A list of Simple Pleasures

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With everything that is going on in this world right now I can really hold on to one thing, my faith in God. It's what keeps me from going crazy. It's made me look back and appreciate the smaller things in life. Those little things that you don't really think about or don't always appreciate because we have so much. 

Here's a list of the simple pleasure of life that make me happy...

♥ The excitement of a new baby in the family 

♥ A smile from a baby (those gummy grins make me melt)

♥ Feeling safe and loved when surrounded by family

♥ The sun shining through the curtains early in the morning

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♥ Sunday afternoon naps

♥ Opening up a brand new journal

♥ Hearing a song that brings back a memory

♥ An unexpected piece of mail

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♥ Finding a quote, a Bible verse or song lyrics that you need to hear/read right at that moment

♥ The sound of rain when you are cosy and relaxed in bed

♥ Finding a book released earlier than you thought

♥ Words of encouragement when you are feeling low

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♥ Photos capturing moments of happiness

♥ The feel of sun on your skin

♥ Feeling so happy you can't contain it

♥ Companionable silence, when you feel like you don't have to say anything at all

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♥ Diving into a pool and it makes you feel refreshed on a hot day

♥ Hot chocolate at night

♥ That feeling of accomplishment after a hard day of work

♥ Laughing so hard your stomach hurts with your friends

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♥ Feeling beautiful with my hubby even when I'm not dressed up, have messy hair and wearing glasses because he makes me feel that way

♥ Looking at the clouds and daydreaming

♥ Gazing at the moon and stars at night

♥ The love of God and how no matter what I do, He is there waiting for me

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I'm feeling so thoughtful lately and I can feel a change in the air. I've been journalling a lot lately to get those thoughts onto paper. To clear up my mind. And I know that I was born to do so much more in this life. I don't want to sit back and let it pass without doing some difference in the world. 

Do you ever feel this way? Knowing that you have a purpose? What are some simple pleasures in your life?

A small life update

Thanks so for all your comments on my party. I hope to have more pictures sometime soon.

So a few things are happening in my life right now. I don't really get into too much detail because I don't think I'm comfortable enough sharing really intimate details of my life. Although I do divulge more in personal emails and letters.

Here's a small life update...

♥ My oldest brother got remarried at the registry office yesterday! They will have a ceremony later on in the year.
♥ My new nephew Micah will be born towards the end of this month! So I will be an aunty for the third time!
♥ Jason's car got side swiped (by a truck we presume) while it was parked at the train station. It's not worth fixing as it's really old but we were wanting to get a new car by mid year. Instead we have to get one now (and I will be able to drive it at least since we will get an automatic - looking at a Mazda 3)
♥ I really need a new job because I'm getting no hours at my current job and it's making it difficult to do anything.
♥ Trying not to get all the negative things get me down so I'm holding onto God even more (and I feel it's a test of faith at the moment).
♥ Heartened by all the encouraging thoughts and messages I receive.

And I'm finally making items for my shop again. Concentrating on making things keeps me focused.

I haven't decided how I will use these. On a headband but maybe a thicker elastic one or a hard headband? 

A few with my new fabric. 

A new lot with coloured skinny elastic headbands. 

I hope you like them. I might have a shop coupon code soon once I start putting more things back into the shop. 

Have a wonderful rest of week. 

Happy list with pictures

Hey lovelies. I thought it would be great way to end the working week with a happy list/things inspiring me/things I've loving lately... Plus I love a good list, it helps me think. And I thought I would add images that I think are pretty in between (and probably have nothing to do with my list)

♥ helium filled heart shaped balloons (would love some forValentine's Day)

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♥ unexpected letters

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♥ finding a cute new shop (especially if it sells paper and other quirky items)

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♥ tutus (I'm thinking of making my own - found a tutorial for a simple one)

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♥ figuring out how to make different fabric flowers

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♥ heart shaped anything at the moment

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♥ figuring out and planning my creative space (can't decide whether I want a few shelves on the wall or turn it into a gallery wall of inspiration)

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♥ Arnotts Choc mint slice biscuits

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♥ bunny ear headbands

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♥ looking at inspirational spaces

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♥ paper garlands (with tissue paper flowers and paper heart doilies - thinking of having this for my Alice birthday as part of 'wonderland')

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♥ pretty 'wish' bracelets

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♥ putting together pretty packages

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♥ creating a stationery drawer

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♥ mis matched teacups and saucers

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These thoughts, plans and lists are keeping me quite busy. I would like to go looking for mis matched tea  cups this weekend, go to the Planetarium or go on an adventure around my city and explore.

What would you like to do differently this weekend?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Creative Courses

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Hello hello! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I went to a baby shower for my new nephew (due in March) which was fun. It also made me clucky :(

Anyway, I mentioned in my last post that there are some creative courses that I would like to do this year.

♥ A jewellery making course. There's a beginner course at Southbank Institute. And another one at Griffith Uni College of Art, which sounds interesting.
♥ A book binding course. I've found one at the Queensland Bookbinders Guild. I can do the basics but a course would be good to get that finishing touch.
♥ A journal making course with Adele Outteridge that my photographer (Sharon Pappas) for my wedding recommended.
♥ I would like to take an adult ballet class at 2 Ballerinas.
♥ I've love to do the Indie Business course.
♥ The Brown Owls would be a fun group to join. Maybe I could finally learn to crochet and knit here.

These are just a few of the courses I would like to do. There are some things I will just learn via tutorials from YouTube and other places.

♥ Like how to use my letter press machine. I've had it for a few years now and I've forgotten how to use it (after getting shown when I bought my letter press machine).
♥ I would like to do another sewing course to refresh my memory from the last sewing course I did.
♥ I am using YouTube to make different types of friendship bracelets, hemp wish bracelets for fun.
♥ Tutorials and eBooks to learn how to make other fabric flowers (for headbands and shoe clips).

I think in general I'd like to explore my creativity and try to build up my skills. Especially at the moment while I'm job hunting. I'm absolutely sure that this is my year to really get out there and experience new things. To do the courses I've always wanted to try. To break out of my comfort zone. To get a new job. Without a doubt something has shifted in my mind set and I'm determined to stop second guessing myself.

I hope you all have a fantastic week!

P.S I would invite you all to my Alice birthday if I could :)

Just a Minute in...January

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Just a Minute in... January

♥ Praying... For my city, my state, my country
♥ Feeling... More positive and proud of my fellow Aussies
♥ Looking... Forward to my 1 year wedding anniversary (24th January) and 1 week off from work!
♥ Planning... My Alice in Wonderland birthday
♥ Wanting... To journal more often and put down my crazy thoughts
♥ Creating... More headbands and other sweet bits and pieces
♥ Hoping... To write all my letters and catch up on everything
♥ Thinking... About everyone affected by the floods
♥ Loving... That the sun is back and it feels like summer again
♥ Listing... Everything I must do and hope to complete in the next few weeks

Thanks again everyone for all your kind thoughts, comments and emails. It does my soul good to have such wonderful support.

Flood wise, I love my city and the people. So many people got out there to help out with the clean up that they had to start turning away volunteers because there were too many people! That's amazing! And it warms my heart to see people bonding together and wanting to make a difference.

Just to let you know. I'm still donating 100% of my Etsy sales to the Flood relief. This will be until the 26th January which is Australia Day.

Everyone have a beautiful week and remember to hug your friends and family and feel blessed that they are with you.

I'm thankful for...

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I know we don't have Thanksgiving here in Aus but I think it's always great to be thankful for what you have. So here's my thankful list...

♥ Having Christ in my life
♥ Having a wonderful, beautiful family
♥ My absolute best friend and amazing hubby Jason
♥ My gorgeous friends
♥ Lovely, lovely lovely blog friends/pen pals (who I consider real friends too)
♥ Owning a home
♥ The ability to see, hear, taste, touch, smell and use those to wonder at all the beauty around
♥ Hugs!
♥ Being blessed beyond anything that I could imagine
♥ Being so loved by my Creator, my family and friends and husband

And a less serious list

♥ Books, books, books!

♥ Stationery stores

♥ Etsy and other fantastic online shops

♥ Candle light, fairy lights, star light - soft light

♥ Wonderfully written book characters

♥ Mail and packages (to send and receive yay)

There would be so much more on this list but this is just a brief overview. I hope you all have a wonderful and fantastic weekend!

P.S I bought a 7ft green Christmas tree last night. I can't wait to put it up!! 

Mockingjay, lists and other random bits

This is another post with lists :) I find it easier at the moment as my mind is all over the place.

Well, what can I say about Mockingjay?! It was heartbreaking, depressing and bittersweet but I loved it. There were times that I had to stop reading because it became to much for me but I still enjoyed it. It's by far my favourite series ever and I think I will be forever haunted by the books. I'm still thinking about this book. I had a wide range of emotions as I was reading and towards the end my heart would not stop beating so fast. It was intense.

♥ It's great to have Jason back. He had the day off today so it's nice to be able to spend time with him
♥ I didn't stay at home this weekend but went to stay with my parents. I don't like to be home alone and prefer company (this stems from having someone break into my parents house when I was home along I think).
♥ It was my mum's birthday on Saturday night so it worked out that I was staying there.

My mum's bday cake. It's a Filipino one with beautiful light icing. 

♥ I have an event this weekend so I need to be creative this week. Lots of mini note cards and some stud earrings. 

♥ I have lots of mail to catch up on

My new mail carrier thing. It's a good way to keep track of it all.

♥ I still have a giveaway that is planned but just hasn't been done yet

♥ I'm still pondering my mail project (I must stop trying to do too many things at once)

♥ I'm going to be revamping my blog and moving to my dot com website soon. With Jason's help

♥ It's scary to think that Christmas stock will be needing to be unpacked at work in the next few weeks

♥ I really just want to spend the afternoon watching movies or TV shows

So again, it's a post about my mixed up thoughts. Have a wonderful week. 

A post in lists

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I feel like having a lazy day today. I sometimes hate having to work on weekends (actually I hate it most of the time). It's nice when it's my day off.

A few things on my mind...

♥ Swap partners are done and I emailed everyone on the weekend. I hope you enjoy the swap and send me photos of your packages if you want to :) and I'll put them on the blog

♥ I would like a new job. Or I would love to work at home being creative and spend time volunteering more

♥ I must decorate this house and finish the organising

♥ I really want to decorate my letters better, so I will try it with my letter pile.

♥ I do have a blog giveaway in store.

♥ Thinking of ways I can help people more

♥ Lovely comments really make me burst with happiness

♥ My excitement for Mockingjay is truly reaching epic proportions (it comes out tomorrow!!!!!)

♥ Planning a trip to the US next year (I hope...it doesn't hurt to at least plan it)

♥ Thinking of a mail project that will somehow relate to this blog

♥ Making lots of note cards and earrings in the next two weeks for etsy and my event

♥ Noting down all my ideas, aspirations, dreams, wishes and prayers

I've been weirdly emotional lately and doing a lot of thinking. There always comes a time when I question what I'm doing with my life and I take the time to reflect on it. I had a nice talk with Jason over breakfast on Sunday morning and it made me realise what my passions were and what I want to achieve. For now I will just have to write about it in my journal and I might share it on this blog one day :)