Six on Saturday

Now that you all know about my "finisher" tendencies with my toiletries, you won't be surprised to see this on the blog. I bought two of these in America last year and I have LOVED using them (only $5,99 at a CVS). I was super excited to see a similar product advertised in the Clicks magazine but alas, when I went to check it out, it was seriously terrible. Nothing like this one. So Mrs FF, if you're reading and you have a tiny bit of space in your suitcase, I'd love another 2 to tide me over for the next year :)

This is evidence of a new meal that worked! I tried Beef Stroganoff for the first time on Monday and K polished it off. D and I did too. Connor had a sore throat so didn't eat very much and she wanted his food too :) The other new recipe I tried this month was Pufferfish's Banana Crush Cake (I printed if off her blog probably 2.5 years ago) and it is DELICIOUS! I'm going to have a piece with some tea after I hit publish :)

Project Life for October - I've been doing 6 10 X 15 sleeves per month and it's been working well. I really, REALLY like the forced boundaries!

My kids really are the best in the world. We had an amazing weekend last weekend (nothing special except I was determined to invest in their little love tanks and it worked). We crafted, cooked (Connor cut the mushrooms for the Beef Stroganoff, Kendra made salad), went to gym, etc, etc. Normal, everyday, WONDERFUL time spent together.

I was chatting to a mother at that last party and even though her husband is mostly unavailable for any childcare (how do you girls do it?!), she still gets to gym 3 times during the week and works full-time. So I thought, "enough" and I announced to the kids that we'd be going to gym on Wed night. Turns out D got home earlier than expected so I could have left the kids with him but Connor and I went together anyway. Milestone!  And we'll do more of this. Confession - telling the kids help keep me more accountable....

These craft kits were birthday gifts from lovely Robynne. We did one on Friday afternoon last week and it was such fun (but a HUGE mess) that I left it all out and we finished off all on Saturday. And then vacuumed all that glitter. I'm still finding glitter in the study but it was worth it. The "proper" photos show the detail better and the kids LOVED it. I think they might have thought I'd lost it (who's to say that isn't true?) because I actually let them loose with such messy things.

Do you like these sorts of posts?

I just realised I haven't posted iphoneography for a good while so this killed two birds with one stone.

Do you use foundation? Which is your current favourite?

A glimpse of hope and a pop of colour

The thing I alluded to a few days ago has happened.

The boss has a new job in the company starting 1 Feb.

I'm shell-shocked. Happy but shell-shocked.

I remember two years ago when my other boss told us he was moving to another dept I cried non-stop for a full day, and then every time I thought of him leaving. Amazing the difference.

I'm feeling quietly hopeful but I can't relax yet because I still need to be on my guard.

The way I'm feeling reminded me of this series of photos - just a pop of colour amidst the black and white.

The yellow thing is my snood (infinity scarf). I'm wearing a grey one in t-shirt material today and I asked for one on my Christmas list at work. We're going to be out of the office for the whole day - hopefully it will be fun but I'm taking my Kindle in case I need to escape a bit.

What's on your list this weekend?

PS I have to do a few things to finish off November well :)

Today I'm thankful for...

winter sunsets in Jhb (how can we say there is no God?!)

this gorgeous building that many a day got me through life in the city

holidays with the babies

friends who celebrated with me

colourful things that catch my eye

walks with my favourite little guy

black and white photography (I LOVE THIS PHOTO)

autumn leaves

cute babies and beautiful light

the little one's love for her father :)

grey skies

my camera, for capturing moments like these that make me smile

my family and the beach

holidays (47 days til our next one, not that I'm counting ;))

beautiful friends of which I have so many - I'm blessed! (just a screenshot from my 2013 friends folder)

and last but not least, YOU, my lovely readers.

I'm celebrating Thanksgiving today (for real, with FOOD!) with my lovely friend (they spent many years in the US of A, and their oldest was born there).

She warned me that she'll be going round the table and each will have to say what they're thankful for.

Initially I groaned because life is not really peachy at the moment but then I opened my "Marcia faves" folder and I remembered there are amazing gifts in my life.

I'm feeling most thankful today for all of you who have supported me through this very trying time with your comments, emails, SMS, whatsups, scriptures, phone calls, letters, gifts and most of all, your prayers.

I appreciate it all so very much!

And to think just about three years ago I remember praying and asking God to send me just two good friends. He has done exceedingly abundantly more than I could even ask or think!

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

Happy Thanksgiving!

{Wordless Wednesday} T's party

A few weeks ago we went to a party - one of Connor's classmates.

It was fabulous.

They had C.lamber Cl.ub there with people to boss the kids around and make them move, so all the parents needed to do was eat, drink and relax :)

Divine!

 I should send the mother a present too!

My children are still a bit too attached to us at parties (D actually) so we had a talk to them and said if they don't want to go play, we're going to start declining the invites since the point of a party is to celebrate with the birthday child.

We have one on Saturday so we'll remind them and see if this has sunk in...

this is also divine... for me.

Connor, random child, Kendra

the cake was delicious!

but I didn't allow the kids to eat all the sugar decorations

birthday girl's feet on the right

my two "just look at the camera"

of course these are the shots I love, the sneaky shots! Isn't that ring gorgeous?!

Connor pinching me!

I love the reflection in the mother's sunglasses!

Two questions today -

did you notice a type of photo I never usually take? Which is your favourite?

Just a little help

So remember Mondays are bad, very bad.

D told me I'd tossed and turned in my sleep Sunday night.

And indeed, my subconscious knew.

I had to send him an email asking for something which annoyed him and so we had a bad meeting.

I held it together but then, as you know, afterwards I cried for an hour.

And ran to the loo a couple of times (TMI).

That's when I decided I need some help.

I have an appt with my doctor tomorrow morning but last night after work, in the pouring rain with two kids asking me why I was so late (so my boss will get off my case, babies), we went to buy some Cal.mettes.

Two were taken today.

Today's meeting was okay. I never feel anything but numb even when anything mildly positive is said about my work... but a few positive things were said.

Afterwards ran into a friend. She heard something that, if true, will alleviate some pressure in the short-term for me but make things bad for her - I hope to give you more news within the next week.

Anyway, help. Tomorrow.

I've also been on the phone with a real friend for an hour now. Glorious. We've spoken about work and such and I have some perspective.

How's your week been?

{Create} Washi tape Christmas cards

Laura tagged me on Facebook the other day. When I clicked through I saw these super easy cards. 

Now something you don't know is that my Connor LOVES to gather branches. He's always bringing me branches and in fact, my step outside the front door has a whole stack  he's brought home :)

Very sweet boy when he's not acting like Four.

I needed to cook and the kids were being a bit rambunctious. Suddenly I remembered that thing and within a minute, we were creating.

I did one and then I told them to make their own ones too.

They're so easy we'll definitely be making more.

A craft with 3 supplies is a winner!

I don't believe in complicating life but if you want to distract your children and you have some cardboard and washi tape lying around, let them have at it.

The craft will work with any washi tape - it doesn't have to be "Christmas" colours. I plan to make cute ones in all colours!

Thank goodness I put down those packs of cards at Cli.cks :)

What do you think?

Too rustic for you? Or do you like them?

I think the imperfection is part of the charm.