Lisa Kate Colour Me Happy

It's all in the details

 

I love birthdays.... I don't care whether it's mine (which by the way usually includes a full week of celebrations) or a family members, I just love them, AND I love birthday parties.

Something about celebrating one special person for one day all of their own that to me is just very very special.

Lilli was not going to have a party this year, just a small group of friends for a movie and some popcorn.... and that is really all she had.  But with a few creative idea's, she had a great afternoon that FELT totally like a party (minus the expense!)

Because I was giving them only treat food (yes yes I know, lots of sugar no nutrition) I wanted to make sure it was portion controlled with everything in individual serves.  This to me makes sense on so many levels!!  Firstly everyone receives the same amount of food, no-body misses out on anything, I can control just how much they are going to eat (handy when it is all sugar) and there is not much chance of germs spreading into a whole bowlful of popcorn!!  LOL

I have a heap of photo's to share!!!

I airpopped fresh popcorn added a little salt then popped it into these cute red bags, finished with paper doiley and they almost look too pretty to open.

I found these cute paper cups (they are meant to be for cupcakes, and filled them with sweets.

 MMMMM..... sugary coloured popcorn.  This was super simple.  I already had some self sealing bags (which I use for cards and packaging), I simply put a cup of popcorn in, sealed it shut then popped them all into a basket.

Rather than a big traditional birthday cake, I again decided to keep with the individual serve theme and made a batch of scrummy cupcakes (no not from scratch!  LOL) and then displayed them on this super cute cardboard cupcake holder.  Which cost me about $2.50 from Woolworths - love it!

All displayed togther with a few balloons and some bunting.  I love how it all turned out and the girls LOVED how it all tasted!

It was so much fun to put together i can't wait till the next party.

 

Lisa Kate

Turning Twelve

Lilliana turned Twelve last week and what a year it has been.

Watching her grow from a child into a young lady has had her Dad and I shaking our heads at times wondering where our quiet introverted child has gone.  And we have been cheering her all the way.

You can usually find her in her room listening to her music.  Laying on her bed, singing along. She just loves it.  She goes everywhere with her iPod and music ringing in her ears.

She has keen fashion sense, and knows what she likes.  Skinny jeans, BLACK and more BLACK, boots, lace, and a touch of cream is pretty much her entire wardrobe.  I have been allowing her to choose her own clothes and I love what she chooses for herself.  She has pretty much banned colour and anything "baby girly" while still managing to be very modest in the way she dresses.  I love that.

She is headstrong, caring, thoughtful and kind.

We are so proud of the decisions she is making for her life, and can't wait to see what this year brings.

Love you Lilli

xx

PS - we held a small party for Lilli this weekend, and there will be plenty of pictures to share once they are off my camera!

 

Getting my fitness on

Pretty much sums it up really doesn't it.

I've always been very proactive is doing EVERYTHING I can to ensure I am in the least amount of pain, have the most mobility I can and generally cope well with my RA.  I have been *mostly* responsible at taking my medication and injections when I need to (my hubby may be laughing at this, because I have also at times taken myself off medications with disastrous results!).

At the end of last year I completed my very first round of Michelle Bridges 12 WBT.and lost a few pesky kg's and increased my fitness dramatically.  For someone who before getting sick had always been very active it was awesome to reclaim all that back and more.

And I am back for another round.  This times it's all about getting some serious muscles on this bod.  I'm not talking body builder or anything.  But defined and strong.

Watch this space.....

Lisa

Dr Who, Playstation and Mexican Food

Pretty much sums up what this kid loves.

OK - he loves more than that, you need to add reading (Mathew Riley is a firm fave), music , history, peanut butter cups, coke zero, wearing layers of jumpers even in summer, soccer, any food made with mince, cheese.... lots of cheese and I'm pretty sure he loves his family too.

Jere turned 15 this week.  I'm not quite sure where the time has gone, but I do know that we are so proud of the young man he has become.

He is such an amazing kid who does so much to help me, without him I would have an overgrown lawn, rubbish all over the kitchen, a dishwasher that was never emptied, clothes that were still hanging on the line, a kids bathroom that was a mess and so many other things that fall to him.  He does it all, without much complaint.  And he loves his sisters too.... see I told you GREAT kid.

We are so proud of him, and can't wait what this year brings.

Love you Jere xx

PS - yes he actually does know Karate, in fact he was graded up to a senior blue belt late last year :) 

 

Black is her colour

My Lilli..... almost 12 and so very grown up.

She has a mind of her own and is very strong willed (kinda like her mumma).  But she is also very quiet and dare I say the *s* word? shy, always has been.

Our middle child sometimes struggles with finding her place.  So when she started being very vocal about her love for all things black and her hate of skirts I had a bit of a chuckle.  I was quietly cheering her on, watching her find her own style, fitting in where she wanted and pretty much saying "this is who I am - and I like it!".

While her Dad and I were pleased that she was taking such a big step in her own social and emotional growth.  Someone who really doesn't know Lil well, commented in a negative way about the black (yes to my face people!) and was "concerned"..... I am sure it did come from a place of caring.  But needless to say it was an ignorant comment.  I politely told them that if all I had to worry about was Lilli's love of black - then I was a lucky mumma.

So today we are celebrating Lilli's determination to be herself, to challenge, to find her place..... isn't that what parents are meant to do?

Lisa

 

A Christmas like no other

This year our Christmas was very very different.  It involved just the five of us, in our own home - the WHOLE day!!!  It was amazing, a true gift to us.... it was just what we needed.

The decision to have our own Christmas was one that was very difficult to make, we had some external issues that meant we needed to make some changes so that our kids and us would have a wonderful day free of stress, anxiety and hurt. 

I am so thankful that my parents wholeheartedly encouraged our need to do things our way this year, I am so appreciative that they were willing to not spend the day with their Grandchildren on Christmas for the first time ever, so that as a family of five we could start to build our own traditions.  I can't even begin to express how thankful I am to have the most amazing, encouraging, supportive parents like I do.... they are so selfless in their love for me.  I hope to be a parent just like them.

In the spirit of really being present with each other during the day, I didn't have my camera in everyones faces.  I did take a very few quick snaps after all the presents had been unwrapped.... but that was it.  It felt good to let go of the "scrapbooker and memory writer" and just be a Mum enjoying the day.

The photo's we did get are far from perfect, but neither are we.... and they are who we are, not always in focus, sometimes a little wonky or off colour.  But that's ok with me.

I hope that your Christmas Day was full of love and laughter, and you took time to think on the reason we celebrate this precious day, the birth of Jesus.

Lisa x

Sending a little hug

My littlest one is having a bit of a rough time dealing with some hard stuff that has happened this year.  Our car accident, my injuries resulting from that accident, the sudden deaths of people she knew, mummy having to go away quickly and with no notice - lots of stuff for a little girl who thinks to hard.

My heart pretty much broke when she said that she was thinking in her head she was going to die.

She has been sad, and that has made me sad.

We have lots of support and help and strategies in place for her, and I know in time she will be back to her usual fun and happy self.  But in the meantime she needs a few reminders.

Today I put a *secret* note in her pocket for school.  She knew it was there, but I made her promise not to look at it till I had left.

It was just a reminder that I was thinking of her, and loving her and a little reminder of the prayers we pray for her and that she herself prays as well.

I think it helped this morning.

Lisa Kate

Handmade love

We have had our fair share of birthday parties in the last few months.  I'm always searching for a great gift idea, and generally after having a good think and searching the stores more and more often I come back to making something.

Something special just for the recipient.  Something pretty.  Something useful.  Something you can't buy in Target.

Does it save me money? NOPE!  Does it save me time?  NOPE! But I still find myself stitching something, or painting something.

This year for Christmas my children will get their fair share of store bought goods.  I tell myself every year I am going to do a FULL "hand made Christmas" but time never permits and to be honest there is always a gift they have their heart set on that I can't make.

On my list for my girls this year, is a pretty pencil roll and notepad cover.  I already stock the pencil rolls in my etsy store but as yet they don't own one. 

I recently gifted a pencil roll and notepad cover bundle to one of Livinia's special friends. In her fave colours.  I filled it with good pencils (my pet hate is cheapy ones that break!) and an art pad, and it was the perfect gift and happily recived too.

 

 

 

I will be stitching up a few for an etsy update in the next week.  If you want one in a special colour... be sure to let me know.

Lisa Kate

Playing Dress-Ups

It seems the last few weeks, there has been a large amount of dressing up around this house.  We have had book week, gold rush day, a dress up birthday party and also a dancing eisteddfod...

Lots of fun!!!

Here are some of the pictures.

Miss Alice in Wonderland

 

An Indian Girl

 

Gold Rush Day

 

A Cheeky Cheetah

 

We also had an appearance from Betty Boo..... but no photo's.... she will turn up soon again though.

Lisa Kate

x

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Kids Art and Craft Workshops ARE happening again these school holidays, times/dates/costs will all be revealed tonight on facebook.  You will need to be quick to grab a spot!

Monday Makings

I have a pile of pretty scraps of paper.  They usually end up on a mixed media project but after making a few cards for some very helpful friends, I thought it might be fun to share with you how to put together a pretty, scrappy, stitchy card.  Because I know all you crafters out there have PLENTY of scraps!!!

Gather your supplies

Paper scraps (captain obvious I know), embellishments like ribbon and brads, sewing machine and adhesive.  The super cute flower picture is from a set I bought in Typo.

 

Start Assembling

Fold your base in half and start layering up different papers, tags and any other bits you have.... don't adhere yet, just play with the format.  Trim any pieces or give them a decorative edge with a punch.

 

Sew it all together.

 

You can add a little adhesive behind the layers if you want.... I personally like to live on the edge and just hope they stay fairly still while I wizz the sewing machine around.  The messier the better with your stitching, just be sure to catch a little of everything so your card doesn't fall apart.

Finish it off

Now it's time to add your picture or image, some extra brads, and twine.  Finish with a sentiment and there you go.  One pretty scrappy stitchy card.

 

 After you have admired your pretty card, why don't you write a kind and thoughful message inside and post it to a friend??  It's nice to make someones day a little brighter don't you think??

Lisa Kate

x