Category: General

Personal reflections, life updates, and thoughtful posts from Nightwolf’s Den, sharing stories, insights, and moments that don’t fit neatly elsewhere.

Finishing off 2014

Disclaimer – links are affiliate

Well here we are. The first day of 2015. I’m sitting here in my pjs watching Monkey Magic on SBS & surfing Pinterest.

Anywho, as I’ve done in years past I’m spending the next few days with my Life workbook but first to roundup my list from 2014.

As with previous years bold is started, strike thru is finished & red isn’t done

So here we go

  1. Increase my social media following
  2. Go to a blogger meet up in Tassie
  3. Get more Twitter followers (Jan 1 – 626   Dec 31 – 658)
  4. Get more Facebook followers (Jan 1 – 127   Dec 31 – 150)
  5. Organise my Pinterest boards
  6. Blog everyday for 1 month (March #30Lists)
  7. Learn a new recipe each month. Blog about it.
  8. Get a ProBlogger event digital pass – looks like this isn’t happening this year Image
  9. Attend more Brand meets Blog Twitter chats #bmbchats
  10. Use twitter more, especially for my blog
  11. Sort bookmarks (not really a bloggy one but it does need doing)
  12. Do the June blogathon
  13. Create a back up of my blog monthly
  14. Try something I’ve pinned and blog about it.
  15. Finish garden beds and start to use them
  16. Get a garden shed
  17. Set up a gazebo/outdoor dining area
  18. Do HabitHacker –Nest
  19. Get front yard finished
  20. Finish custom recipe book – this is a work in progress but all my recipes are now typed up & in a binder
  21. Finish laundry – need to paint
  22. Finish lounge – need to get curtains
  23. Finish kitchen – need curtains
  24. Start our bathroom reno
  25. Organise RPG room (aka the garage) so hubby & mates are out there by August
  26. Re-organise K/bub’s room
  27. Re-organise our bedroom
  28. Pull up carpet in lounge/dining room ended up being ALL the carpet
  29. Start a garden journal
  30. Work thru Creating your Goddess Haven e-course
  31. Redo the pantry (needs doing again)
  32. Sort linens and make less cluttered
  33. Have a candlelit dinner
  34. Birth a healthy bub in August
  35. Tattoo for J
  36. Family holiday to Qld or Melbourne
  37. Have parents and in-laws over for dinner more
  38. Go to the Dawn service but did do the Anzac Service
  39. Get a family photo of me, mum, dad & bro done
  40. Get a family photo of me, J, K & bub done
  41. Have a dirty weekend away with hubby
  42. Put min. $5 a pay into Christmas club account
  43. Write a letter to Miss K to open on her 18th
  44. Have a family movie night (complete with popcorn & choc tops)
  45. Write a letter to bub to open on his/her 18th
  46. Spend a day at the beach
  47. Go on a picnic
  48. Go for a drive somewhere for no reason other than getting out
  49. Spend a rainy day in PJs watching TV/movies
  50. See more of Tassie
  51. Work on family tree
  52. Go to the Botanical Gardens
  53. Visit QVMAG
  54. Get some guinea pigs for K (got chickens instead)
  55. Get BAS in on time
  56. Keep up to date with work accounts
  57. Get office sorted and start using it!
  58. Work thru Business Goddess e-course
  59. Finish work portfolio
  60. Upgrade laptops
  61. Make laptop & pc better organised – less double ups of files
  62. Setup server
  63. Find an inspirational quote & make it into a piece of artwork
  64. Finish JYC 2012 & 2013
  65. Scrapbook with mum more
  66. Art journal once a week
  67. Finish wedding scrapbook
  68. Do #30Lists (March, September, December)
  69. Organise all my paper scrapbook supplies
  70. Organise & cull my digital scrapbook supplies
  71. Scrapbook with others more
  72. Organise a scrapbook day
  73. Complete a cross stitch
  74. Work thru Creative Goddess ecourse
  75. Project life date one weekend a month
  76. Do some more classes & finish them
  77. Do Before your story class
  78. Create a scrapping binder
  79. Apply for more design teams
  80. Get dt work done before it’s due
  81. Actually DO some of the things I’ve pinned
  82. Create more pages about me
  83. Start bub’s PL book
  84. New tatt for me
  85. Get my L’s
  86. Rejoin the biz & life academy
  87. Raise at least $1000 at Afternoon Teal (we’re up to about $500 so far before the event!) raised $1738
  88. Do Frocktober
  89. Watch sunrise & sunset in the same day
  90. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
  91. Keep a gratitude journal every day for a month (0/30)
  92. Do Habit Hacker’s Create
  93. Get a massage
  94. Get a manicure
  95. Make a list of 30 books I want to read & then read those books (0/30)
  96. Exercise every day for a month (0/30)
  97. Create a mini Goddess altar
  98. Meditate more
  99. Enjoy life
  100. Live a more spiritual life

Back in a few days with my list for 2015 🙂

Create Your Shining Year in 2015

Disclaimer – links are affiliate

Can you believe we are nearly at the end of 2014! So much has happened this year, from being in business for 10 years(!) to birthing our second gorgeous daughter in August. 2015 is going to be just as amazing, I can feel it in my bones. Our eldest starts school too! (our little baby is growing up :/)

2015 is going to be my shining year. Especially thanks to the ever amazing Leonie Dawson. This chick rocks my socks. Mum of 2 gorgeous girls (both born within a month of my girls), hippy, amazing tribal leader, wicked business woman and just fanfreakingtastic. In case you can’t guess I’m a bit of a Leonie fan girl LOL
I started following her blog back when it was Goddess Guidebook then when it changed to leoniedawson.com then when it changed to the amazing biz and life academy and I’ll be following it when it undergoes it’s next change too. LOVE it!!

Anywho, each year Leonie creates and releases these amazing workbooks and planners. There are two versions – life and business. I’ve shared my previous years (2014, 2013, 2012) on the blog.

What is the workbook?

The workbook & calendar is an incredibly popular & useful tool to help you plan out & make happen your most incredible year in life or business (or both!). Over the last five years, thousands of women have used this workbook with the most amazing results. It’s the best planning tool available to help you make your year your most exceptional yet!

Used by entrepreneurs, artists, mamas, creatives, coaches, teachers and women of all ages, the Create Your Amazing Year in Life and Biz workbooks are filled with dozens of pages of powerful worksheets & a printable calendar to help you create your amazing new year.

So there you go 🙂 AND this year you can get the workbook in printable format OR as a printed book to create your shining year.

December Daily 2014–planning

December Daily 2014 @ Nigtwolf's Den

December daily…well actually Journal Your Christmas (JYC) but its daily & in December so there you go 😉

I’ve been doing JYC since 2010 in 8×8 format and have completed the 2010 & 2011. 2012 & 2013 haven’t happened. Well they have, sort of. I’ve done all the journaling, created some page plans and then that was it. I totally had a valid excuse last year. I was just over 2 months pregnant and had horrid morning sickness.

This year I’m changing things up a little. Changing from an 8×8 album to a Sn@p 6×8 red burlap album.

Sn@p Red Burlap 6x8 album

The plan is a little project life style, a little traditional pages. Using mainly the Simple Stories Christmas ranges and I’ve been busy creating cards to go in my album.

Here’s a sneak at some of the goodies I’ve created so far using lots of stamps from Kellie Stamps. I am rather in love with her stamps and am slowly gaining a collection ;), my Copics and some Simple Stories stuff from last year.

Be Merry 4x6 card Doily tree 4x6 cardElf 3x4 card Reindeer 3x4 card

Christmas Scrapping

Disclaimer – contains affiliate links. It helps pay the bills 😉

Well it’s that time of year again when some scrappers start getting in a tizzy over the latest Christmas releases. All the gorgeous papers, the ribbons, the washi, the cute embellishments, the new Project Life cards. It can end up being totally overwhelming.

Then there’s the choice of how to scrap the holiday period – Ali’s December Daily, Shimelle’s Journal Your Christmas, creating a mini album, adding spreads to your Project Life album, creating pages for your traditional album….so many Christmas scrapping choices!

I’m here to share with you a tool that I’m finding super helpful so far (and the holiday madness hasn’t really started here yet). And the best part is – it’s FREE!!

I’ve been a fan of Simple Scrapper for AGES and I totally love Jennifer’s free events she runs.

Holiday Scrapbooking Can Be Magical!

Scrapbooking can start to feel like a drag when you do it all alone. You’re invited to become part of a community of like-minded memory keepers who will build you up and keep you on track all season long.

Free Seasonal Event from Simple Scrapper

The Holiday Focus community circle at Simple Scrapper can be your home on the web during this busy time of year, a place to ask every question and celebrate every victory. Your FREE, online experience includes:

Exclusive planning workbook to focus your individual efforts
Private, 24-7 community of peers on Facebook
Weekly check-ins to keep you focused and on track
Optional opportunity to be assigned a buddy within the group

It’s not just about scrapbooking Christmas…

My #1 goal is to support whatever YOU most want to work on during November and December. Whether you’re creating a daily album or finishing up other projects, this community is for you!

So click here, sign up and join other Holiday scrappers and be totally motivated!!

We will remember them {free printable journal cards}

Today is Remembrance Day here in Australia. At 11am people around the country will pause for a minutes silence to remember those who fight for their country, who lost their lives in battle or as a result of battle. The brave men and women who served and continue to serve.

This year I decided to add a card to both my girls’ Project Life albums. I decided to make a set of free printable journal cards for project life in different sizes in case anyone else wanted to use it. Image came from someone on Facebook and I’m searching for the original. Anywho, here are the cards. They are free for personal use. There are 2 4×6 and 2 3×4.

Remembrance Day Cards 2014

DOWNLOAD

Frocktober 2014 – Days 11-22

More dresses. A few the same. And then 2 not dresses
You can sponsor me at my Frocktober page.

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Oct 11

Oct 12

Oct 13

Oct 14

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Oct 15

Oct 16*

Oct 17

Oct 18**

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Oct 19

Oct 20

Oct 21

Oct 22

* Yeah same dress two days running
** Oh yeah, two days of jeans (different tops but I forgot to take a pic on Sunday). I went to Longford Show on the Saturday and the weather was cold and windy. Sunday I had work and can’t imagine climbing in a wrestling ring in a dress 😉

My goal for 2014: $700
Total so far: $220.50
Donate here

Frocktober 2014 – Days 6 -10

Late namely cause I forgot to post :/
This year’s Frocktober theme is Every Frock Has a Story. I’ll be sharing the story behind each of my frocks in a weekly post. You can sponsor me at my Frocktober page.

Wanted to share this before we get into my frocks

Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF)

• 16 Oct 2014

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Thank you for supporting Frocktober!

100% of the funds raised for this campaign go towards funding research into an early detection for ovarian cancer to save women’s lives. Our aim in 2014 is to beat last year’s funds raised of $328,000 to enable us in 2015 to fund our very own Frocktober Research Fellow and follow their progress as part of next year’s campaign.

Please help us spread the word among your family and friends. It’s not too late to get involved! We have two more fabulous weeks to raise funds for a “frockin great cause”.

Warmest regards from the Frocktober and OCRF teams

So let’s get fundraising people! Onto the frocks

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Oct 6
Dress from Rivers
Story: This dress is so not a good pick for breast feeding

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Oct 7
Dress from Ripe Maternity
Story: I’ve had this dress since I was pregnant with Miss K. It was bought for my auntie’s birthday. Must say I love it. Except it’s no good for feeding little ones.

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Oct 8
Dress from Breastmates (again) and yes it’s cold enough to need one of my fav woollen cardis (which is nearly longer than my dress lol)

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Oct 9
Dress from Breastmates (again)

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Oct 10
Dress from ? I have no idea, it doesn’t have a tag
Story: A dress bought by mum and given to me last year when I was pregnant. Again not the best for breastfeeding.

My goal for 2014: $700
Total so far: $115.50
Donate here

Healthy lunches

This post originally appeared on From the Wolf’s Den.

This week (6th October) is Healthy Lunchbox Week. It’s about packing more healthy choices in kids lunchboxes and limiting treats and sometimes foods.
I love cooking and providing healthy meals for Miss K but sometimes I fall back on the easy, prepacked foods & snacks for her day care lunchbox. I do always pack at least 2 types of fruit though so yay for that lol

Anywho, today I thought I’d share our plan for her lunchbox this week on the two days she goes and also provide some ideas and links for you, my awesome readers, to help give your kids a healthy lunchbox (or pack yourself a healthy lunch).

So what is a healthy lunchbox? A healthy lunchbox should aim to include at least one food item from each of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating food groups in your child’s lunch box every day. That is:

  • Vegetables & salads
  • Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties
  • Fruit
  • Dairy
  • Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes/beans

This week’s lunchboxes for Miss K:

Day 1

 

  • 2 mini egg & bacon pies (meat, eggs and grain)
  • apple (fruit)
  • banana (fruit)
  • carrot sticks (vegetables)
  • fairy dip (YIAH Beetroot dip)
  • yoghurt rice cakes (dairy, grain)Day 2
  • pasta salad (grain, vegetables)
  • banana muffin (grain, fruit)
  • watermelon (fruit)
  • cheese (dairy)
  • tuna & biscuits (fish, grain)

 

Lunchbox Ideas from around the web:

What’s your favourite go-to healthy lunchbox treats?

Frocktober 2014 – Week 1

This year’s Frocktober theme is Every Frock Has a Story. I’ll be sharing the story behind each of my frocks in a weekly post. Here’s the first 5 days. You can sponsor me at my Frocktober page.

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My last day in jeans for the next 31 days. God I hope it warms up!

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Oct 1
Dress from Target, T-shirt – Hawthorn FC
Story: A total bargain from Target, found when looking for maternity wear. On special for $20 when it was near $80 at full price. Yeah there is a little bit of celebrating there too. Spent the day at the Hawthorn FC celebration of their AFL Grand Final win. 12 Premierships. Back to back premiers (2013-2014), 25 years from our last back to back (1988-1989)

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Oct 2
Dress from Breastmates
Story: A gift from my Mum. One of a few breastfeeding friendly clothes from a great little online store (who I’ll be reviewing soon on my other blog – From the Wolf’s Den)

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Oct 3
Dress from Breastmates
Story: Another breastfeeding friendly dress. Not quite warm enough to wear just the dress alone yet.

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Oct 4
Dress from Rivers
Story: A pick up from a Rivers end of year sale a few years back. It’s a constant summer favourite.

10-05

Oct 5
Dress from Millers
Story: Another sale find. Still not warm enough for just dresses so long sleeve tops over dresses is the go.

My goal for 2014: $700
Total so far: $115.50
Donate here