Easter weekend DIY - storage box

Easter storage box revamp DIY

This storage box/boot box/toy box has been in my bedroom(s) since I was little. It used to have a white plastic top on it, then when I moved out of home Mum put a new brown fabric top on it to suit my re-decorated old room.

From there I moved it to Geelong to store extra sheets, blankets and clothes. Since Brad and I bought our house last year I've been wanting to replace the top and stain it...

And with a little extra time off I finally completed it! And it was one of my goals for April!

Cost of project: Stain & Varnish $22, Fabric & $15 = Total: $37

turning off technology.... just for a bit

It's been a week since I blogged and boy was it good having a little break. Sometimes all you need to do is unplug yourself from the computer/iphone.

You know what I mean? I unplugged myself from Google reader, facebook, twitter, blogger and my phone for around 4 WHOLE days! 

Oh my gosh, it was absolute GOLD to get away to the farm and just focus on myself and the loved ones around me over the Easter break. Not updating my status, reading blogs or tweeting... at all...

On Monday I went for a little 5.5km run and on my way back home while running the streets of Newtown my feet were crunching on the pretty autumn leaves and thought I'd snap this picture to capture the moment....

 

And then I was back to iphone/constant internet world!

Qu. Do you ever feel the need/rejoice when you 'turn off' your technology?

A little birthday wish list...

My 25th birthday is coming up soon and for family purposes, here's a little wish list I put together...

Garmin Forerunner 110 $269

 

Option 1 - Wonderland Night Shirt $55.90 and Striped waffle Long Johns $44.90
 Peter Alexander Pajamas

 
Option 2 - Long sleeve button top $29.90 and Washed paisley classic pant $49.90
Peter Alexander Pajamas

Lorna Jane Zoom Full length tight (with blue stitching) $86.99 


(Available from Lorna Jane Melbourne Central - Small)

 Notemaker voucher 

Decorate - by Holly Becker + Joanna Copestick 

Power Flow Yoga DVD $36.00

Pandora Charm - Onyx Cabochon $79

Pandora Charm - Silver Charm Onyx $39

Pandora Charm - Silver Charm $35

Lulelemon Yoga Matt $68 (Bourke St)

Fossil Rena - Aviator sunglasses $50 US 

 
Wanderlust & Co : XL D-Link Silver&Black Leather bracelet $35 

 
Wanderlust & Co: Diamante & Mesh twist necklace $35 

Military Jumper knitwear top - Dotti $49.95

Drop Hem Basic Knit - Dotti $49.95

Olga Berg Tri-fold wallet $59.95

Various artwork:

 Girl Reading 5x7 - Belafonte (Etsy)

Relief 8 x 10 Print - Nan Lawson (Etsy)

Run 4 the Kids 14.38km post race review....

Last Sunday (17th April) my friends Jayne, Kathleen and I ran in the Run 4 the Kids fun run. I'd never run over 10km, so I wasn't sure how I'd go...

The day was a beautiful 20 degrees, we'd stayed in Melbourne the night before in an apartment, bought new clothes at Lulelemon, carbo loaded by eating pasta and had an ok nights sleep (thanks to everyone who went out for drinks in Melbourne and made TOO much noise).

Anyway... We walked down to the start line, lined up for 20minutes for the toilet and dropped off our bag and waited for the starting gun to go off!

The course went through parts of Melbourne CBD, through the Domain tunnel, along the West Gate Freeway, over the Bolte Bridge and through the Docklands...

It was a little tough, the worst part I thought was coming out of the Domain tunnel (uphill) - it was hot and stuffy and yuk! :( Kathleen ran ahead of Jayne and I, while we ran together. It started off pretty well, and as usual my calves were tight at the start, and then I loosened up around the 4km mark. :) Running over the Bolte was pretty great, the view was amazing. I went ahead of Jayne around the 9 - 10km mark, with my ipod going I felt strong. It wasn't until around the 12 - 13km mark that I was starting to fatigue.

My gosh was I hap-hap-happy to cross that finish line, and Jayne was only a few seconds behind me!

That's me at the front of the picture to the left of the woman in the pink (without stopping or walking) in 1 hour 25mins 49 seconds. My average pace was 5.58 minutes per km! :) I was so happy with that!

I placed 8,960 / 18,050 in all finishers.

I placed 2,649 / 8,718 female finishers.

As for the 10km split, the time was 01:00:28, pace 06.02, speed 9.92.

And the rest (4.38km), final time was 01:25:49, pace 05.47, speed 10.37.

Not only was I happy to finish, but to complete it with some amazing friends!

My next fun run is in two weeks - the Nail Can Hill Run (11km) in Albury! So I'm training for this week, and tapering the week after. :)

sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity"

Albert Einstein.

Recently I have celebrated some milestones in my career: over two years working with the same company, cementing progressive marketing campaigns, producing fantastic marketing materials, saving money, increasing web and social media traffic among other things. I've received both praise from my colleagues and management for the work I've been doing of late. So that's why it was such a difficult decision to resign from my current job.

I'm leaving a job I love, leaving people who mean so much to me and leaving a place where I have learnt so much from so many different people (you know who you are if you're reading this).

Photo by Ali Wood

I've struggled with this decision. They say "sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same", but I know it was the right time to make this decision. It's the right time for me to spread my wings, learn more skills and become open to more opportunities that my new job will provide.

Yes I'm scared, and nervous but oh so excited at the same time!

I say "Bring it on"!

Q. What is a difficult decision you've had to make recently, or some exciting news you've had?

Weekend crafting

Over the weekend I got my craft on! I'd already half created this layout, and then on Sunday it all came together...

The first layout is a celebration of friendship, I love this layout - it's feminine yet simple and fun.

 

Materials: Kaisercraft Timeless & Chanteuse paper, Chanteuse paper pad, Basic Grey alpha stickers, American crafts thickers, Kaisercraft rubons (secret bird society), Staz On brown ink, Glimmermist.

And a few close ups:

The next layout is one that celebrates someone I love very much. 

Materials: My minds eye patterned paper, Kaisercraft patterned paper, My Minds Eye stickers, Kaisercraft Timeless patterned Paper, Kaisercraft Alpha Stickers, Dress pattern, Vintage ticket, Glimmermist.

And some close up pictures:

the simple (and beautiful) things in life

This week has been busy, it's only Wednesday and it's going to get even busier! Brad and I celebrated his birthday with a lamb roast, presents and yummy choc-ripple cake, I've been for a 10km run, to the gym, to work. As for the rest of the week I have indoor soccer, an AFL game (Collingwood Vs Carlton), a friends birthday, most likely some scrapbooking and all the fun jobs that come on the weekend (grocery shopping, washing, ironing and cleaning)...

On top of this I'm trying to take as many photos as I can because I'm doing a 'week in the life' project. In a few weeks I plan to use the photos from this week, my blog posts and notes from my diary to scrapbook either a little mini album or some scrapbook pages showcasing what happens in a normal week of my life...

Tonight on the way to the gym I took time to breath and celebrate those beautiful moments in life... like a gorgeous sunset!

Q. What little things are beautiful in your life right now?

finally a native garen!

Most of Saturday I spent in the garden with Brad and his parents. We put new soil in the back garden bed, moved a pile of bricks, removed plants from the front garden, finished concreting our bin area, re-laid our front down pipe/drain, went and purchased new native plans and then planted and watered them in....


Whew! Glad that's done.


Here's a few BEFORE, DURING and AFTER shots.


BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:

And the front yard, AFTER:

April - Goals

It's always exciting to start a new month. I always find it refreshing. And now, I'm going to take this chance to look at my overall goals for the year, and think about what I want to accomplish that month.

This month I have a few things I want to 'tick off life's list':

- Practice yoga at least twice.

- Try Bikram Yoga once.

- Finish 'Run for the Kids' 14.1km fun run.

- Run a total of at least 50km.

- Complete a 'week in the life' mini album 4th - 10th April.

- Cover and stain storage box in my bedroom.

- Finish my Thailand mini album.

- Take Brad on a lovely (and unexpected date).
- Try three new recipes.