I'm looking for my mojo

I did it! I made a layout! I seriously didn’t think I knew how to anymore, but I completed a layout today. I decided to tackle the bull by the horns and I made a layout about my missing mojo.

Translated the journaling goes something like this:
“When did I become so serious? When did I stop looking at the beautiful little things in life and appreciating it? Why did I stop being creative? I really don’t like the cynical person I see in the mirror these days. I’m going to search for my mojo and I’m not going to stop until I have the old Michelle back – the one who loves life!”
I really enjoyed the process and didn't worry to much about getting it perfect or sticking to any plan really. I hope this was just the first of many lo's I will get done in the weeks to come.

Hot-n-Cold

It's been a while since my last post. Seems like I just can't get into some kind of blogging routine!
So what's up in my life? Not much really. I have absolutely no inspiration to start scrapping or even to sort out my scrapping room. I feel so limp and "un-creative". This really makes me depressed and I decided that today is the day that I will force myself to sit down and scrap. I never thought that I would have to "force" myself to scrap! I hope to report back later today to show you what I've done.

Last week I joined the gym and started spinning! Ouch - my poor muscles don't know what has hit them! At this stage it's still punishment to go but I trust that in time it will help to lift my energy levels.

Today in church I got such a powerful message from God that I want to share with the world:

Revelaions 3:15 -17"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless."

I'm ashamed to admit that God it talking about me in this verse! I've been lukewarm for Jesus for too long. Today I renewed my commitment to God and I want to live my life completely for Him!

Now that I've typed this I already feel more energized and motivated! As from NOW, I'm living again - mot merely breathing in and out! Yay! :)

This week ...

* I spent Mothers Day without my kids :(
* I buried a friend who was my doctor for the past 18 years. She was an amazing woman who touched the lives of so many people. Her death leaves a big hole in my heart.
* My PC at home finally packed up. It has served me well over the past 5 years. I only hope some clever IT geek can save my last couple of photo downloads that I didn’t back up.

Sounds horribly depressing, but I still have so much to be grateful for. I’m alive and healthy. I wake up each day with all my senses working. I can hear the birds sing in the big oak tree in our garden. I can see the beautiful colours of autumn changing day by day. I can feel the crisp air on my skin as well as the warmth of fuzzy winter sheets against my skin. I can smell the aroma of the coffee that Leon brings to me in bed most mornings. I can taste the pure joy of honey on my toast.

Best of all – it’s Friday!! .

Every weekend for the past couple of months were filled with:

* packing / unpacking boxes
* moving furniture / boxes from one house to the other and from one room to the next
* shopping for lights/tiles/paint/furniture etc.
* painting furniture that I bought

This weekend I want to spend as much time as possible with my kids. Take lots of photos. And relax!

I hope all of you will also have a beautiful weekend filled with love and peace.

The Convention

The Scrapbook Convention came and went way too fast. Now it feels like I only dreamt it! Luckily I have some photo evidence to proof that I was really there - and that Tim Holtz was really there too! :)
He is such a sweet guy and sooooooo talented. I love his grungy way of scrapping and altering stuff. His products are so innovative – a clever twist on all the old stuff.

This is the mini album that I made in his class.
We also had another class presented by Jayme Shepherd from Making Memories. I love MM products and they were soooo generous. I took home LOTS of stuff to play with.

Best part of the day was that I got to spend it with my bestest friend in the world – Tanya! Unfortunately I don’t have the photo of the two of us on my flash disc at the moment so I will have to add it later.

On the home front things are looking good. They only need to paint the roof and do a little bit here and there – then all the building will be complete.

Thereafter we still need to build the pool and re-do the old bathrooms in the house. Don’t know if I can go through another mess in my house but I guess I’ll just have to bite the bullet. I will cross that bridge when I get to it though!

I’ve been reprimanded about the lack of posts on my blog by a couple of people – including a lurker on my blog that I met at the convention (hello Elzanna ;o) I will really try to be a better blogger. I don’t even have time these days to read my favourite blogs but I promise to try to post at least once a week.

In the meantime – whatever you do - have fun!

(not so) Blue Monday!

I always feel a little blue on a Monday but for some unspecific reason I feel extremely bright and chirpy today!
We had a great weekend. My sister, her husband and my mom came to visit yesterday. We had great food, great company and just chilled out. I chilled out so much that I totally forgot to take pictures of the renovations as I had planned to. I promise take some photos before dark today and will update this post with pics tonight.

It’s the last week of the school term for the kids this week. I can’t believe the first term has come and gone already! So much has happened but it all went past me way to fast to absorb it all. Marco is in the middle of his first exam. They didn’t write exams in the private school that they attended in the past, so this is yet another adjustment for him. I actually fear for the worst but I guess I’ll have to wait for his report card – which we’ll only get after the holidays.

Michael is going on a rugby tour for the first week of the holidays. I miss him so much and would have loved to have him home for the entire holiday but I know he really wants to go on the tour and I want him to enjoy every moment of it. I’ll take a couple of days off work when he’s at home after the tour to spend with the kids at home.

This week at work I have to finish off my budget for the next financial year. I hate budget time! Everybody is so stressed out and it’s always a big rush to meet all the deadlines. I guess my chirpy mood won’t last long around here but I’m going to give it my best shot in any case!

Hope all of you will have a great and productive (and hopefully more creative than me) week! A little birdie told me that this week's going to be a SUPER one! :D

God bless!
Michelle

Miss Avocado

How sweet is this girls art?
This one is called "Repairs"

Pop over to her Etsy shop to see her other gorgeous creations.

My new kitchen revealed

So here it is ... my dream kitchen!!!!

Ta-da!!!

*** ( insert drumroll here) ***

I love every little detail of it! There's so much space - a place for everything.

I've always wanted a pantry - now I've got one!

Next to the pantry is the laundry. Only big enough for a wash basin, washing machine, tumble drier and a huge cupboard on the other side for my brooms, ironing board, vacuum cleaner as well as a linen cupboard.

Next to the laundry is my scullery with double sink and undercounter dishwasher.

Then it's the main kitchen:

A lot of thought and planning went into this kitchen. It turned out just perfect with everything I need close at hand. I have a tall cupboard for the groceries that I use often (on the far left of the next photo), then the fridge, microwave, roll-top breadbin, stove, workarea and sink - with a dustbin drawer right next to it - all in a small triangle and not more than 2 metres apart.

One of the focus areas in the kitchen is this beauty ...

I'm so in love with this stove. I can't keep myself out of the kitchen. All of sudden cooking and cleaning are not swear words anymore! The hob is gas with an electric hot plate on the side. The ovens are electric - one of them with a thermo-fan. An absolute joy!