of the latest Ideal Home, cheese and a bunch of tulips. I just couldn't resist! I absolutely love tulips, they're so sunny and colourful.
So, they weren't exactly on the shopping list, but they were on special offer. I totally forgot about the breakfast bars but hey, I got distracted!
Aren't they pretty?!

I was a little bit inspired as I was at my mum's house at the weekend and there were tulips everywhere! She put a vase in the downstairs toilet, and there were a number of guests for my grandfather's birthday party and we were instructed to direct them in there, because that was where the flowers were!

These flowers were used for the table centrepiece and the cake, and ok they're fake but still so pretty. So now my little bunch sits on our bathroom windowsill. So sunny and bright to look at :0)

Am I nesting?! I am constantly finding that I want to surround myself with pretty things. Our flat is lovely with regards to space and light, however it's in severe need of re-decoration and needs freshening up a bit. Unfortunately because we rent, it's not something we can do ourselves - although I would love to paint everything white, hang bright curtains and lay laminate flooring throughout. I guess for now, I'll have to settle for the occasional bunch of tulips to brighten up the place!

What do you do to give your house a fresh look when you can't redecorate and refurbish throughout? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Back in Business!

I now have the internet at home, so blogging will resume to normal service shortly. Stay tuned, I have some exciting things coming up!

2009 review... and here's to 2010!

So despite my prolonged absence on the blog in the latter part of last year, it doesn't mean that I was being unproductive and not achieving the goals I set for myself. In fact, it was quite the opposite! Although I didn't achieve all the things that I set out to at the start of 2009, I did have many other achievments - after all, life does not always bring what we expect and some things have to be put on the back-burner for a while, whilst other things move to the fore-front.

So, 2009, what a year...
- I got into knitting in a big way and learnt to knit hats as well as scarves!
- Although I didn't make much headway with my debt, I did increase my earnings, as did Jon, and manage to make it to the end of the month without habitually using credit, so I didn't increase my debt either, and due to bigger earnings there is now a disposable income to use towards debt.
- We saved money by WINNING a free trip to Vegas and very much enjoyed some time just for us.
- I unexpectedly got a promotion and now carry the title of "Deputy Editor"... it sounds glam, but my office isn't exactly Devil Wears Prada stylee if you know what I mean.
- Jon too got a promotion to "Team leader" which basically means he's in management.
- I learnt that being busy all the time doesn't mean that you are productive.
- I learnt to prioritise my commitments, and that some me-time is normally a top priority if everything else is to get done.
- I learnt how to say no.
- I decided to spend more time with my parents, and enjoyed it immensely.
- I realised that I have a great marriage and a fantastic husband, and that I need to invest in that no matter what the cost.
- I read so many books I lost count!

2010 here we come......
- I've signed up to a 10k run in aid of the A21 Campaign on March 14th. I've done no training whatsoever but am hoping that this is the start of a new habit, have got a week's free pass at the local gym. Sponsor me here.
- I've made a decision to make more of an effort to see old friends and to invest in new friendships, which means my Friday and Saturday nights are booked up for a while - and also that my cooking repertoire will have to expand!
- I've gathered together all our relatives' addresses and birthdays, maybe 2010 will be the year I actually send greetings cards (it's kind of expected of me in my new job!).
- I now have a disposable income which means we can pay off debt as well as live relatively comfortably.
- Having reviewed my priorities and commitments, I know that I can now give 100% to my responisbilities rather than spreading myself too thin. It also means Jon and I can work as a team! (AKA The Dream Team!).
- Have decided to just go for it in all things! - knowing that God is eternally faithful and will provide for every eventuality no matter what.
- I want to learn to sew! Which means giving myself time to practise rather than trying to do a rush job and expecting it to be perfect!

So... apologies for the lack of pictures! There will be more blogging in the near future, pics and all!
x

2010? How did that happen?!

Where did 2009 go? I can't believe it! I guess I better go back through my goals and see what changed, where we're at and what is to become of this coming year ahead.

There's so much I want to tell you but I simply don't have the time to put it into any sort of cohesive thought, but I will have a think tonight and maybe pop back in the morning with my 2009 news.

I am still without the internet at home so I'm finding it really hard to make the time to blog, which is a real shame as that was one of my goals. But, there are means and ways, I just need to decide to DO IT!

We shall chat soon my friends, we shall chat soon!

x

She runs, she runs!

That's right people, I have been running no less than three times this week! And I feel great! Even in such a short space of time I've noticed an improvement in that I'm running further and further each time and I'm not feeling like I will die when I get to the end - meaning that I'm slowly working my way up to push myself harder each time. This morning I even included a sprint at the end just to expend all the extra energy!

I was lucky enough a few months ago to win some She Active vouchers and last week had a day out in Brighton where I was able to spend them. I was thinking about getting some new trainers but seeing as they didn't do proper testing of your running style I decided to not take the risk and so bought some new running gear. So now, I can run at least looking like a pro!

Ronhill Aspiration Gilet SS09, £31.99.

Nike Women Dri Fit Tech Capri 09.

Nike Women Sleeveless Half Zip Top, £22.99.

Today, I also bought this DVD.

I figure I can't run everyday day, and as much as it will improve my fitness it probably won't change my bodyshape a huge amount seeing as I don't have that much fat to lose :0) But, I do need to tone up and I really enjoyed Pilates last year when I tried it as part of Sweat in the City, and these 10minute workouts will fit easily into my day! I'll let you know how I get on!

Gormet Cooking

Well, as you can see I've been busy in the kitchen again! And guess what, I cooked this one totally from scratch! (that's why I'm showing it to you, there's no skill involved in pouring sauce from a jar!).

I made this, sweet and sour pork, last week after buying BBC Good Food magazine on a whim. I've never followed a recipe before for a main course - baking recipes yes, but not dinner. Dinner comes from jars right?!

And it was surprisingly easy to do. The only slight hiccup was me walking around the supermarket thinking "What the hec does soy look like and where will I find it?". I came to the conclusion that seeing as Morrisons doesn't have a health food section and tofu isn't easy to find either, they must not stock soy. I figured that seeing as the recipe only required a teaspoon of the stuff that it can't be that important anyway.

The finished result was indeed delicious - tasted just like the shop bought stuff only less orange, which equals less MSG so I'm told.

The recipe can be found here. And now that I've seen their website I think it's safe to say that I won't be buying the mag again, as there's so many recipes online!

And just thought you might like to see the flowers I bought last week in a moment of crazy domesticity. They're still looking pretty good over a week later so turned out to be a good buy!

The rise of the domestic Goddess!

On Saturday I had the most domestic of days. I spent the whole morning cleaning the house in preparation for our first proper house-guest. (We have Jon's brother satying with us for a week or so). I even mopped the floors and polished all the window sills. This took most of the day, except for an hour when I was trapped in the living room waiting for the floors to dry... don't worry I had a magazine.

Then at 3pm I had the sudden urge to bake so I dug out the cook books that are normally just for display purposes only. Tana Ramsay came up trumps with a recipe for brownies. I dashed out to the supermarket so that I'd be back in time for Steve's arrival.

Ok, so I did have to call my mum twice whilst I was there - first to check that cream cheese was the same as soft cheese, second to check whether it mattered if you used normal chocolate instead of cooking chocolate (does it matter?! It's all chocolate!). I even grabbed a bunch of fresh flowers on the way out because they were so bright and beautiful! I don't have pictures of that though, sorry.

So I made the brownies - the swirlyness is as a result of a layer of white chocolate that you swirl around. Yummy yummy yummy! Part of me wishes that I had styled up the photograph with a freshly cut piece and some melting ice cream in a pretty bowl, but unfortunately I didn't think of that and now they're all gone (they didn't stick around for long, I can tell you!).


So yes, the most domesticated of days...

Next time I will fill you in on some new fitness gear that I've bought! (Just need to use it now!).

Where is the year going?

My apologies, my apologies, and we were going so well! I would have kept this blogging lark up had my computer not broken, yes we've been without a home computer since March (ish?) time and have since moved house, so even when it gets fixed, we'll have to sort outt he grand interweb for my dear blogging adventures to continue!

Never fear though, life has not stood still, I am still making progress with my goals and new goals have emerged and evolved as the year has gone on.

As I said, we moved house. Which meant I have now risen to the dizzy heights of domestic goddessness. We're now living on our own so it's all up to me to keep everything shiny and pretty, and I have to say that I am doing quite well (with Jon's help, obviously!).

My biggest success of the year, however, is my reading! I have probably read more books this year than I have in the last five put together! So yay for me :0)

Books I have read:
Cecilia Ahern: A place called here
Cecilia Ahern: If you could see me now
Cecilia Ahern: Thanks for the memories
(Notice a pattern? I still can't bring myself to read PS I Love You. I cried all the way through the movie and just reading the first page in Borders made me tearful. It's sooooooo sad!)

Malcolm Gladwell: Outliers: the Story of Success. I've read one of his others, The Tipping Point, and this was just as fantastic. It's non-fiction, kind of sociology-based but full of interesting real-life stories to back up his theories. Great if you want to find out more about what makes some people successful and others not so. If you like this kind of sociology-based book would also reccommend The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford. I read that whilst on honeymoon a couple of years ago, and although I'm not one for maths and finance, it was a really interesting read, again backed up by real-life stories, certainly gives you a new perspective on the world! Next on my list in the same vein is Malcolm Gladwell's Blink.

Jodi Picoult: My Sister's Keeper (I was so not expecting the twist at the end... if you've read it you'll be like "I Know!". When I got to that part I was sitting on the train and I let out a little squeal of shock. Luckily I was not alone and my friend was sitting there waiting for me to get to "that part!").

I'm currently reading one of Jodi Picoult's other books, Nineteen Minutes. It's about a high-school shooting from the perspective of the killer's mum. Not as much of a page-turner as My Sister's Keeper. I have to say I think I read her best one first (or so I've been told!).

One devastating development in the world of books though.... Borders on Oxford Street is closing down! I love that place! There's still one up on Charing Cross Road but that's just that bit further away from where I normally loiter about! Very sad news indeed!

So anyway, sorry there's no pictures today. I normally try and include some just to break up my ramblings but I'm actually at the library and didn't come prepared.

It's been a while....

Well, it has been a while hasn't it?! But that doesn't mean I haven't been changing my life. I've been so busy changing my life that I haven't had time to blog about it! (My bad, I'm sorry!).

However, now that we've had a week of glorious sunshine I feel like there's lots of new beginnings, fresh starts, Spring basically. So here's what I've been doing in my glorious weekend of sunshine:

1. I went for a run on Saturday morning - which makes for the second run this week and I'm going again tonight! Absolutely loving it, and have started running with a couple of friends in the evenings which makes it all the more enjoyable. If I stick at it, Jon says I can get some of those Nike Plus trainers so I can record my progress (yes indeedy, I am a marketers dream, with these trainers, and only these ones, I will become a marathon runner!).

2. I spent a lovely afternoon in the park with Jon. Got to get all the outdoorsy business out the way before Jon gets struck down for three months with Hayfever when we never leave the house!

3. Turned my room from this.....

to this.....

All clean and tidy, I've always wondered how things get messy so quickly, obviously it's the mess pixies isn't it? Because it's certainly not me!

I've also done a bit of crafting of late, but will save that for another day :0)

Busy Busy Bee :0)

Apologies for my shockingly long absence over the month of February. Life got very very busy due to my resolution of "living on the front row" (i.e. not staying in and backing out of things because I'm too tired, or it's too hard or too far). In fact, it's now the 24th and, looking back on the month, I have been out for 17 out of those 24 evenings, 11 of those 17 being weekdays. It would have been 18 had it not snowed on Monday 2nd!
It's been a busy month. Most of those evenings have been church meetings so I don't regret any of it, it's the beginning of the year so we've been looking ahead, planning and driving things forward etc etc, and we've also had the chance to go to some brilliant seminars and training. I also am well aware that I am where I am today, both in my personal life and with the responsibilities I've been entrusted with at church, because I am consistent and I "just showed up". So no regrets there - I'm learning loads!

I did manage to squeeze in a valentines meal (ok, so we went to Nandos because it was late and we were hungry) and a trip to see Slumdog Millionaire, and we also went away for a weekend to South Wales - so there was a little bit of me-time.... ok a tiny bit.

To be honest though, I am exhausted. I don't remember the last time I went to bed without setting an alarm, last night was the first time in over a week that I actually ate dinner at home, and I have lately had regular bouts of tiredness, sleepiness and severe loss of concentration at work. I think the last time I spent the day with Jon with no plans or commitments whatsover was probably Christmas day.

I get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, I've upped my water intake and although I don't do a huge amount of exercise, I do walk a lot and general activities don't tire me out - when I do exercise I push myself quite far and feel quite fit and healthy... so I don't know what the problem is. Plenty of people get up at 6am, travel an hour to work, get home at 7pm (ish!) or go out for the evening and go to bed at 10pm without any trouble, don't they?! And a lot of people I know live this kind of lifestyle whilst going out in the evenings and leading busy lives. I know it's been a hectic month, but I thought I would be able to cope for a short period without too much trouble! :0)

This week is empty though so I'm looking forward to lots of early nights, homecooked dinners (vegetables!!) and cosy duvets. I do have plans on Saturday morning but I have the rest of that day free, and I've booked March 13th off work so I can spend the day with Jon, relax and recuperate (it seems a long way off but it's not, honest!)

In other news....
- After a very busy 2008 and not having been on holiday since August '07 I was in desperate need of a holiday. However, we had agreed not to pay out on such luxuries until our student debts were paid. We have recently been told that Jon won an incentive at work whereby we (that's me too!) get five nights in Las Vegas!!! Flights, accomodation and an activity included! We're hoping to go later in the year so we have something to look forward to!

- On February 7th I got up early and went for a run in the glorious sunshine, upon returning home I realised that no one else was about so did a Pilates session before eating a very healthy soup lunch. I then promptly fell asleep for 3 hours between 2pm and 5pm, wasting my whole day off! (And yes, that was the last time I had a Saturday off!)

- My budget and healthy eating goals went out the window because we were eating out so much this month. However, we've managed to last til the end of the month without dipping into our savings account, as well as paying extortionate amounts for train travel to Wales (I remember when it used to cost less than £30 when you paid on the day!).

- I'm struggling with Pride and Prejudice. It's just a bit slower than Sense and Sensibility. However, I am not a quitter, I'm more than two thirds of the way through, and I will finish it! Just give me a few weeks yeah?

Looking back on a good month

Well, seeing as we are now one twelfth through 2009, and one month into my goal setting plans, I thought it might be good to see how far I've come and what I've achieved. The good news is, when I first started this my goals in their most basic form were 1. To work out what my goals are, and 2. To blog regularly enough for this to be worth it. And I've achieved both of those - hurray!!

Area 1: Health and Fitness
I really wanted to go running once a week and so far I've managed once a fortnight. I know I know, that seems bad, but at the moment I can only go running on Saturdays (once summer rolls around, evenings will be much more feesable), and the only reason why I haven't been is because I've had plans - not because I'm lying in bed without the motivation to go.

I also said I would keep reading the magazines and I am. In fact yesterday I subscribed to one of them so looking forward to having that in the post every month - and saving a HUGE amount on the cover price.

Area 2: Budget & Finance
I have now knocked £100 off my overdraft - so well on track to reducing it by £500 by May.
I don't always stick to budget, and still fritter away pennies on an incredible amount of food BUT I am much more aware of the accounts and know whether I can afford to do this or not.
I haven't bought any clothes until Saturday when firstly, it was just after pay day, and secondly I mostly used my vouchers from Christmas.
We haven't eaten out as much this month.
It has been a long month, that much has to be said, and we were thrown out of sync a bit with Jon being paid before Christmas instead, so looking forward to February when things can go back to normal.

Area 3: Becoming a well-rounded person
I've read Sense and Sensibility - and finished it - and enjoyed it!
I'm half way through Pride and Prejudiced, loving that one too.
Still working through Joseph Prince, but enjoying taking notes and studying, rather than just reading and not taking it all in.
I haven't been able to do as much crafting as I would like. In fact, I still haven't got my beads out and had a play - need to set aside more time for me!

Area 4: Being organised
The list thing is going well. All the long-term things that were on my list at the beginning of the month are now completed - including hemming trousers which I'm very proud about! I feel a lot more organised and that means I have more time to concentrate on other things. I do tend to do things when I think of them as well so that's cool.

Area 5: Living life on the front row
I live a very busy life but whereas last year I was feeling run down and tired, this year I'm enjoying being busy and feel like I'e accomplished a lot just in this last month. This week was going to be the testing point because I was due to be out every night this week, but my meeting tonight got cancelled 'cause of the snow so if that's a sign of things to come it looks like I'll have to test myself another time.

Area 6: Food
Well, a more recent goal means I haven't been focussing on it all month, but so far I have cooked two proper dinners. Woohoo!

Ok, so it might not look a lot to you, but to me I've made a lot of huge changes so far and I feel a lot better for it. Things are going well, especially in the midst of a really busy month at work, and kicking off the year at church. I'm pleased. :0)