December Project Life Snapshots: Christmas Preparation

Christmas Eve has arrived and today I thought I would share some recent Project Life snapshots of what we have been up to in the last few weeks...

Making stockings for Santa!

Making Christmas cake

Some holiday decorating!

Dusting off the tree ornaments from storage

Setting up the mini tree in Rosie and Harry's bedroom

Making treats for friends

Dressing up as shepherds in the church nativity play

Off to the show!

Some Christmas grocery shopping

Taking gifts to the Christmas wishing tree

Christmas shopping!

I hope all your preparations for this special season have been a bundle of fun!

Project Life Tuesday: Sad Parenting Moments

Project Life Tuesday for today is sad moments in parenting. I know that there will be many times when my children are hurt, but when they are, it breaks my heart! I picked up Harry from preschool recently and found this bruise under his eye. It turned out he had been kicked in the face by a "friend"...on purpose.

I was so upset and my distress was even greater in the morning when his bruise became ten times worse. I just wanted to bundle him up in cotton wool and keep him by my side so he could never experience any hurt again. The funny thing was that Harry himself was already over it and assured me he was fine and that it only hurt "when he pushed it hard". He continues to play with his friend every day and all is forgotten. I probably need to take a leaf out of my four year old's book!
Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a snapshot of your child's next bruise or scrape. It does feel very strange to do so but every bump tells a story. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Quotes

Project Life Tuesday for today is favourite quotes. Do you have one that you particularly love? For me, it is this one...

I found this quote on Becky Higgin's beautiful blog and if there is a quote that sums me up perfectly, this is it. I LOVE being at home and there is no where else I would rather be. I would choose an evening or weekend at home over any any other outing. This seems to be a family trait (on my side!) and one which has lasted for generations. I am happiest at home and look forward to walking in the door each afternoon after a long day at work...it is my favourite time of day.

To remind me of this, I just had to frame this great quote from Jane Austen, which makes me smile whenever I see it. You can download it here for free from Becky's blog.

Challenge for Project Lifers: Is there is a quote that sums you up?

Project Life Tuesday: Magazine Inspiration

Do you have a favourite magazine that really inspires you? I have several that I love but have recently cut down and allowed myself only one each month...usually Your Home and Garden. It arrives in my letterbox mid month on a Friday and there is much happiness when I see it! I LOVE seeing what other people are doing in their homes and even though not all the interior styling is to my taste, I can appreciate it for what it is and glean inspiration for our own home redecoration process.

This snapshot was from a recent issue and I absolutely loved this house. I really want some of that circular art!

Challenge for Project Lifers: Do you have a favourite magazine that inspires you to take action and recreate something magical in your own home?

Project Life Tuesday: Tools of the Trade

Project Life Tuesday is tools of the trade. :) If you are a regular reader you will know that I have a bit of thing with washing. I love to do it, I love to fold it, BUT I hate putting it away!

To make the whole washing process a little easier I picked up some washing baskets that bring a smile to my face. These are my two favourites of the four that I own. Yes, we have a lot of washing and that is only going to increase with another little one on the way. :)

Challenge for Project Lifers: What are your tools of the trade that make running your household a little easier?

Project Life Tuesday: Favourite Places

Project Life Tuesday for today is favourite places. Do you have a favourite place in your house? One of our favourites is Rosie and Harry's bookcase in their bedroom. They both love books and are very lucky to have regularly received books as gifts from family overseas. They also love trips to the library and this is becoming a Saturday afternoon outing with Taff. They are slowly building up their collection and really enjoy revisiting old favourites.

They spend a lot of time choosing books from here and it is most definitely a favourite spot.

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a photo of a favourite spot/nook/corner in  your house. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Paint Accidents

Project Life Tuesday for today is when painting fun goes awry. I picked up Harry from preschool the other day and went to give him a little kiss on his head...and saw this!

Simple, I thought. A quick wash and it will come out easily. It didn't. We are now up to several days later and four hair washes and there is still red paint in there. It will have to grow out at this rate! Every time I see his little red head I think about the fun he must have had at preschool that day...and smile.

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a photo of a little accident that has taken place with your little one lately. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Special Notes

Project Life Tuesday for today is something close to my heart..special notes.

Rosie and Harry both love to write little notes to me (well, Harry can't write yet, he draws!) and I often find them in all sorts of places. On this day I came home after a long day at work and I could see that the kids were fussing around something on the table. When I went to investigate, this is what I found!

They had picked me some "flowers" from the garden and wrote me this little note. After a rough day of all day morning sickness, fatigue and work, this was just the thing to perk me up. I love being a mum!

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a snapshot of a special note from someone you love. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Glowstick Fun

My Project Life snapshot today is this little glowstick. Who knew such a small thing could bring so much amusement to little Harry! He got this from one of the radio stations down at the Rugby World Cup opening at the waterfront and it was certainly the toy of the moment...until it ran out of "glow", of course!

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a snapshot of a one hit wonder or fad that your children love. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Trophy

Project Life Tuesday today is a trophy!

Little Harry was the lucky recipient of the sports trophy at his preschool recently and he was super proud to bring this home for the week. He placed it by his bed and looked at it every day before we had to return it. Of course, I had to snap a photo of it before giving it back and I am sure this will continue to be a special memory for him as he looks back on these photos in years to come...

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a photo of a special award that one of your family has received lately. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Favourite Snacks

Mmm, do you have a favourite snack at the moment? I love a good banana sandwich and the banana must be mashed with a fork, not sliced. It also must be on white bread. :)

Challenge for Project Lifers: Before you sink your teeth into your favourite snack, take a quick picture for your album. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Chaos

Chaos is the only way to describe what is going on in our front yard at the moment. Our new drains are finally in the process of being done and there is scoria and mud everywhere. This work has been many months in the pipeline and it will be quite some time before we know for sure if it will solve our leak downstairs but we are certainly hoping it does!

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a snapshot of some work going on at your house at the moment. :)

Project Life Tuesday: A Favourite Appliance

What is your favourite appliance? At the moment, this is mine. I bought this as a Christmas present for myself last year and I have used it every week since then. It isn't the Kitchenaid I really, really wanted but at a third of the price, I am pretty happy with my Kenwood Patissier for the time being.

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a snapshot of your favourite appliance at the moment for your album and write a few notes about why you love it so much!

Project Life Tuesday: The Job that Never Ends

There is always a job that feels like it never ends in our house and I know I am not alone in this one! One of the certainties of life is that there will be washing...and lots of it. I actually don't mind this chore too much but on some days it feels like there is literally washing everywhere.

This is a common sight at our house. A pile of washing hurriedly thrown down the stairs in the direction of the laundry. Yes, it is untidy and sometimes it takes me (gasp!) more than a day or two to get to it but hey, that's life in any busy family. One day I will look back on all those little clothes and a smile will come to my face when I think of the fun that has taken place in those grass stained pants and muddy t-shirts.

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a snapshot of your washing pile as it is right now, on this very day and at this very moment. After all, it tells a story. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Apples!

Project Life Tuesday for today is apples. Yep, you heard right, apples. Our little guy just can't get enough of them! He prefers Granny Smiths and he usually has two in one sitting. He would go a third if I let him!

Challenge for Project Lifers: Is there a food of the moment in your house? Take a snapshot of it and enjoy the memories! :)

Project Life Tuesday: Work

Project Life Tuesday for today is work...again. :)

Now I would like to say that this is my work, but sadly it isn't. It is Taff's work!

I have been wondering for a while what his workplace looks like and really wanted to snap a photo or two for my Project Life album.

We spend such a lot of time at work every day and I thought it might be nice to capture that work environment for future generations to enjoy.

I wish I could look back and see some of the places my parent's worked so this past weekend we headed in and I grabbed a few pics.

I think if it was me, I would find it hard to work in this environment. The view is stunning! It is on the waterfront and even features a glass floor panel where you can see straight through to the water underneath. It freaked me out a bit. :)

I also loved the "lunchroom" and wouldn't mind a kitchen like that in my house. lol.

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a snapshot of your husband's workplace, office and desk. It will be great to look back on in years to come!

Project Life Tuesday: Harvest Time!

Remember this post 4 months ago? Well, look at it now!

Project Life Tuesday for today is harvest time for our little vege patch. I am the first to admit that I do not have green thumbs, so this patch has pretty much taken care of itself. A few days ago we set the kids a task of weeding the garden so we would be ready to harvest part of our crop.

Now, I am pretty sure that they pulled a few things that weren't weeds but it was all for a good purpose...teaching them the value of work. Well that is my story and I am sticking to it!

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a snapshot of your garden and all the lovely things that are growing in there at the moment. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Family Favourites

Project Life Tuesday for this beautiful chilly day is family favourites.

What is your family's favourite recipe? Without a doubt, in our family it is this yummy chocolate cake.

We make it ALL the time and our whole extended family enjoys it for everday and special occasions. Why not take a snapshot of your family's favourite recipe the next time you make it!

As always, the best part is licking the bowl...some things never change. :)

Project Life Catch Up

I am about 3 weeks behind on Project Life! Arggghhh!

Today I will be attempting to fix that and having a good session this afternoon. My photos are printed, my pens are ready and I am excited. :)

Project Life Tuesday: Oops Moments

Yep, we had a little mishap on the weekend involving a piece of furniture, this vase, and the floor. :(

It was completely my own fault so I had no one to be upset with but myself. Before throwing it in the bin (stabbing heart pain!) I took a picture of it for my album. Life is about breakages from time to time and I wanted to record that in some way.

Challenge for Project Lifers: Take a picture of the latest "breakage" in your house!