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.