Last year I made it a mission to do a Taking Stock post each month of the year, and I managed to cover all months except January. Not bad! In my last Taking Stock post which was in December 2015, I announced that for 2016 I’d decided to reduce this effort to quarterly Taking Stock posts – March, June, September & December. So here is my first one for 2016!
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1. Elizabeth Gilbert’s ‘Big Magic’ 2. B&W Friends Selfie 3. Cute little ‘Rudi’ 4. Chicken & Vegetable Stir-Fry 5. Lunch Out + Sav Blanc 6. Unboxing my new Rose Gold iPhone 6S Plus 7. Zesty Beetroot & Carrot Salad 8. Pedicure shot that shows my fav purple pants 9. Valentino Perfume brought back for me from Paris by my daughter 10. Friends for 17 years (met when daughters were at preschool together) 11. So glad to have my girl home (she’s nearly 21 now) 12. ‘The Sound of Music’ at QPAC 13. The Wheel of Brisbane at Southbank from our lunch table 14. ‘Chelsea’ on her 16th birthday on 3 March.
Making: Time and space for myself lately … much needed!
Cooking: Healthy, yummy stuff!
Drinking: Lots of water, coffee, and the occasional sneaky glass or two of Sav Blanc (my fav)
Reading: Finding it hard to relax enough to read lately. Must finish reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic” and will then be reading Kelly Exeter’s “Practical Perfection”.
Wanting: It to hurry up and cool down ‘round here!
Looking: Forward to the cooler weather of Autumn, Winter and Spring! Yay! I’m not a fan of Brisbane’s hot, humid summers!
Playing: and singing ‘Even when I’m sleeping’ by Leonardo’s Bride lately (**see footnote for interesting fact). I heard it a few weeks ago on the radio while driving. You know when you hear a song that you had forgotten about for years and years and years and then when you hear it again, it’s like a gift that stirs emotions and memories that take you back to another time in your life (in this case – the 90’s). It’s a song I’ve always loved and now it is stuck in my head and I’m sure my kids are getting sick of hearing me sing it! I need a new song! haha
Deciding: Whether to go to the Problogger Event on the Gold Coast again this year (September). Guilt issues over $$’s and wondering if I’d rather spend the money on a trip away to somewhere I’ve never been before. I do love discovering and photographing new places! Hmmm?!
Wishing: Everyone could be happy, content, kind to one and other, and in good health.
Enjoying: Myself immensely at a recent day out with a girlfriend to lunch at Southbank and then to the theatre (QPAC) to see The Sound of Music.
Waiting: What’s the point in waiting. It’s like wishing life away. Live each day as it comes and try to be present and enjoy each moment I say.
Liking: Very much the gorgeous Valentino Perfume my daughter brought back for me from Paris! Can’t smell it but knowing I smell nice when I put it on is fab and the bottle is gorgeous!
Wondering: Why so many rock legends have passed away way too young in 2016 so far? Don’t you think it is both sad and bizarre?
Loving: My new Rose Gold iPhone 6S Plus! I have not only upgraded but switched from Android to iPhone. My previous phone was a Samsung Galaxy S4, which will now be adopted by Twin 1.
Pondering: My next getaway. I feel the need for a weekend away – in a quaint little cottage tucked away in the woods or a rainforest or somewhere equally as fabulous.
Considering: Putting off any ‘hysterectomy’ decisions for a while (this post explains). Just can’t face it all right now.
Buying: Not a lot lately. I’m not a big spender ahem – except for sometimes!
Watching: Ok I admit it. I watched “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here” and I enjoyed it. I like a bit of light entertainment. It’s escapism! Also Julia and Chris crack me up like you wouldn’t believe. OMG I laugh and gee whiz we could all do with more laughing couldn’t we?!! 🙂
Hoping: That my ‘Contiki Cough’ (courtesy of my overseas adventurer) turned asthma, chest infection and ear infection, gets better now that I’ve been to the doctor and got myself on some antibiotics!
Marvelling: At the longevity of my old girl ‘Chelsea’ (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) who turned 16 on 3 March.
Cringing: Over some of the disgusting concoctions the celebrities had to eat or drink during tucker trials on ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’.
Needing: To get away to somewhere rural, isolated, quiet and with lots of gorgeous NATURE!!
Questioning: Why so many women are critical and mean to other women? We should all be supporting each other and lifting each other up not knocking each other down! Geesh!
Smelling: Can’t smell but if I could I’d be smelling my new perfume (see ‘Liking’).
Wearing: Loving my comfy, light weight, cotton, hippie wide legged, various shades of purple striped pants bought at Burleigh Heads in December! Love them so much I’m gonna go back to that shop and buy more in different colours!
Following: My own advice lately
Noticing: That the start of 2016 has been a bit rocky for me. Guess there have been more lessons for me to learn!
Knowing: That everything will work out ok
Thinking: Of cooler weather, cottages, forests, beautiful nature to photograph and fireplaces! Oh how I love those things.
Admiring: Bloggers who have written and released books lately! Hello Kelly and Mrs Woog for instance!
Sorting: Through lots of old photo’s lately. Wow it is a mind trip looking back at photo’s of when the kids were little and I was ahem a little younger. It seems like only yesterday but yet also so long ago.
Getting: Back on the blogging wagon slowly but surely
Bookmarking: New found healthy recipes to try
Coveting: A MacBook Pro with Retina Display for my birthday in May! I want to be more mobile so I can blog from anywhere.
Disliking: The fact my daughter got so sick towards the end of her overseas trip and also disliking that I got sick from her on her return!
Opening: The box of my new gorgeous Rose Gold iPhone 6S Plus was exciting!
Giggling: A lot when I was looking after my sister’s puppy ‘Rudi’. He and Ava played a lot and they were such a hoot to watch.
Feeling: So grateful that my daughter had a fabulous 2 months overseas and is now home safe and sound!
Snacking: On fruit (except for a few mishaps where I stray sigh)
Helping: Always helping – washing, cooking, cleaning, advising, caring, supporting, listening . . . . .
Hearing: Birds chirping outside and the soft snores of my ‘Chelsea’
So there you go people! I wonder how things will be for me for my next Taking Stock post in June? It should be much cooler by then – hooray!
If you’d like to have a go at Taking Stock – pop over to Pip’s blog – Meet Me at Mikes – for a blank list to get you started!
Ciao for now,
** Footnote: Did you know that the singer Abby Dobson of Leonardo’s Bride auditioned for The Voice Australia in 2013 and failed to impress the Judges? I know! Ridiculous! Here’s an article that tells more.
Linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT
21 Comments
I know it hasn’t been the easiest start to the year, but there are a lot of nice things in there. And sounds like you need to get yourself off to that cottage in the country. Maybe things will become clearer there. X
You’re spot on Kathy – not an easy start but still some nice things in there. Yep I am researching as we speak as to somewhere lovely and new I could go. Getting away to somewhere gorgeous always revives me in so many ways. 🙂 xo
Do ProBlogger! Do ProBlogger!! (and PS, I got sucked into I’m A Celebrity as well. I’d sit next to my husband going “All they do is sit around talking nonsense and eat the occasional pie made from pheasant droppings. But why the heck can’t turn it off!?”)
Hahaha – was it you that had the migraine that put a spoiler on PB last year? Glad I’m not the only one who got sucked into watching I’m a Celebrity. Honestly – the laughing at Julia and Chris – such great therapy!! lol
I have been giving ProBlogger a good hard thought myself. Mostly because of the timing, sports finals for children and leaving the builder to try and do 4 kids to 4 different places at the same time all by himself, seems not only impossible, but unfair. I love these posts, it must be so nice to look back over them. I don’t get why some women are not more supportive of one another either!! Hope your cough clears quickly now you have a day of antibiotics on board. xxx
I’m still not sure about PB Nicole. I think once I know who will be speaking there that might help me decide. It’s a lot of money (even without flights). Love the 3 nights to myself in my own room though – absolute heaven!! If I do go – I’ll be sad to not see you there but completely understand your plight! Fingers crossed my antibiotics do the trick. Being sick sucks! 😉 xo
What a great post! I truly don’t understand why women don’t support each other more! Or as a society why we don’t just generally support each other more and stop tearing down those achieving more than us. Am I insanely jealous that Kelly & Mrs Woog are published and I am not, absolutely, but guess what I can’t be anything other than supportive because they are dedicated enough to get it done. Whereas I haven’t even started and I have even given away the first couple of sentences as a reply to someone on #ibot this morning and I can’t remember who!
One day I will get to problogger. I would love to go although my heart is pounding just at the thought of heading away to a conference where I only know people from chatting online! Apart from that there is no extra $$ at the moment if there was it would be going towards braces for the Son.
Get better soon!
Oh I know what you mean *tall poppy syndrome*. I love to see women achieve and have success. They are an inspiration to me. I went to ProBlogger last year. Loved it! I think I wrote about 3-4 posts after it. If I can go alone, as an introvert, not knowing people, anyone can do it. Trust me! I will do my best to get better soon – thank you! 🙂 xo
Love me some Taking Stock. Happy Birthday Chelsea! Looking good lady! I hope you feel better soon and that the next 3 months of the year are better than the first three. How fun is the Sound of Music? Isn’t it a wonderful production? I had a ball at ProBlogger last year, but we’ll be overseas this year, and even if I wasn’t, I don’t know if I could justify the moolah. At least that’s one less decision for me to make!
The next 3 months of 2016 are going to be sensational. Positive thinking!! Chelsea is a legend making it to 16 don’t you think? The Sound of Music was fantastic! We were in the second row. I was about 2-3 metres from Cameron Daddo – oh my!! I’m glad I got to meet you at PB last year then Sammie if you’re not going this year. I may not be there this year also – still need to decide. Wish I knew who they were getting to speak – that may help! 😉 xo
Lovely to hear what you’re up to Min. I enjoy following you and your pics on social media but (as you know) haven’t done much on the blog front of late and have mainly focused on reading book blogs.
Hope you’re feeling better by the way!
xxx
Thank you Deb! Yes I know you’ve been busy. Throwing work into the mix really takes a while to adjust to. Don’t know how you find the time to read all those books to review. You must be having lots of long baths! LOL I’m sure tomorrow I will start feeling better *fingers crossed*!! xo
I love the pic of Rudi and your beautiful daughter.
I spent the entire “celebrity get me out of here’ gagging but happy that Fevola won. Seems like he has matured so much. Thanks WriteR in the middle – lol
Well I’d have to agree with you there on the pic of Rudi and my gorgeous daughter. Oh the gagging – me too! How ’bout that horrid concoction ‘The Chief’ drank (err splashed all over his face) with FLIES buzzing around it. Oh so gross!! I’m happy Fev won too. He’s a much nicer guy than I thought he would be….from WriteR in the Middle (bahaha I know watcha ‘talkin ’bout!!) 😉 xo
I’m absolutely determined to go to problogger this year. The $$ guilt swayed me last year and I didn’t go but if I use the same logic every year I’ll never ever get there! So this year is going to be the one. My credit card is poised for tickets to go on sale 😉 #TeamIBOT
You’ve gotta go at least once Bec! It’s a great experience. Such a buzz to meet people in person that you’ve got to know online. It’s also a really happy, positive, fun, inspiring environment to be in. Go for it! 😉 xo
Happy birthday to Chelsea … and I’m also thinking the same thing about Problogger this year. Will I? Won’t I?!!!
Chelsea says THANK YOU! Yes, Problogger – will I, won’t I? Need to know who some of the speakers are to help me with my decision I think! xo
I love your collage, Min. Gorgeous photos. I’m sorry to hear about your hysterectomy. I can totally understand you wanting to put that off. I’ll have to go back and read that post later on. I love Leonardo’s Bride too. That voice is so original. I’ve bought Big Magic and saw Elizabeth Gilbert when she came to Brisbane, but have not read it yet. I’ll be diving into it very soon, I hope. Have fun with your new iPhone xx
Hope you are feeling much better Min. I too love these posts!! You sure have had a lot going on good and bad. And decisions about spending money are always tricky too, but given you are needing somewhere new to explore – come to Sydney!! just throwing it out there 🙂 xx
I think I’ve turned a corner today Steph. The antibiotics must be doing their job. Feeling on the road to recover today – even went for along walk this morning. Speaking of Sydney, I AM overdue for a visit there, but I’ve been there lots and there’s so many places I haven’t been. I want to go everywhere! haha xo