Shhh someone’s sleeping

We’ve half way though the AH Beard 6 week sleep challenge and my sleep has been good then all over the show.

Week 2 was all about cutting out the caffeine near bedtime. Pretty easy for me. Don’t drink coffee and I try not to drink coke near bedtime as I always end up feeling bloated and blah. Slept fairly well this week.

Week 3 was about gadgets. Keeping phones, TVs and computers out of the bedroom & not using them within 30 minutes of bedtime. I fail this one big time. My phone lives beside my bed. The charger lives beside the bed. And I’m usually reading books on my iPad when I get into bed as my wind down. We also have a TV in our room but it’s hardly ever on and I’ve have started making sure it’s not turned on at the power now before I go to bed.
We had a bit of a crappy week this week too. Miss K got tonsillitis and Thursday night I spent the night stressing over stuff. Sleep was not good. I feel tired & yuck.

Overall though, apart from the last few days, I’m finding my sleep is slowly improving 🙂 Looking forward to the next 3 weeks!

From the Den

Disclosure: I was given product or vouchers to trial the following products. All opinions are my own.

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared what we’ve been checking out so it’s a bit of a mish mash list

Table of plenty Hot or Cold Muesli

Table of Plenty Hot or Cold Muesli

I’m a bit of fan of the Table of Plenty Nono’s bars and mini rice cakes (especially the Triple Berry ones) so when asked if I’d like to try Hot or Cold Muesli I said yes, especially with winter coming up (at the time). We’ve tried it hot and it is rather yum. It’s oats with honey and cinnamon sprinkled with pepitas and sultanas. Sweet but not over sweet. Miss K did pick out the pepitas though. Look forward to trying it out cold over summer with some yoghurt and fresh berries.
RRP $5.99 for 350g box (eight 45g sachets).

Maggie Stir Fry Creations

Honey-Soy-Garlic-Stir-frySweet-Chilli-Ginger-Lemongrass-Stir-fry

Thanks to Kidspot we got the opportunity to try two of the Maggi Stir Fry Creations. Interesting idea. Your packet is an infusion paste that you marinade your meat in and a finishing sauce. The Honey, Soy & Garlic was pretty tasty. All in all, pretty easy to use and pretty quick.

Wemo

The lovely people at Belkin sent me one of their (relatively) new WeMo Switch. Oh how I love this little product. So what is WeMo?

You have the WeMo app on your phone and you plug your device into the WeMo switch. Then you can switch your device on or off from pretty much anywhere. We weren’t too sure where we’d use it but have plugged in a lamp in the lounge room.
You can set up schedules – for example we’ve got our lamp to come on at 5pm. You can control your devices pretty much anywhere you have access to wifi or 3g (yet to try this bit ourselves though). I know we’ll be purchasing a few more, maybe even investing in a WeMo motion (it turns devices of your choice on or off as soon as movement is detected) and I really can’t wait til the WeMo light switch (currently only available in the US) arrives in Australia (October from what I’ve read).
WeMo Switch RRP $60 and available from Officeworks, Harvey Norman and Dick Smith (check your local store for availability)

Sleep soundly? yes please

I read about the A.H. Beard sleep challenge over on Fat Mum Slim’s blog a few weeks ago and at the time wasn’t sleeping well. To tell the truth I haven’t been sleeping well since… before Miss K was born really.

The pre challenge was to find out what type of sleeper you were. Me? Eventual Sleeper. Can take me AGES to go to sleep of a night.

Anywho, last Monday was the first day of the challenge and Week 1 was all about creating a sleep sanctuary.

I was interested to read about the effect of noise on sleeping. I often go to sleep listening to music or one of many relaxation apps I own (SleepStream 2 is great for that). I really struggle to sleep in total silence. I really, really struggle when I stay at my parents cause it is REALLY quite

I knew light could disrupt your sleep and I tend to wake as soon as light enters our room. I prefer to sleep in a totally dark room. This week I made sure our TV & the stereo was turned off at the power point before we went to sleep. I can’t see hubby’s alarm clock (which we never use now cause of our phones) and half the time he’s thrown clothes over it. Must say turning off these appliances did make a difference.

I checked the temperature in our room and it is around 18°C. Did have a giggle about wearing nothing to bed. Haven’t done that since before Miss K. Sleeping nude isn’t an option when you have a little one who likes to join you in bed of a morning, well in our house anyway. Do find I sleep better when wearing lighter sleepwear though.

Finally I know we need to replace our pillows. They are over 6 years old and pretty yuck. Must get onto that. Our mattress is still pretty new and damn comfy. So pillows are on the shopping list.

Looking forward to seeing what this week’s challenge brings.

So many plans

I’ve got so many plans for the month of August.

Health wise I’m going to get back into doing some exercise. The plan is to start using the Xbox again and work out using both Your Shape: Fitness Evolved & Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012. (plus a little Kinect Sports, Angry Birds & Kinect Star Wars).  I’m also going to give the A.H Beard Sleep Challenge a go.

Spiritual wise. Goddess Leonie’s Goddess Haven e-course. I’ll be blogging about it as I go. I’m also giving the Creative Goddess course a go as well. Taking time for my spiritual more every Saturday.

Craft wise – I’m making an ‘artist date’ with myself every Sunday. I might scrapbook. I might art journal. I might just read a photography book or mag but it’ll be something artistic.

So we’ll see how I go with all that. Some I’ll blog about frequently, others not so much.

What plans have you got for August?

7 months of photos

One of the things on my 100 things list was to do Fat Mum Slim’s photo-a-day challenge everyday in 2013. So far so good. Past attempts at Project 365 and similar have been sporadic or I’ve done a couple of months then given up. This year I’ve managed to keep up, even if I’ve had to play catch up on a couple of weeks here & there. I seem to be more motivated this year and having the prompts seems to help. AND having the monthly prompt as my lock screen on my iPhone helps for sure cause it’s there every time I unlock my phone.

So here’s my 7 months of photos….

FMS Photo a day Jan 2013 list FMS Photo a day Jan 2013 Photos

FMS Photo a day Feb 2013 list FMS Photo a day Feb 2013 Photos

FMS Photo a day March 2013 list FMS Photo a day March 2013 Photos

FMS Photo a day April 2013 list FMS Photo a day April 2013 Photos

FMS Photo a day May 2013 list FMS Photo a day May 2013 Photos

FMS Photo a day June 2013 list FMS Photo a day June 2013 Photos

FMS Photo a day July 2013 list FMS Photo a day July 2013 Photos

You can see my larger images on ShutterCal.

In case you’re wondering, I use Project 365 Pro to create the calendar of shots. I also upload all my photos to ShutterCal and I have the option to get my images printed at the end of the year in 12 mini books (or postcards of any of my images at the ShutterCal store). They also have a handy iPhone app but I’ve found a minor problem with it (& the website) is you’re uploading photos the day after – well if your in Australia anyways.

Looking forward to the last half of the year. Bring on August!!

Random list of 100

Been awhile since I updated this list

I have bolded those I have done. Comments in italics

1. Started your own blog. now I’m back to just one
2. Slept under the stars. went camping a few times & ended up sleeping on the beach under the stars
3. Played in a band. played in the school concert band
4. Visited The Great Barrier Reef. loved it & want to go back there now I’m older
5. Stood under the stars in the outback, the real outback – think Uluru.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to the Gold Coast’s theme parks – anyone, you take your pick. Movie World, DreamWorld & Sea World
8. Climbed a mountain. Have climbed a few different mountains when I used to go bush walking
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo.
11. Bungee jumped, jumped out of plane, been paragliding or hang-gliding, hot air ballooning – you get
the idea, you’ve been hundreds of metres about earth in a seemingly flimsy contraption.
12. Visited Melbourne. Lived (in 1988) and visited numerous times.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. Scrapbooking, drawing, cross stitch
15. Had a child. Raised a child. Worked with children.
16. Had food poisoning. OMG this was so unpleasant
17. Been to the Snowy Mountains.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Visited the Brett Whitely studio in Surry Hills, Sydney.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Been backpacking.
23. Taken a mental health day.
24. Been buried in sand with just your head and toes sticking out.
25. Held a possum, kangaroo or koala – or any other native Australian animal.
26. Gone skinny dipping. & then got sunburnt all over (ouch) but ended up with a wicked full body tan
27. Been in a fun run.
28. Been on the Blue Mountains cableway.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. Actually managed to see both in the same day one
31. Played, or watched, summer cricket. Watching on TV totally counts, right?
32. Sailed, kayaked or canoed our beautiful waterways.
33. Seen the Daintree.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Visited an Aboriginal settlement or mission.
36. Learned a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Toured the Sydney Opera House.
39. Tried rock climbing (indoor or outdoor), abseiling or just simple bush walking. I’ve abseiled & been bush walking
40. Visit Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art.
41. Been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
42. Sunbaked at Bondi. been to Bondi but it was cloudy
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Broome.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone fishing.
49. Seen Tasmania’s old growth forests. Would u believe no – still haven’t
50. Been to the top of Q1, on the Gold Coast.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre. when I was younger
55. Been in a movie.
56. Driven the Great Ocean Road. yeah but I slept most of the way.
57. Started a business. Yup, I’ve stared two & they’re both still going. – only one going now
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Norfolk Island.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Guide biscuits.
62. Gone whale watching. Get to do this regularly now when the whales are in the Tamar river
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone jet boating.
66. Visited Port Arthur.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Australian War Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Federation Square.
74. Been on the Murray River.
75. Been fired from a job. yeah but it was cause the business closed
76. Travelled, or climbed, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited St Mary’s Cathedral, in Sydney.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Been to Hermannsburg.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible. Don’t think this one will happen
86. Visited Parliament House. yup both old & new
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury. Been called up for jury duty twice. Was exempt due to being a student
91. Met someone famous. Adam Brand, Paul McDermott, Miss Vanessa Wagner
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Saved a pet.
95. Been to the site of the Eureka Stockade.
96. Swum in The Whitsundays.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Our To Do list

Been a bit inspired by Multiblogging Mum and her blog Decluttering and more to blog our home reno To Do list.
Last edited – May 2014

Kids room

  • new curtains
  • rip up carpet & polish floorboards
  • maybe some wall art
  • built in cupboards/desks (this is only a thought/dream at the moment)
  • make it suitable for 2 kids

Our room

  • paint (gotta pick a colour first)
  • rip up carpet & polish floorboards
  • eventually get built ins

Hallway

  • skylight
  • rip up carpet & polish floorboards (think we have a theme here)
  • new linen closet – happening soon!

Bathroom & toilet

  • Remove wood paneling & put up plaster
  • tile
  • put in claw foot bath (after getting it re-enameled) – not happening 🙁
  • new shower
  • new vanity unit
  • paint
  • new flooring (tiles? lino?)
  • Major reno coming soon (May/June 2014)

Lounge/Dining

  • rip up carpet & polish floorboards
  • paint walls
  • new curtains
  • new couch and chairs ??

Outside

  • new front fence
  • new paths
  • garden beds for the vegie garden
  • get gazebo up and set up for table etc

I’ve also been pinning up a storm of inspiration. Feel free to check out my boards – Bedroom, Laundry, Kitchen, Lounge, Garden.

Things we’ve done

  • replaced our wood heater with a newer model
  • got a reverse cycle air conditioner (& kept the wood fire)
  • new kitchen
  • replaced the plumbing – kitchen, laundry, some under the house and some outside
  • new roof & guttering
  • Family photos up in the lounge & dining room

Summer (winter) blogathon wrap up

Biannual Blogathon Bash

And just like that another Blogathon comes to an end. I managed to get a fair bit done this weekend even getting a little sidetracked by the mini challenges lol

I managed to get quite a few blog posts written up and scheduled (go me lol) and I’ve brainstormed some ideas for future blog posts. I backed up my blog (something I need to do more regularly). Emptied my inbox. Set up two blogging apps on my iPad*. My blog & social media branding is a lot more consistent now. I even worked out how to add a Pin it button to my posts (after not being able to find the bookmark)

I did start my blog planner but well didn’t do much of it. Same with tidying up my Pinterest boards. The one thing I didn’t do was get my Project Life slideshows done.

*I’m still not sure if I’ll use the WordPress app or the BlogPress app. What do you use? I’d love to hear others thoughts

100 things in 2013 *update

Here we are. Half way through 2013 already!

Updating my Goddess Workbook list of 100 things to do in 2013!!
Things in bold are started, strike thru is finished

  1. Work out a decent filing system
  2. Double my twitter followers (currently 519. As at 23 June – 609)
  3. Go to ProBlogger event (or get digital pass)
  4. Book ticket for DPCON 2014
  5. Blogger meet up in Tassie
  6. Blog everyday for 1 month
  7. Organise our office
  8. Set up a veggie garden
  9. Get a shed
  10. Set up a composting system
  11. Do Habithacker – Nest
  12. Find an inspirational quote & make it into a piece of artwork
  13. Get the laundry finished (just need to paint)
  14. Paint lounge & dining room
  15. Hang photos of Kara & family
  16. Get curtains for kitchen
  17. Start bathroom reno
  18. Get front yard done
  19. Have parents over for dinner more
  20. Spend a day at the beach
  21. Go on a picnic
  22. Have a regular ‘date night’
  23. Buy a Thermomix (it’s coming soon – yay!)
  24. Do a recipe book cull
  25. Create a custom recipe book
  26. Have more TV free time
  27. Get K into daycare 1 day a week
  28. Learn to make sour dough bread/rolls
  29. Make our own bread
  30. Have a candlelit dinner
  31. Do something for our wedding anniversary
  32. Write a letter to K to open on her 18th
  33. Start putting $$ into K’s bank account
  34. Open a Christmas Club account
  35. Get a new tattoo.
  36. Buy J a tattoo
  37. make/buy Christmas presents through the year
  38. Get our wills written
  39. Finish JYC from 2011 AND 2012!
  40. Swim more
  41. Exercise more
  42. Organise digital scrapbooking stuff
  43. Scrapbook with Mum at least once a month
  44. Scrap with others
  45. Organise a scrapbook event
  46. Do Frocktober again – I am so excited for what I have planned this year
  47. Read more books – gotta love iBooks 
  48. Drink more water
  49. Have a massage (thanks to hubby)
  50. Have a facial
  51. Have a manicure
  52. Create a book of advice for K
  53. Finish our wedding album – redoing in Project Life format (much easier & quicker)
  54. Go see Amanda Palmer in concert
  55. Get my L’s – got the book just need to book my test
  56. Take a burlesque class
  57. Spend a rainy day in PJs watching TV
  58. Banish bad memores
  59. Create a playlist of meditations
  60. Create a playlist of my favourite songs
  61. Watch 20 movies in our new movies folder (current count 5/20)
  62. Rewatch all 6 Star Wars movies
  63. Rewatch all 3 Lord of the Rings movies
  64. Go to bed before midnight
  65. Do every Fat Mum Slim Photo-a-day in 2013 (you can see my photos here)
  66. Go out for High Tea
  67. Buy mum something special
  68. Organise our MP3 collection
  69. Write J random love notes
  70. Complete a cross stitch
  71. Do 1 art journal page a week
  72. Catch up with friends more often – thanks to FB I’ve been catching up with a close friends lots
  73. Go watch an A League game live
  74. Go to Melbourne
  75. Xbox more
  76. Finally organise our bedroom
  77. Learn to play the guitar
  78. Go visit the snow
  79. Go camping
  80. Improve my cake decorating – thanks to Cake Decorating mag
  81. Photograph a lightning storm
  82. Take more photos of the moon – super moon tonight!!
  83. Create a mini Goddess altar
  84. Watch all the James Bond movies
  85. Write/finish a piece of fan fiction – writing a Doctor Who fan fic
  86. See more of Tassie
  87. Celebrate the seasons
  88. Finish our work website – just our portfolio to go
  89. Work on family tree
  90. Do Fox in Flat dares
  91. Go fishing
  92. Go watch the cricket live
  93. Take K to the footy at the MCG
  94. Go to the dawn service – was sick this year 🙁
  95. Go to the Botanical Gardens
  96. Buy K some guinea pigs
  97. Visit QVMAG
  98. Check out MONA
  99. Rejoin the Goddess Circle
  100. Enjoy life!!

Next post will be at the end of the year

June 2013 Blogathon Mini challenges

Each blogathon there is a list of mini challenges which are totally optional. I’m creating this post to keep a tally of what I’ve completed. If you’ve signed up for the blogathon check out the mini challenges – they are always lots of fun & you learn useful stuff for your blog 🙂

  1. Make your own blog button – updated mine and now you can grab my blog button.
  2. SEO Basics: The Perfect About Page – updated my About page
  3. Branding Basic – a great list of ideas
  4. Writing a Series or Theme On Your Blog – yes I’m working on a little something…
  5. Understanding Blog Policies – updated my PR/Disclosure page
  6. A Professional Cover Photo for your Facebook Page – matches my blog again
  7. Creating a Blogging Notebook (Revised)
  8. Understanding Google PageRank, Alexa and Klout
  9. The Social Media of It All
  10. 13 Things Your Blog Should Have
  11. Create a Pinnable Image for Pinterest