Lisa Kate Colour Me Happy

On always wanting to do it myself

I'll let you in on a little secret ..... I like doing things myself.  I'm not all that good and handing things over for someone else to do.  It's not that I think they can't do it (well sometimes it is) it's just I like control.

Self confessed control freak here.

It presents itself in lots of little ways.

Examples include

** my hands don't work so well in the morning. Justin should and would handle any food preparations to do with eggs..... nine times out of ten we end up with  broken eggs on the floor, because I want to do it myself.

** I like to work on my own in a gym class, even when we are meant to be paired.

** Can't open a jar??  why ask your son? when you can stab a knife into the top to break the seal and then it opens easily.

** My husband is a VERY capable cook, I have to walk out of the kitchen when he does - or I get a *little* bossy.

** general attitude seems to be I can do it, do it all, in fact I can do it better and don't you dare tell me I can't do something.... hmmmmmmmmm

This week I've been presented with opportunities to learn and grow in this area.  It started with my frustration at the building and designing of a new blog, registering domain names, using a provider I had no knowledge base of and not having the time to get it all sorted.  I was well aware I was capable but also well aware it would take me a week of frustration.

Fast forward just one day, and I was spending time with my mum.  My mum is not a creative soul, and she knows that.  It annoys her at times.  We were talking about a flyer she had started to design, it wasn't looking so crash hot and Dad took one look and in 5 mins produced a professional looking flyer.  Mum didn't become frustrated she just laughed and then she told me that even though she is capable and she COULD have done it herself, it's better to just hand it over to the professionals so to speak.

That same day we went shopping, mum needed to create some cute and quick and easy gift bags for the ladies at her church, and I was the girl to help do shopping of pretty things.  We shopped, bought what we needed and I whipped a couple up to show her.... this is the part where I usually tell her I will do it all (all 40 of them) ... this time mum gently reminded me that I didn't need to, other people were willing and capable and even though they wouldn't be the same as if I had done it - they would still be great.

Instert loud clunking sound of penny dropping

I went home, and asked my very talented Web Designing brother for Help.

Asking for help is not weak.  It doesn't mean you aren't capable.  It means you are humble enough to see someone elses strengths.

Lesson learnt.

 

Lisaxx

 

Under the Sea

My girls and I have been working hard lately.  They wanted to "work like mum" and also earn a little pocket money, and it will come as no surprise to anyone that I love to make pretty things and I LOVE parties.  So together we have started a little family biz called "Skip to my Lou" which you can find here.  We are starting small and enjoying working together, I am constantly amazed at my girls creativity.

Together we styled some very cute things for a little man named Harley who was turning one.  Bunting,cupcake toppers, lolly boxes and name tags... and then added a few other pretties.

 

 

 

I love that the girls and I can work together making pretty things, and then get to send them on to a special birthday party or occasion.

Rainbow party designing is next on our list.

Lisa

Wednesdays Top Ten

Ten reasons why today is amazing

 

• I have a new little kitty cat, who likes to snooze on my lap while I work
• The leaves on the trees are just starting to turn pretty red
• I have a soy latte in hand
• My son thinks it's ok to be just like his mumma
• A few sore muscles telling me I worked hard at the gym
• Slippers on my feet
• My husband still totally rocks my world
• Lindt 85% dark chocolate
• Pretty things to make today
• A peaceful home

 

 

Pink milk, sprinkles and turning nine

Another Brithday in this house, this time for our littlest one.  Liv turned
nine, with much excitement.  This girl lives for any kind of celebration, wether it's for her or the people she loves, so it's extra special when it is her turn and we get to spoil her.

Her day started a little different as I was in Sydney - it was a huge decision for me to not be there when she woke up and my heart was pretty sad till I spoke to her and heard her excitement as they were about to get in the car and meet me for a day of fun.  We headed to the powerhouse museum and she loved all the exhibitions.

The followng day we held a very small celebration with her grandparents and cousin Ruby.... and true to form one hour before everyone came around I decided to make it feel like a real party.  I quickly made some cute party bags, popped some popcorn and placed it into some quickly decorated noodle boxes, and added some cute flags to the mini cupcakes.

But the BEST thing I did was make sprinkled rimmed glasses for the pink milk.  Whats better is it is super easy to do.

Here's how I did it.

Make a mixture of water and pure icing sugar, it needs to be quite thick and gooey rather than runny. 

Dip the rims of your glasses into the mixture, then straight into a bowl of sprinlkles,  tap off the exess.  If you have time pop the glasses into the fridge till it is time to serve.

Watch the smiles on everyones faces :)

So much fun!!!  I love parties.

Lisa

x

Weekend Adventures

L

Lately we have been really focusing on making our weekends really count.  Rather than spend the whole time doing chores, or a bit more renovating we have been planning fun things to do for at least one of the days.

It's so easy to not bother, especially when we are all usually very very tired from work/school/activities.  But we are making the effort before Uni starts to take more of Justin's time, before soccer starts, before Eisteddfod season for dance.

Each weekend we have chosen something fun and usually free or fairly low in cost.  We have sunned ourselves on the beach, taken in a museum, eaten ice cream on the foreshore, visited Justin's parents farm.  It's been so good.

Friday morning I woke up and wanted to get away.... preferably somewhere that Justin had no phone or internet connection (work phone calls in this house start very very early and finish very late in the evening and we were all ready for some quiet).  So a quick decision was made, we sent teh kids off to school and found our camping gear in the garage.

We ventured only 15 mins from home, up into the beautiful Watagan Mountains.  But it feels like hours away, no phones, no noise, no computers etc.... lots of books, and naps and walks and generally sitting around doing nothing.  It was just what we needed.

We ventured on a small hike and were amazed at the destruction left by the amazing amounts of rain in the last few months, trees were down everywhere, land slides, massive pools of mud and water.  It all felt quiet creepy, probably the leeches added to that feeling!!  YUK!!

Unfortunately we couldn't get all the way down to the falls, about 200 metres from them the path disappeared under a massive amount of debris,mud and trees. 

My Littlest Girl.... in a BIG FORREST!

The Rangers had managed to cut through this giant tree so we could get past.

Yes that is the path.... you can see the first few steps, we made the rest up as we went.

All in all we had a fabbo time, and we will be doing this a little more often at the insistence of the youngest child.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Lisa

PS - We took two cars up, mine being a 4WD handled the wet and messy "roads" well.... Justin's on the other hand kind of got seriously bogged on the way home.  THANKGOODNESS we weren't left stranded for long, with some very kind and helpful people stopping to help tow his car out.  And yes I know I SHOULD have had rope in my car to do it myself!!!  lesson learnt.

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

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