Sweet nothings

looking forward...

Because I had to scout out a location for a new photo shoot, because I needed to 'yomp' across moorland, because I craved fresh air and space, and, because it was the very last day of the year..

We were in the forest.

Living ten minutes from the New Forest makes my heart happy.

look at these stripes of colour. *sigh* so pretty, - so perfectly 'winter'.

Found a fab location - check out the colours behind the fences

and encouraged the girls to hang two tiny bits of paper on a tree...saying goodbye to one year and hello to the next.

I realise it all sounds a bit overly pagan written down, LOL, it wasn't, it was just nice. Trying to get them to see the end of one year and the fresh start of another. Lots of talk about wishes and hopes for next year. 

May all your wishes come true. - Happy New Year! :) 2012 will be a cracker :)

 

:)

Mollie.

{yes, of course- complex or straight forward, happy or super cranky; I love all my kids, it was just THIS day I was grateful for Mollie and her pretty simple easy attitude!!!}

spring cleaning. big time

ooooo, what is it about this time of year that gets us all scurrying about, purging and sorting out?

Normally I dont start til January, but hey, I did one thing and then... well there was no stopping me.

Tonight I'd like to share this little bit of a screen shot -

only ten messages in my inbox!

an hour ago there were over 2000. Now I only have ten! miracle!!!

 

 

2012 and all that...

Lets not use the R-word here.

R-word? -resolutions -
ITS BANNED! I don't care if you make resolutions at this time of year, every year, I'd like to stop you!

Have a goal, have a to do list. Write nothing on either list that isnt actually achievable - and some pretty amazing things are always achievable. Just don't put pressure on yourself to do 900 things you set every year and never do. Its setting yourself up to fail, and it hurts.
You realise I used to, every year, make a resolution not to bite my nails and grow really pretty ones. Every year, between the ages of six and thirty eight. seriously. And fail.... because I bite my nails and I dont even KNOW I do it. But now? I really dont care, it really makes very little difference to my day to day life...
I did once have lovely nails, - they weren't mine, they were fabulously fake {and expensive and HURT to have put on} When I got my engagement ring it was so beautiful I thought I ought to have beautiful nails to match, whilst showing the ring off.
I drove everybody mad drumming them on the table; 'just because I could', I couldn't type a damn thing {my job at the time} I was digusted at the crap that quickly get behind them in one day, and nearly took the cats eye out with one. SO - not for me. and hey, one less thing to 'fail' at. Perfect. Silly example, but, you see how it goes.

I've got goals tho - love me some goals. They are a bunch of personal ones, scrapbooking ones, and photography ones. I don't think all will be easy, but I know I can do them.

Personal ones, well they are personal, it's not earth shattering stuff, just little things that help keep making me 'me'. I'm still quite new at this 'being me' business, {as in not trying to be somebody else} Still hard sometimes, but I'm really enjoying myself too. More gym exercise {which I quite surprise myself by enjoying} more evening classes, more work based travelling, some more sorting my health out better, , more going out, more mixing with friends. To have fun really. 

I'm also getting to a significant age next year. Hmmm... feel a bit funny about that. I've banned anyone mentioning the number too often - its now called the 'f-word'  in our house ;)  to which Daisy wanted to know if I mean 'firty' {30} made me laugh {and be VERY grateful she didnt say Fifty!!!} I'm thinking of having a party because then I can, er... embrace it... or get tipsy enough not to care anymore ;) Parties aren't very 'old me' but they might be more the newer me than I thought ;)

Photography and scrapbook-wise, I'm deeply inspired by other people's goals - like the same hill series by Paul Octavious. Its on my 2012 list! I know exactly where I'm going to take my pictures, its also a hill, in a place I go often, but not all the time. What I love most about it is how its not much until its a collection. Until you group the hill pictures together, they are just a nice shot, but together? together; they seriously rock.

I keep meaning to write a cook book - no, a 'bake book' really. Its an excellent excuse to scrapbook, bake and write - over half my hobbies all at once ;) plus I'm figuring maybe it solves half the Christmas gifts for 2012 too, huh? Assuming I move myself and write it!

My Grateful list is going to be an interesting one. I intend to write a line or a word each day of what I am grateful for that particular day. I'm leaving the page document up all the time, {my imac will save it as I go along, should I need to close it/shut down the imac} It will be very cool to see what crops up, what names, and places, make it. No cheating, no planning, just whatever I feel thankful for at the end of that day.

There isnt anyway I could NOT carry on with 365 - or 366 as it is a leap year coming up. Taking a picture every day for the year - its as natural to me now as brushing my teeth. This is year 4 coming up! The only way I might alter it a bit, is to print it as a week per view book, instead of a day per view book. Day per view is gorgeous to look at, but very pricey to print!!!
Excited to hear about new people I've inspired/encouraged/forced to try it next year, for the first time :) :)

Of course I want more work photo shoots too. Good to see the ones for 2012 I have booked already, and glad to hear a few interested possible others too. May I get better at closing deals this coming year too ;)

What about you? 

 

 

 

 

27, 28

 

glitter and shine.

POTD 28th dec

I caved in and let Daisy do one of her gifts that involved 'sprinkling' glitter. Of course I was right and the whole house now IS glittery, but it made her happy, so....

Maybe I'll just go with the theory 'do all messy projects now, in next 36 hours and just get it out the way all at once'?!

 

or... maybe I wont.

 

 

ten on tuesday....

1) I've only just learnt its Tuesday. I'm so bad at keeping track of the days of the week over Christmas break. Just feels like a whole string of Saturdays and Sundays to me....

2) I've got a headache that wont leave me alone (Sadly not due to drink) and a stomach ache {sadly not due to overeating} so I'm real fun company right now. blah.

3) I already know what I want to do differently next Christmas. Just little tweaks but some changes needed. We are all growing, the children are older, and work encroaches on time I wish it didnt. Then some of the days we are at home, we dont 'do' much, and I wish we did. an activity together.  Then, some new things that happened this year were the best bits, and so I want to make them firm details. SO plans are a-foot!

4) Discontentment week...thats what this week is prone to be. People seem to be feeling the 'New year coming must make changes' pressure, the 'my life needs an overhaul' pressure -and are feeling it BIG time as the 31st creeps up. I've made a lot of changes, and I'm so glad I did. Without being smug; I'm so not smug even if it reads so, I took a bunch of rubbish in my life and sorted it out. I have a new bundle of not so greats I'm tackling, but I feel positive I can handle them...they're not so big or scary anymore. little bit by little bit I'm taking me back. awesome.

5) Sign up. I've been signing up for things. This is FUN. saying yes I'm doing it, out loud, or on paper, is committing and much better than 'planning' to do so, then never getting round to it. Signed up for new exercise, signed up for new photo group, signed up for photo walks, signing up for photographers beery weekend away convention, signed up for possible girlie weekend away, already VERY signed up for weekend away later in the year with the hubby. woot woot!

6) I'm having my new year in February anyway. Tried but failed to have some mini {unimportant} medical stuff sorted out before Christmas....but its all now in January instead. So, my fresh clean slate is held up a little. Never mind, january is way overrated ;) I cannot wait til I've crossed it off my to do list. and got on with much better to do lists!!

7) I had this sort of genuis idea. And I got truly carried away with it. And began to put it in place. and then realised it partly involved me, out my comfort zone on many levels. ah. Well, maybe it can be my new challenge ;) Its about photographer's taking other photographer's portraits. But not a stand still all over in ten seconds kinda portrait. A 'this is my style of photography and this is how I see you' photo shoot. Something a little edgy, a little quirky;  lights? natural light? in the forest? town? studio? black and white? textures? filters? strobes?
95% of 'togs dislike their photo being taken, so they prob only have the compulsory shots of themselves. They never get the art they apply to others, applied to them. I've already signed up to having at least one photo taken.  and I can definitely think of several other photogs who I would love to work with. What do we think, people?

8) I finally watched Nativity! :) I think it came out last year and I missed it... its lovely. You prob knew that tho, I am the last person to watch it in the history of the UK. So I keep getting told!! Watch it on iPlayer if you havent seen it. :)

9) Somebody gave Mollie this book of quiz type of things for Christmas. Its driving me mad. I now know what type of cupcake I would be, what my palm shape tells you about me, what my writing says about me, what my star sign tells you about me, what type of ice-cream I would be, what my favourite colour says about me.... OMG! its like years of jackie magazine condensed into one load of drivel. sorry; fun. Save me someone.

10) This is Winchester, from the top of a hill reached by climbing 900 steps. Today's 'gym' workout; with a better view than the actual gym but with more complaining kids!

 

26th dec

had to make a page...

 of this sweet girl :)