fish-n-chip friday

Many couples have date nights... we call ours marriage night as a reminder to us both that this time is vital to our marriage - to our communication, to quality time and memories together, making sure we have one night each week where we have a chance to talk about more than just how our day went - to share some quality time away from distractions and make sure we're clearing the air, learning together and keeping on track with our marriage.

It has become 'fish-n-chip Friday'.  We grab some terribly unhealthy, salty, fatty goodness from our local and head down by the river to sit and take in the week that was. 

Seemed we were the only locals out this evening so we had all the seagulls to ourselves!

The start of a lovely day of rest on Saturday to revive and refresh our bodies, minds and souls before taking on another week. If you don't give yourself a day of rest each week or a marriage time with your spouse each week - I recommend it. Book it in sometime soon!

memories for my mum

had my mum come with me to the suitcase rummage yesterday. so lovely to share the experience with her, especially on mother's day, as we love searching through each other's bargins and vintage buys when we visit each other's homes.

it's also her 50th birthday coming up next week so have been going over her lifetime of photos for my sis to put something special together for the day.

it made me want to share with you who this beautiful lady is to me.
a photo blog dedicated to her.
so here are some of my favourite photos of her collection that captures the mum i know and love.

cute, loveable, happy kid

i'm sure my sis and i got some of our love of school
from our mum. obdient and eager to learn.

a lover of animals - pets have always been family.

  

a lover of family and making great family memories.

a little bit cheeky.

it takes a special lady to love a quirky guy like him. :)

a gorgeous bride and loving wife.

 

proud mum to her twins.



playful mum



always planning family adventures for great times
and memories together.

love this... my mum and my nanna.
the laughs that happen when you get
the women in my family together.
have great memories growing up of my mum, aunty and nanna
getting in hysterics laughing at the silly things they do at
family occaisions. great memories.

a reluctant pillion passenger to my dad's love of riding.
she now has her own leather jacket.
dad and i are so proud.

   

connected us to our new zealand heritage

proud mum to her now married daughters



very excited to be a grandma to my nephew.



mum, carer, supporter and friend.
me, mum and my sis.

happy mother's day, happy birthday and thanx for being my mum jules.
love you to bits.

free living challenge - 'it's over' wrap up

 a belated happy easter to you all!  with family visiting and the subsequent recovery time for me i'm a little delayed in this final post for this challenge.

goal... to abstain from spending hobbies - to focus on finding daily joy in no cost living.

my final days of free living joy....

quite a lovely time to have this challenge end. easter when we celebrate the amazing act of Jesus in his sacrifice for us to live free from our brokeness in a personal relationship with God.  and anzac day when we celebrate the sacrifice of our fellow Australians and New Zealanders for us to live free in our amazing country. 

for all Australians i feel anzac day is one of the most spiritual experiences no matter what your faith and belief.  went to our local dawn service. there is a beautiful peace, thankfulness and feeling of community at these services. 

other easter/anzac weekend free living adventures included....

gardened.... with the help of my gorgeous nephew...

my first attempt at hot cross buns.  hmmm... need to find the right recipe for gluten free flour!! bit of a 'the blob' look happening...

made dolls clothes from my collection of materials for a rubber doll my mum picked up for my nephew who's younger brother is due in august...  so cool to see him cuddle 'his baby'.

made some herb bouquets for some friends...
the rain has turned my parsley and coriander into super bushes taking over my carrot and radish rows!

and enjoyed the overcast, rainy days. picnics in the car were a favourite of mine in the last days of april... just had to get out of the house. was lovely to go and sit at different sites around town to take in the weather...

and there we have it.  free living challenge for lent in 2011 complete...
with only 1 or 2 little hiccups!

it's given me a focus of being more creative with the resources i have around my house - in cooking, creating, in giving... i've really enjoyed going back to hand made gifts of sewing projects, hand made cards, extra vegies or herbs from my garden and pickle or jam creations.

i've become more aware of how i spend my time and now get out and about more... whether it be for walks or rides, to be more intentional with time spent with wonderful people through my week and being more aware of what is happening in my community... for free events to get out to and for ways to be involved in looking after the people and environment in which i live.

contentment is something i believe we are all searching for.  i hope sharing my adventures and thoughts through this journey has made you think about where you find fulfillment in life.

i look forward to sharing more of my days with you. sending you blessings for your week and year ahead, nais. x.

free living challenge - day 12

goal... to abstain from spending hobbies - to focus on finding daily joy in no cost living.

today's joy... came from...

lunch. brown rice with greens (all from my garden!) salad with honey/lemon/soy dressing. yum. so great to be starting to reap the rewards of my first 6months of vegie gardening. i've been off work for a few weeks recently and have had fun getting creative living from my cupboard and garden instead of buying lunch or dropping to the shop for more exciting ingredients in the spirit of this challenge.

and one of my favourite things to do which we never do enough... picnic in the backyard chilling with hubby in the cool of the evening waiting for the stars to come out. where ever my rug is, a picnic can be.

i have great plans for my rug and me. pulling it out and sitting in the peace of nature always clears my head and brigthens my day. being still can be such a challenge in our busy lives.  i've noticed i avoid being still by distracting myself with tv, dvds, gardening, sewing, organising... and previously shopping... to avoid thinking through some tough things on my mind.

i challenge you to take a moment out sometime this week to be still and settle your mind in a favourite spot in your world. sit, breath, enjoy. :)

free living challenge - day 21... flower joy

goal... to abstain from spending hobbies - to focus on finding daily joy in no cost living.

today's joy...

being the stand in florist for my sis-in-law's wedding!

sorry i've been missing in action... internet issues. should be back online soon!

got to stretch my creative wings this weekend by putting together the bouquets and reception flowers for my sis-in-law. such fun. 

i'm proud of her resourcefulness... we gathered a range (over 33!!) of cute vases from family and friends, cut flowers from a church families paddock of flowers.... roses, dahlias and lisianthas... and put them together ourselves the night before the wedding.  such a rewarding and special feeling to have loved ones contribute in all sorts of ways to a special day.

they had pictures at the cane fields on her pa's farm and round the bales where she grew up helping feed the horses, working with cattle and killing cane toads! special memories. here's the top pic of the photo's from her photographer. such a lovely weekend all round.

so future career options suggested this weekend? florist and wedding planner!!

wishing you joy this week. nais. x.