What happened to the time?

I can hardly believe how long its been... I have neglected my blog!

We have had lots happening and this has consumed so much time.

We became carers again enough said about that. Its tough, its such an emotional roller-coaster and we were not prepared, I am not sure that you can ever be prepared?

It happens every time we make wonderful plans and get started on the house and renovations which have been put on hold so many times in the last 12 years.

We were painting the front of the house and then had to drop everything.

As it turned out we did get back to the painting and well we have to strip it all back and start again.  The paint bubbled, we sanded it back and tried again and again all with the same result. Quite disappointing when you are going backwards with progress.  We were able to get lovely help from the paint shop and they have replaced all of the paint with something different.

That is on my to do list.  I have let it go a bit.  Loss all momentum there.

However we have made progress. The study is becoming something wonderful the outside is progressing and a fabulous friend came and visited (she had not been for a while) and was quite shocked with our progress given how rough a time we have had in the last few years.

We are creating (finally) a kiddies garden for our Petal and Hurricane.  Its progressing quite nicely and they are able to use it and enjoy.  To date we have not really shared our plans with them we just surprise then either on the weekend or at Christmas or Birthday times, especially when Santa has placed something wonderful in the cleared area like a trampoline.

I am working on clearing another area.  A woodpile that was so important to us. When the kids were young we had no heating except for the pot belly.  This wood supply was constantly worked on by the men of the family. My dad, my other half's dad and my other half.   The pot belly has been replaced with central heating and the wood pile just seemed to grow and become a monster. Not much was ever being used.  I have now culled most of it, moved some to a more appropriate spot for a Pizza Oven when we are able to make one.   The cleared area will become another play area for the kiddies.  They have requested a seated area however I think we can do a bit better than that.

I have been searching on pinterest for ideas.   It has been so much fun. We have a blackboard area from this idea.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/386113368025586878/

I have moved over 200 bricks and my other half has paved a lovely area to the trampoline and back up to the house. This path is progressing nicely. The bricks are being re-used and I am learning the importance of saving money and reusing things.  These bricks are everywhere around our property and its nice to see them being utilised properly.

I am hoping to do something like this.... http://www.pinterest.com/pin/386113368025768308/with some pallets that we have.  A little house.  An area that they can use even when the weather is not brilliant. I know they don't care if it's sunny or raining they use the trampoline and blackboard.  There is some cover for the blackboard which means that there precious drawings and information doesn't get washed away. Even better all the chalk dust stays outside.

I would also like to create a teepee or a stand.  It will get their imagination sparking. So great to see them outside again instead of inside all the time. I think we are re-claiming our property and using it properly. The nasty neighbours drove us inside but not anymore.  It's lovely using the area properly and enjoying it again.  Making plans are fun too and we are actually spending time to do things again. Its been years since we have been able to do this properly.  Always something happened.  This week it tried again. We had a funeral on my Dad's birthday and that was so tough however we came home and just did a little bit.  We were kind to ourselves and enjoyed being outside.

Nearly Hallowe'en.....OCTOBER!

This month has been very trying. I have tried to do the buy nothing new October.... I say tried.  I normally do very well most months however when I am inspired do something like this I face challenges that I have not considered.   A costume, well that would be simple and if I had looked in my Petal's draw instead of asking her if she had a plain black t-shirt I would have found one. I searched a few op shops and didn't come up with exactly what I thought I needed.  I found a sleeveless one that would work well with the tutu (I forgot about underneath the skirt and that is another story!) however worrying about the weather and my Fair Petal getting burnt decided short sleeves would be better.   I went to Target and bought one... sadly later I found 2 not 1 in her drawer.

I made the rest and sourced most items in the op shop. My Petal was happy and so too were we.  I have asked her in future to look before she says that she doesn't have something. I think we take it for granted that we can just buy it!  I am obviously guilty of this too. Although, I am trying to change this attitude.

Thank you Jorth for the easy tutu tutorial. I had already bought tulle some time back and elastic, not able to source it at an op shop.  Plus any excuse to buy at the lovely material shop in the city, not my favourite which I dare not visit!

Two children's birthday parties too which made it very tricky.  I was able to find some beautiful new books which were perfect however the rest of the items had to be bought.

We also have our 16th Wedding Anniversary coming up. I have not found exactly what I would like. Well I did but unfortunately we didn't have any room in the car and the things had to be left at the op shop.  A lovely little outside table setting for 2 or 4.  So a decision needs to be made, do I really need anything. I would actually prefer if something that I have wanted desperately done around the house was done. I would like to buy all the necessary items for my Other Half to build his shed and have it functioning. How's that for a anniversary gift!  I have sourced the items and well they need to be bought new from Bunnings. If I could find these items elsewhere I would snap them up!  I would love to have the front, painted and finished off including the garden area.  So maybe..... this will be the presents we give each other. Time and resources to complete these tasks?

It makes me happy just thinking about two tasks being completed!  Sometimes you have to think outside the box to find what you really want.

I have also tried to cull and organise the house. Again tried, not making very much progress!

I have tried to do some renovating but hasn't happened either. I know that October is NOT the time to do these things and especially this one.

So now we are trying to help my Petal set up at school an Op Shop.  Her project for school is too set up some sort of business. this was her choice.  I am so impressed and we have been busy doing things to help out.  She needs stands and basket and decorations. I am hoping to make Bunting and have found an amazing tutorial that I will follow.  

We are still looking for something to hang all the clothes on. I don't have anything at home. I might have to beg, borrow or steal at this rate.  We have a few weeks so I will keep looking.

SO for October I am not trying anything new now I am just taking it slowly... I am remembering to breath.

Baking again.

I love baking, haven't been doing much in that downward slump that is October. Always such a hard month. Anyhow in September whilst on holidays with the kiddies and driving around the country doing country op shops we managed to find a Vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster. Joy oh joy. Don't get me wrong I love and adore my Kenwood that was a present from my other half half before we were married.  (he also found a wonderful porcelain bowl to go with it to make it perfect.)  This is just one of those things that I have really liked and always looked for but never ever found, except for a few parts which are not elusive to me when I am looking for them.   Here it was sitting waiting for us in the lovely shop. The down side, the cord has been cut.  The upside it was not put to auction and was ready for us to get.  I ummmed and ahhhedddd over it.  Not an expensive purchase but more than we had spent all day except for our lunch stop where the kiddies had to have 2 courses as they do including a large dessert each not to share.  

So I was walking around thinking about it, wondering if we could afford it and if I really NEEDED it, when another women decided that she did ohhhhhhh.... I was so disappointed.  How could I have just walked away a bit?  Well the lovely lady in the shop realised what happened and told the women that it was not working. She was clearing interested in a resell.  She promptly put it down and moved away it was now OURS!!!!!!!!!!

So now this beautiful item is sitting on our kitchen bench waiting for a new lease on life. I follow a facebook site that does these lovely beauties up and shows step by step how to do it. They look quite magical. I have high hopes for this one.  

In the meantime I am off to make some blondies with figs and some biscuits and a few other things.  Great entertainment for the kiddies whilst on school holidays and watching the storms too.  Thank you lovely Kenwood, I would be lost without you.  I am looking forward to new adventures with the Sunbeam too.

Getting Hair done and the savings with students!

So today I set off early to Aveda.  A bit of a slow trip but about the same time it takes me to get to my normal hairdressers.  I had to pay for parking $5.00 which I don't normally so that was a bit different. I walked to the place after parking not very close at all. Parking was not easy.

I had a lovely student. Susan.  Nice start, not the same as the rapport that I have with Emma who normally colours my hair and I was sad about that, however I needed to give this lovely women a chance.  (I must admit that I was very very happy that she wasn't under 20 as I expected)

So we sat down and discussed what I wanted, even though I was booked in for 1/2 head of foils I was able to ask for a full head, lots more colour (I normally only get 1/2 or 3/4 at the most so this was really testing this out)  I felt very comfortable talking to her and allowing her to choose what needed to be done, asking questions that were relevant and easy for me to answer. I felt confident with her ability. The supervisor came over went through all the things that we had discussed and made some minor suggestions to the Susan and asked me a few questions to make sure that I understood and was happy with the procedure.

After working on my colour for a while, it would take over 1 hour to just put all the many foils in, we discussed if I wanted it cut as well. I have not had cut and colour at the same time for so long as it is too expensive to get all at once normally. Today I decided for an extra $15, I was happy to get a cut and blow wave as well.

I am thrilled with the colour, the savings turned out to be much, much more than $200 all up.   The colour is wonderful the cut well it won't be as blunt and last as long as my normal senior stylists fabulous cut but it is lovely all the same. The blow wave, well that was good too. Maybe I am picky or maybe I have had many blow waves in my time and the more practise the better they get. I have paid full price for worse blow waves.  Am I happy? Yes absolutely!

The differences, paying for parking (make sure that you have change available), no lovely salon, no lovely hot chocolate or tea or even water. (I had my own with me, just in case) No biscuits,  No Frankie magazine to read, I will make sure that i take something next time. (Although in saying this my hairdresser didn't have it the time before and the last time someone else had it) No Senior stylist to do the hair cut, however I normally get a junior or the same level to finish off and do the blow wave so they vary greatly.  Lastly the cost no comparison I could easily have afforded to buy a magazine subscription and go out for lunch and have a hot chocolate at an expensive cafe which was all that was lacking.





 I popped off to the bank and put the savings in the bank.

If you need a hair cut and are watching the budget. I would strongly suggest going to see some lovely students and letting them practise.

Getting Hair done and the savings with students!

So today I set off early to Aveda.  A bit of a slow trip but about the same time it takes me to get to my normal hairdressers.  I had to pay for parking $5.00 which I don't normally so that was a bit different. I walked to the place after parking not very close at all. Parking was not easy.

I had a lovely student. Susan.  Nice start, not the same as the rapport that I have with Emma who normally colours my hair and I was sad about that, however I needed to give this lovely women a chance.  (I must admit that I was very very happy that she wasn't under 20 as I expected)

So we sat down and discussed what I wanted, even though I was booked in for 1/2 head of foils I was able to ask for a full head, lots more colour (I normally only get 1/2 or 3/4 at the most so this was really testing this out)  I felt very comfortable talking to her and allowing her to choose what needed to be done, asking questions that were relevant and easy for me to answer. I felt confident with her ability. The supervisor came over went through all the things that we had discussed and made some minor suggestions to the Susan and asked me a few questions to make sure that I understood and was happy with the procedure.

After working on my colour for a while, it would take over 1 hour to just put all the many foils in, we discussed if I wanted it cut as well. I have not had cut and colour at the same time for so long as it is too expensive to get all at once normally. Today I decided for an extra $15, I was happy to get a cut and blow wave as well.

I am thrilled with the colour, the savings turned out to be much, much more than $200 all up.   The colour is wonderful the cut well it won't be as blunt and last as long as my normal senior stylists fabulous cut but it is lovely all the same. The blow wave, well that was good too. Maybe I am picky or maybe I have had many blow waves in my time and the more practise the better they get. I have paid full price for worse blow waves.  Am I happy? Yes absolutely!

The differences, paying for parking (make sure that you have change available), no lovely salon, no lovely hot chocolate or tea or even water. (I had my own with me, just in case) No biscuits,  No Frankie magazine to read, I will make sure that i take something next time. (Although in saying this my hairdresser didn't have it the time before and the last time someone else had it) No Senior stylist to do the hair cut, however I normally get a junior or the same level to finish off and do the blow wave so they vary greatly.  Lastly the cost no comparison I could easily have afforded to buy a magazine subscription and go out for lunch and have a hot chocolate at an expensive cafe which was all that was lacking.





 I popped off to the bank and put the savings in the bank.

If you need a hair cut and are watching the budget. I would strongly suggest going to see some lovely students and letting them practise.

Trying a Budget - Reducing Expenses off to Aveda

I have been thinking about saving money. I always try to be proactive but sometimes I ignore something that I need to address. It has been far too long since I have been to the hairdresser. I am so over it, I cannot however justify getting my hair coloured by my hairdresser. Don't get me wrong I love her to bits, she is fabulous and does an amazing job.  It is the cost that I cannot justify.  I have decided to give Aveda in Box Hill a go. I thought that I would ring up and see how far in the future it would be before I get an appointment and would you believe I get one tomorrow morning. So this is it, I have no time to really consider what I am doing and worry about it now. I am off to see the students.

The cost difference is quite significant I would have to say over $100.   They are using the same products as my normal hairdresser and I have read everywhere that they are supervised.  If it works it will be wonderful to finally have my hair looking better again and not take too much of a hit on the budget.

I am really trying to get serious to put money away again in savings. For too long now every cent has been used to pay for expenses and other necessities.

We had a lovely holiday on the weekend. I manage to do quite a few massages which was good.  So it was a bit of a working holiday.  Relaxing all the same.  I was surprised at how easy it was to make this work.  I have more ideas for next time and I have a few great leads for future massages from this.

I have to consider all opportunities to increase the income and decrease the outgoings. Whilst I was busy massaging the kids were busy playing and we were not shopping or spending.   I did sleep very well that night.

A bit more progress

We are chipping away at things around the house.  We ordered and picked up some wall features for outside.  I found out to check the price as there was nearly $50 difference with exactly the same thing being ordered from Mitre 10 and Bunnings.

A lovely butterfly light box from Northcote Pottery.  Light box is not really the correct description. Firstly there is no perspex and secondly there is no light. So it is a metal sheet.   I like it all the same and it will become a light box eventually.    Yes yes when we do it I promise there will be photo's. I am slack at the moment or not driven to take photos of the bits and pieces of progress.  I think I would be trying to justify all the work so this way you can just form your own impression in your head.

More sanding has been done. I am over sanding and with the change in weather tomorrow that will be it for a bit.   Thats not to say that there isn't HEAPS more to go!

I have found a nice new door handle (lockwood) for the screen door.  I wanted to replace the door however my other half thinks a bit of work will bring it up nicely and especially with the new hardware too.  I have to remember that we are big about recycling and reusing not just getting all new things and getting rid of the old because i am want new and pretty.  Sometimes I dream about a bulldozer coming in.

I show the children our progress and what we are going to do. They ask questions and show a geniune level of interest and wows, makes me happy.   It also motivates me to do more and show them lovely progress.  Progress which makes me smile when I go outside.  Even if it's only a section of the house it is making a difference.

We made Paella, I have never made it before. I had all the ingredients except stock. I make it the children turn it into chicken soup and then its gone very soon after that.   Bit fiddly the recipe, maybe because it was the first time making it?  It worked well and I have requests to do it again soon.  Nice to have new not too complex recipes that are winners.  Of course now I would like a paella dish, I used a cast iron wok it worked perfectly.

Back to massage tomorrow.