LEFT TO RIGHT STARTING TOP LEFT. ROW 1 – #FMSPAD Day 1 – Something Colourful; #FMSPAD Day 17 – Something Green; #FMSPAD Day 15 – Kid; Dog treats at the markets; #FMSPAD Day 19 – Funny. ROW 2 – #FMSPAD Day 5 – Flowers; #FMSPAD Day 26 – Sky; #FMSPAD Day 4 – Happy; Wynnum Jetty; #FMSPAD Day 18 – Jar. ROW 3 – #FMSPAD Day 7 – Phone; Green veggies at the markets; #FMSPAD Day 9 – Bird; #FMSPAD Day 12 – My Mood Today; #FMSPAD Day 6 – Out the Window. ROW 4 – #FMSPAD Day 8 – Grateful For; Catriona Rowntree & my daughter; #FMSPAD Day 14 – Simple; ZTT #7; Cool drink on market day. ROW 5 – ZTT #6; Ava visits the vet; Taken on a waterfront walk; Getting ready to cook dinner; At the markets.
It’s that time again! Taking Stock time! I can’t believe it but it was December 2018 when I did my last one so this one will be the first for 2019. I’ve been doing Taking Stock posts for quite some time now. In recent years, I’ve done them quarterly, so four times per year – March, June, September, and December and that will be the case again this year. Here’s where you can see all my previous Taking Stock posts if you’re interested!
So let’s get this party started.
Making: crochet thingy’s – market bags, blankets/throws, and I’d love to make some cute little Amigurumi critters. Oh my gosh I need some grandchildren I think! LOL
Cooking: every night gets boring sometimes so I’ve been injecting a few new recipes of late
Sipping: either water or coffee
Reading: blog posts and news articles mostly but I need to switch off and read a book!
Looking: forward to Easter with family, closely followed by a brief trip to Sydney
Listening: to rain and storms again has been lovely
Wishing: I could slow down how quickly the years seem to be racing by
Enjoying: beautiful moments like this one – a moment at the waterfront before Pilates one morning (see video below)
Waiting: Waiting is like wishing time away isn’t it? So, I’m not really waiting for anything. I try to live moment to moment. It’s easier that way!
Liking: doing the Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day (FMSPAD) challenge for March. It’s been fun!
Loving: my new Zen Tip Tuesday (ZTT) series – all the different people I’m meeting (virtually) and all the different stories and perspectives they share is fabulous! Let me know if you’d like to contribute a ZTT featured post and if not please feel free to join in the ZTT Link-Up.
Buying: A denim jacket – the first denim jacket I’ve ever owned believe it or not.
Watching: Dancing with the Stars but getting very annoyed because the good dancers are getting eliminated whilst the not so good are still in there! Having said that though … I don’t vote! Oops!
Hoping: autumn starts soon. I love the cooler weather and I want to wear my new denim jacket!
LEFT TO RIGHT STARTING TOP LEFT. ROW 1 – #FMSPAD Day 23 – OK; One Pan Herb Chicken & Rice; Himalayan Connection at the markets; #FMSPAD Day 24 – Black and White; Completed Crocheted Market Bag. ROW 2 – My new denim Jacket; Kitty Cat bought from the markets; #FMSPAD Day 21 – Wall; Vegetarian Lasagne; #FMSPAD Day 16 – On the Ground. ROW 3 – Sunrise; Completed Crocheted Market Bag; Earrings from Himalayan Connect at the markets; #FMSPAD Day 20 – A Pile; Himalayan Connect at the markets. ROW 4 – Dinner leftovers for lunch; ZTT #8; March Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day (#FMSPAD); #FMSPAD Day 13 – Jewel; #FMSPAD Day 2 – Alone. ROW 5 – Bracelet from Himalayan Connection at the markets; #FMSPAD Day 22 – Craving; ZTT #9; Propagation of my Zanzibar plant; #FMSPAD Day 3 – Old.
Needing: some time at the beach very much. Hopefully soon!
Wearing: no makeup the majority of the time around home means my skin is so much better these days then when I worked the corporate life and had make-up on every day. Another huge contributor to my lovely fresh and dewy complexion these days are the beautiful natural plant oils within the Gorgeous Woman Skin Care range that I use and also sell.
Following: my own advice and trying to incorporate some digital free time for myself over weekends. Much as I love it – social media and screen time can be so consuming and draining!
Marveling: at my daughter and her passion and drive in her journalism career. You can see her pictured above with Catriona Rowntree after having interviewed her about her new book ‘The Best of World Cruising’. This photo appeared on Catriona’s Instagram.
Noticing: that the sunrise is getting later and sunset is getting earlier.
Sorting: through my clothes and linen and shoes and stuff bit by bit. Decluttering feels good!
Getting: my blog safe and my purse less empty by moving to a new host was a very good move. See this Facebook post for a little more info.
Saving: the leaves from the broken off branches of my Zanzibar pot plant to propagate is proving to be working. They’ve got roots!
Bookmarking: recipes, crochet patterns, all manner of stuff that I plan to read later (but do I … hmmm?)
Coveting: I would really, really, love an Uberkate ring. I have been drooling over them for years. Now she has brought out one that is limited edition that has bowled me over. It’s the Ruby Red Corundum ring. Look I love them ALL but this one just spoke to me, you know? Maybe I could drop some hints for some $$ towards it as a birthday option? Something to ponder but isn’t she just so beautiful!
Opening: my bags of crochet again has been quite exciting. It’s funny how the mood leaves me all of a sudden but then out of the blue comes back again and the activity gives me great joy again!
Giggling: over the recent ‘great cruskit thievery’ by Ava. I posted this video to my Instagram story and on my Facebook page:
Feeling: Excited about a couple of getaways coming up – 2 nights in Sydney (late April) and 5 nights at Stradbroke Island (June/July). Hoping to throw an additional weekend getaway in there somewhere too!
Hearing: The lovely comforting soft whir of the dishwasher and gentle snores of Ava (my dog) – the sounds of home!
Obsessing: Ok ok … I might be obsessing a bit over that Uberkate Ruby Red Corundum ring!
I’ve included all the FMSPAD photos posted thus far in my photo collages. To know more about any of them, and if you want to see the ones yet to be posted this month, you can find them (and more information) on my Instagram and Facebook pages.
The ‘Taking Stock’ concept is the brainchild of Pip from Meet Me at Mikes. You can go HERE to grab a blank list of the word prompts to copy & paste and take stock yourself if you’d like to!
The next Taking Stock post from me will be towards the end of June 2019.
Ciao for now,
Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:
Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit
Deborah of Debbish | Jo of And Anyways
It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all our blogs.
20 Comments
So much to love here. As I think I mentioned I have my author site with Siteground, but my astro site was always with Anthony Exeter – who charged a lot more, but it was worth it to have someone to talk to if things went wrong or if I wanted to do something slightly different. I’m on the Grow Big platform with Siteground so could probably move it across now if I wanted for no extra charge.
I’m on the Grow Big platform with Siteground too now Jo. All seems to be ok so far. I got it migrated across without saying a word to BlueHost. Never done this before so hope all is aok! I can understand that having your astro site with Anthony would’ve been so much more reassuring (with that lovely friendly human voice at the end of a phone call) … but yes you could save some $$’s and move it across to Siteground since the Grow Big plan would accommodate it. So much tech stuff to learn in this blogging caper isn’t there! lol
Yes! The dishwasher comforts me too. It is one of my favourite sounds of home.
SSG xxx
It sure is … funny how sounds can be comforting. Reminds me of when I was a kid home sick from school lying in bed feeling comforted by the sounds of Mum vacuuming. 🙂
I need to read a book too. i seem to have lost that art for now (though I’m plowing through the audio books so still sort of reading). Like your photo challenge pics. Sounds like a lovely month with more fun ahead with the Easter plans and trip to Sydney.
I think perhaps audio books would work for me but I’m yet to try them! I love a photo challenge and it gives me something to post each day! lol Yes I’m looking forward to the little trip away – a change of scenery is good for the soul and this trip will be fun! 🙂
This was a comprehensive taking stock Min and I loved it 🙂 Catriona Rowntree was in Tumbarumba recently filming for Getaway! I also bought a denim jacket last year, my first one and love it! We’re so cool 🙂 . I’m with you on dancing with the stars but I don’t vote either oops!! Love your photo collage too, great post!
Thanks so much Deb – so glad you enjoyed the post. That Catriona Rowntree sure gets around doesn’t she? Fancy that we both have new first ever denim jackets! Yep I never vote for reality TV shows yet I get so annoyed when the people I want to stay in get voted out! lol
Great round up Min and very comprehensive. I really think it is important to take stock because life can whizz by and you forget what you have experienced. I loved reading all that you were feeling and doing and I might even try it with you in June. Might need a reminder 😉
Thanks Sue! These posts are fab to look back on to remember what you were doing, how you were feeling etc the same time a year ago, or two years ago, or more! I’m glad you enjoyed reading it. I’ll remind you in June (hopefully I remember LOL)!!
Great round up Min – I think that ring looks like the perfect Mother’s Day present from your belvoved offspring – $30 each should cover it + postage = one happy Mother (just a few hints to that smart daughter of yours would be all it takes!)
And I forgot to link up for Lovin’ Life – my retirement brain must be on the fritz!
Thanks Leanne – it’s strange because I never was that much into jewellery and stuff like that previously but in my mid-life years I’m starting to enjoy the finer things a little more. Higher maintenance? Probably!! However, I couldn’t justify going off and spending nearly $300 on a ring for myself … so birthday donations would be gratefully accepted! LOL Shame my offspring don’t read my blog. I’ll have to advise my daughter who can organise the boys. Mother’s Day is an option too I guess! Combined gift? Hmmm…thinking cap on. No biggie about forgetting to link up with LovinLife – you don’t have to every week. If that’s retirement brain then looks like I’ve got a case of it too! 🙂
Am loving all of your crocheting. I am so non-creative in that respect. Same with photography. Same with… well so many things!
I don’t watch Dancing With The Stars but saw MB was evicted and happy about that cos I’m not a fan. It’s frustrating though to be reminded it’s just a popularity thing and not talent based.
I liked the pale green gemstone rings UberKate brought out a year or so ago. But same… hard to justify the $ when there are other priorities! xx
You’re creative in your writing Deb! Can’t say I’m that much of a MB fan either (though her dancing had improved a lot and she was very good just before she got booted). Funny isn’t it since we both did 12WBT! I love most of the stones in the Uberkate rings but that ruby red just pushed me over the edge. All these years just admiring from afar but that one makes me move from ‘admiring from afar’ to ‘ok I really want you’! Very strange because my favourite stone (and usually the only one I’m drawn to) is Amethyst!
I love a good taking stock post! You’ve done so well with the FMSPAD challenge, I’m so impressed and how lovely was the birdsong?! I felt really zen after listening to that! I’m going to be in the audience of DWTS tonight so look out for me on the box! Talking of being famous on the box, you must be so proud of your girl! I’ve seen some of the clips you posted and she’s got skillz! Really looking forward to seeing you in Sydney soon!
Wow – have a fun time in the audience at DWTS! What an experience that will be. Having just watched it I know what awesomeness you would have witnessed and experienced firsthand! I’m sure it’s much more fun than just watching it on the telly. And yes – I’m very proud of my girl. She’s very driven. Always has been! I’m so looking forward to seeing you in Sydney too! The one brief time we met in 2015, I was overwhelmed at my first ever blogging event with 700+ other people! haha
I’ve been following your FMSPAD and it’s been fun! 🙂 Getaways are great – I had a spontaneous one this past weekend and it was worth it. I can’t wait for Easter mainly because, long weekend! Hope you have a fab April! I might have to come up north for the beach if the weather change here is anything to go by. Beach is looking unlikely for a little bit anyway
I’m glad you enjoyed my FMSPAD efforts Sanch. I enjoy doing them now and then. Oh so envious of your weekend getaway. I’m sure you found it very restorative! Hope you have a fab April too!
That was so lovely to read and view. I love your collages. I too coveted Uberkate ubercircles back in 2013 and got mine made: smallest circle with our initials and wedding date, the next circle, the two kids’ first names and dates of birth on back, then initials of each grandchild and on back, the year of their birth. There WERE 7….and in 2015 we had a new granddaughter and for a small cost, Kate added the newest initials. I wear this on my own chain, in almost every daily photo. I find them comforting to touch.
I hope that you get that ring..big hints for Mother’s Day and your birthday; both in May if I recall!
Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek. Next week’s optional prompt is Share Your Snaps. 15/51. Hope to see you there! Denyse.
Denyse x
Oh the ubercircles are lovely too Denyse and yours sounds wonderful! I would love the ring and will drop a hint or two but I’m sure I’ll survive if not. xo