let's go on a date...in may

We went bowling the other night for date night!

Have you ever been bowling with just 2 people? I hadn't usually I'd been with a big group of people, usually with youth and so it takes a while to play a game, someone if off ordering some food or going to the bathroom! But with just 2 we finished our games in no time at all!

So we played some arcade games...or Tim played some arcade games..

I won the first game and Tim won the second! 

 We went and got a sundae and then cruised home to enjoy the semi finals of Euro Vision! :)  

Whenever I go bowling I always remember how fun it is! If you haven't been in a while get some friends together and head out!

Check out some more of the date goers here!

tc- getting it off my chest

I got some pretty...well let's be honest shitty news this week, an old (as in known for many years) friend was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He's 28, has a wife and a couple of little cuties. Facebook does give me the absolute shits sometimes but I was grateful for it this week because otherwise I probably wouldn't have heard about it yet. I've known Daniel since I was about 10 or 11. We went to Sunday school together and then got confirmed together. We stayed in reasonable contact when we moved from SA to QLD. Back in uni we used to chat on msm and when he and Chantelle got married back in 2005 I was invited to the wedding, so I made the journey from QLD and enjoyed celebrating with them. But as time goes by you do loose contact a bit, you have different priorities or are going through different life changes. Him and his family moved to Alice Springs and Tim and I continued to potter along here.

It's been a bit of a shock really, I guess I've never thought about it in depth and perhaps I had this internal idea that people, men rather aren't meant to get testicular cancer when they are 28. (Even though Shaun did on Felicity...) I have known people who have had cancer before, younger people and older people but never someone the exact same age as me, and who is a friend. But he is (from what I can gather...I haven't seen him face to face) handling things quite well, staying strong and keeping positive. Him and his family have come down to Adelaide so he can have treatment,  He's started chemo and will be having treatment for the next 3 months.

The news has rocked me a bit and it's been at the back of my mind all week. It's got me thinking about how vigilant we need to be with our health and to look after the amazing bodies we have been given. And if I have learnt anything...or been reminded of anything self checks are very important, whether breast or testi's. Be vigilant people and don't put these sorts of things off.

project number 3

There was a sweet little girl who turned 3 on Sunday...and so I made her some bunting...cause that's what this Aunty does! :) Another project done and dusted. And this one was a lot of fun! I have spoken about making bunting here before...more than once! I feel confident making it and the finished product is always so lovely!

So this is Project 3 of 28...making a slow start but we'll get there! 

Mumma!

My mum, me and my sisters!

Happy Mumma's Day.

To my Mumma, My Mother in law, our Grandmothers, Sisters in law with children and expecting child

and all the mumma's out there, hope you have a wonderful day! 

I read a lovely article earlier in the week about an Adelaide woman celebrating her 87th mothers day! She was the grand age of 107!

And just for a bit of fun...I saw this on a friends facebook page earlier in the week...I had a little giggle hope you can too!

grateful for my day job

So as some of you would be aware...I changed jobs at the start of the year. I finished at the school and church I had been working at for 6 years and embarked on a new adventure. It has been such a steep learning curve. Meeting the students, getting to know them and understanding them. Most of the students I work with have experienced some sort of trauma...and not just I saw the cat run over trauma (which I don't discount as being traumatic as people react and respond to things differently, but the type of trauma that scars. Sexual abuse, Neglect Domestic Violence etc) Sometimes some of the students have been really closed. And a lot of the time trust is not something that comes easily to them but some of the tall walls are coming down slowly but surely. It has been wonderful to work with a new bunch of professionals. Passionate, talented, creative people. And I have been welcomed instantly to the group. It has made the transition that little bit easier!

This week I just caught myself thinking WOW! This is where it is at. I decided to finish at my other job as I had trained in social work and I really wanted to sink my teeth into something more social work specific. Well my new job is just that! Yesterday there were 3 things that happened that were highlights. I met with a young guy who has been disengaged from school for quite some time, and by disengaged he hasn't attended for quite some time...possibly over a year and when he has he's found himself in a fair bit of strife. He is 12. But over the past few weeks I have been meeting with him at the library and working on his reading, writing and maths. And he is coming ahead in leaps and bound. He wouldn't meet with me at first and now he churns the work out like a little champ! And little by little I hope he may transition to our school campus. While I was working with him yesterday I got a text from the mother of another young guy I was meeting a couple hours later saying he would not be attending. Which didn't shock me but it was disappointing. I couldn't call her back straight away but when I did she said no he will meet you, expect him at 12. And he churned out some good work too! He is a really smart kid but due to so many reasons has not been able to attend mainstream school. But that is one of his goals...and a big factor holding him back at this time is drug abuse...but it was so positive to have him meet me and engage with me for a little bit. While I was finishing up with him I got a call from a fellow youth worker/case manager saying a student had rocked up at school and would I be back soon. This young guy has sort of flitted in an out of school over the past couple of weeks. He's found himself homeless and had a bit of trouble with the law. He pretty much was trying to put out fires all over the place where things were going pear shaped big time. But we talked some things through and made a plan to meet today to get the ball rolling with legal aid and applying to change a bail condition. I felt like we kicked some goals...AND the sweetest thing when I was said goodbye to him today and that I'll see you Monday at school he said "Lauren thanks so much for your help today I really appreciate it!" 

These are the moments this week where I thought, Wow I am really enjoying my job and I am so grateful for it and happy to have made the change. 

If you have made it this far...Thanks for reading! :)

for more Gratefuls head over to Maxabella's and share the grateful love!

wish list

This is at the top of my wish list at the moment...

AND I've ALMOST saved enough to get it! HUZZAH! 

I live super close to work and one of the teachers who is MAD on bikes (owns about 7 or 8!) pointed me in the direction of Mojo bikes so I thought I would get some exercise in and ride to work.

Very excited!

In other news life has been busy, I had a catch up with 2 old friends from primary school on the weekend, and I'm sort of addicted to pinterest! 

Hope you're having a wonderful week so far!

too short

 I took a short trip to Sydney on the weekend...hanging out with these cutie pa touties...and their parents...and it just so happened that Tim's sister and brother in law were there too! It was lovely.

 Ava was super serious to start off with but by Sunday afternoon was giving lots of snuggles! 

Sophie is walking like a little pro and Isabelle is as cheeky as ever!

I also got to meet this little man! (and see his mumma and pappa!)

It was too short and I hope I get to visit again soon to give all the cuties kisses again!

project 2

 I had a few extra days off over the past couple of weeks. And made another table runner. I had fun making this pattern again. I made a few changes to the size of the stripes of fabric. And added an extra square/diamond. It ended up being a little thinner than the first one but about as long. I used some different wadding too. It was slightly thicker...probably too thick.

 It's a bit wonky but I decided that we could keep it and enjoy it on our table at Christmas! I'm probably going to make another one in non Christmas fabric to enjoy all year round!

2 projects down

26 to go! :)

Sharing the blog love!

A couple of weeks ago I was thinking...man does anyone even read my blog any more...but I thought heck who cares it's a great way to journal and remember what was going on at certain times over the past few years (seriously go back and read some of your posts from a couple of years ago...or a couple of months ago...it's quite entertaining)...anyway I'm getting distracted

The other day the lovely Wendy from Beautiful day said she was giving my humble little blog an award! 

How nice... specifically for blogs with 200 or less followers! YEY!

There are a few rules for accepting the award:

Copy and paste the award on your blog

Link back to the blogger who gave you the award

Pick your 5 favourite bloggers with under 200 followers who deserve to be recognised, 

and leave a comment on their blog letting them know they have received the award

Hope the 5 chosen bloggers will continue to spread the blog award love!

The five great bloggers I am giving the award to are these lovely ladies

Little Poppa

Empty Handed

Vintage Sweetheart

Little Gumnut

Everyday Miracles

go and say hello at their lovely blogs and share the love!

mini book final take

And it's done!

A lot more colour in the final few pages! It has been fun completing and I'm glad to have it done so I can enjoy looking at it and focus on some other projects. I've been busy sewing today which has been wonderful. 4 day long weekends...2 weeks in a row are the best!

take 4

 Getting around to printing these off has stalled this project a bit...but now that it's done the end of this project is in sight! 

 I do enjoy this mini book documentation. It does appeal to me more than the usual scrap booking.

 

 Bit wordy here but important to get it all down!

One more take and then I think I'll be done! Check out the other instalments here, here and here!

project one

We got invited to a wedding last weekend. It was lovely, a real treat to be able to celebrate with Lisa and Glen their special day as they commit to each other and say their vows. I thought I'd get a little crafty for their present. I first saw this idea of the date for their wedding on Elise's blog...surprise surprise! She and her husband were gifted something similar for their wedding. I thought I'd do this for Lisa and Glen.

 And of course some magnets for their fridge. This was a very simple project but a lot of fun to create for the lovely couple!

 And here are the happy couple. Glen is a farmer and hopefully you can see in the photo the tractor on top of the cake! It was very cute and appropriate!

So one project down....27 to go!

in the etsy store

I bitten the bullet and started to go through some of the mountains of clothes I own. We are going to be moving at the end of the year, who knows where yet but we will not be living in this unit after mid December. So I've started to think about going through and de cluttering and culling!

So I'm "diversifying" my etsy shop a bit and listing some of the dresses I have who need a new home!

 All found at the OP shop but too good to go back!

 If you're interested check out my etsy store here or on the side bar with the pictures of the badges! It'll take you right there!

 And of course there are the usual badges and magnets available too! :)

Happy Easter

Many Easter Blessings to you and yours. 

This lovely picture found on non other than pintrest...in anticipation for Sunday!

May it be a restful and reflective weekend for you all

xxx

mini book take 3

I'm hitting my stride with this project to get it finished. I did notice but this second had a lot of buff coloured pages...broken up with a couple of postcards...that had lots of neutral colours!

But then BAM! beautful orange!

I'm looking forward to finishing this up to get onto my 28 projects...maybe this is technically my first? :)

for unexpected crochet

 Tim is in the final weeks of his 9 month placement for his study. He's enjoyed it for the most part and has gotten on like a house on fire with his supervisor also know as his vicar father. He's had to do quite a few visits and seeing the church he's doing his placement at is connected to a retirement village they have been mostly to elderly people. The community is lovely and have welcomed us with open arms. 

A couple of weeks ago Tim went and visited a couple and the lady was crocheting a blanket when he was there. He told Margaret (said lady) that I was learning and really liked it. She was pretty pleased to hear a "young person" liked to crochet :) Anyway the next week at church she came up to me and said I've been working on this blanket and I'm almost finished would you like it? AHHH YES!!! :) So we picked it up and it is beautiful! She has done such a wonderful job, it's beautiful and thick and I can not wait to snuggle on the couch with it over my legs! (which apparently won't be for a while since Adelaide is having a bit of a surge in warmer weather!)

So I'm great for Margaret this week, her amazing crochet skills and her generosity to me!

check out more gratefuls over here!