Saturday, June 30, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 158

Day 158

We're up early on a Saturday morning, have a busy weekend ahead of us!!  The only thing I love about being up so early on a weekend is that the Thunderbirds are on tv.  The stories aren't that great and the quality is very average too but it was a show I loved as a kid amd I love that I can now watch it with my kids.  All those cheesy puppets are great!!

If we have to be up so early than at least we can be entertained by cheesy puppets while we have breakfast!

Friday, June 29, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 157

Day 157

Todays positive is an easy one!  This is the last day I have to send my girls to vacation care.  As much as it is a great facility and the girls have enjoyed themselves (especially with all this rain!) I really don't like them having to go there.  Apart from the huge expense which is just outrageous, I really miss them and would rather have them with me.  I have been reading all week about parents who wish the holidays were over and who are fed up with the kids, and that is a luxury I wish I had at the moment. 

I love spending time with my girls.  They are at an age where they still like to hang out with me and the hubby.  We don't have many more years left where they will want to spend time with us so I want to make the most of it while I can!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 156

Day 156

This afternoon the girls and I are off for a mother daughter movie arvo.  We have had a huge week with me back at work and they have had their first week of vacation care.  Although they haven't minded going, they would prefer it if they were at home with me or their dad.  Luckily next week when I have to work hubby has taken some time off to be with them.  I hate having to put them in care but because these holidays were right at the beginning of my new employment I had no time to take off with them.

I really miss them during the days and am grateful that I only have to work until 1pm.  It will be nice to have some quality time with them this arvo instead of coming home and getting housework done.  They have been so good and so understanding about my hours at the moment and they deserve a treat!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 155

Day 155

Today I am loving my slow cooker!  It is another cold and rainy day and I am feeling a bit tired from work (still getting used to it!)  The kids are worn out after vacation care and we have all decided to get into our pyjamas early and snuggle up together and watch a movie. 

The slow cooker has been going all day while we have been out so the house is warm and smells homely and welcoming after being stuck out in the cold!!  There is nothing better on a cold and rainy day than the smell of a nice warm and hearty soup cooking in the slow cooker!!  Now we just have to resist it until it is dinner time!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 154

Day 154

Today was our first day in the new store setting up.  Who needs a gym when you're setting up a store!!  Talk about an awesome workout!  Although it's school holidays and I miss the kids (and vacation care is super expensive - At least next week hubby will be home with the kids so there will be no vacation care for the kids!!) I am happy to be a part of the set up.  It's so exciting to see all the products coming through and watching it all come together.  I can't wait to see it finished!!

Monday, June 25, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 153

Day 153

Today is the first day of the school holidays and luckily enough I have the day off today to spend with my girls.  It is cold and miserable outside so we spent the day under doonas huddled together watching movies.  This is the only day I have off from work this week so it was nice to spend some quality girly time together before bedlam sets in for the rest of the week!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 152

Day 152

There's nothing I love more than a bargain!!  That is how we started our day this morning.  We decided since it was so cold this morning that we would give the markets a miss and head on down to Ikea to check out some storage for the kids bedrooms.  Since we hadn't had brekky yet we thought we would have brekky down there.  What a bargain!!  Where else can you get a hot breakfast for 4 along with drinks for $17?  Not only is it good value but the food is great too!!

To top it off we also found the awesome storage that we needed.  What more can you ask for!!

Saturday, June 23, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 151

Day 151

Today my hubby and I decided to take the kids for a walk on one of the trails at Mt Cootha.  It is a cold day and we thought it would be a fun way to warm up.

What a great way to spend a morning!  It wasn't a huge walk because we hadn't been for a while but it was all up and down steep hills so it was a good workout for the legs.

We followed the walk up with a nice seafood and wine lunch (no wine for the kids of course!) and then a relaxing read in the yard under the heater.  It has been the perfect way to spend a cold day and a great start to the school holidays!

Friday, June 22, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 150

Day 150

Woo hoo I survived my training at work!!  I now feel confident that I know what I am doing!  It's always nerve wracking starting something new, and even though it's not rocket science it's still stressful trying to make sure you do things the right way.

Tonight I am planning on relaxing with a nice glass of wine and wind down after another huge week of learning.  I am beat!!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 149

Day 149

Finally we have reached Winter Solstice!!  The reason I am so excited about it is because I see this day as the halfway mark for winter and that means it's closer to summer!!

I am not a winter person.  I have always said that I must be allergic to winter because I seem to swell.  It has nothing to do with the stodgy comfort for at all!  lol.

I love being out in the sunshine!!  I love everything about summer!  Bring on the warm days and the frozen cocktails!!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 148

Day 148

Somedays there's nothing like a nice cup of chicken noodle soup to warm your soul.  It's been a favourite of mine since I was a little kid and always makes me feel better when I am feeling a bit blah.

Today was one of those days.  I woke up feeling a bit average after a restless night's sleep and just wanted to hide under the doona a sleep the day away.  Unfortunately life takes over and sleeping all day is not an option but a simple cup of chicken noodle soup definitely makes me feel that little bit better.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 147

Day 147

Anyone who knows me knows that I am definitely not a morning person!!  It takes me forever to move my sorry butt out of bed, especially on a cold morning!

This morning is no different but I seem to have had one of those morning when everything works the first time.  Considering my hair at the moment that's a huge feat!!  I even have a half hour to spare so I can sit down with a nice warm cuppa and enjoy it, instead of gulping it down and burning my throat like most mornings! 

What a great way to start the day!!  I hope the rest of today runs just as smoothly!

Monday, June 18, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 146

Day 146

Lately I have rediscovered my love for knitting.  I seem to get back into the knitting in the winter months.  I am not sure if it's a mental thing because I am trying to keep warm or if I just enjoy keeping my hands busy so I don't get tempted by comfort foods and cups of tea in this cold weather.

I don't care what the reason is, I just love switching off and getting caught up in the knitting.  It's a great way to winding down the brain after a busy day.  Especially at the moment when I have had so much to learn!  At the pace I knit though, I think my warm new blanket might be ready by the time summer hits and I won't need it anymore anyway!!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 145

Day 145

What a absolutely gorgeous winter morning!!  We have made the most of the morning soaking up the sunshine and relaxing on our outdoor lounge.  It has been a perfect way to start the morning!   We have had a big week adjusting to my work schedule so it's been great to have a quiet lazy morning outside in the warmth of the sun.

It's mornings like this that make the winter months more bearable!!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 144

Day 144

After a week of wearing an all black uniform it is nice to be able to dress up in colours!!

I am the type of person who likes to express how I am feeling through the clothes I am wearing so wearing all black clothes all week has been really difficult for me!  Especially since I never wear black!!  Luckily I am allowed to bling it it with my hair accessories etc or I think I would go insane!!  It probably also helps that I am surrounded by creativitiy all day so I have very vibrant surroundings.

So today I am going to enjoy being dressed in colours and I am pleased to say that I don't have any black on at all!!

Friday, June 15, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 143

Day 143

Well I made it through my first week on the shop floor!!  Considering how nervous I was on Tuesday morning before my first shift, I am very proud for making it through without any major stuff ups!!

I am so grateful to be working with a great bunch of people who are so patient and friendly and don't make me feel stupid for asking questions.  There is so much to learn but that doesn't bother me.  I know now that I can do it and that makes me feel so much better!!

The hardest part would be resisting all the tempting and awesome products that I want to buy!! 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 142

Day 142

After a hectic day there's nothing I love more than to come home and have a nice warm shower, hop into my pjs, have a cup of tea and settle down with a good book.  I know there is still things to do at home but just to have 30 minutes between work time and being a mum time makes all the difference!  Luckily the girls have homework when they get home so it gives me the precious minutes of peace so I can enjoy my cuppa and my book.

Now that we're getting back into a routine because I've gone back to work, I have made sure to include some me downtime so I don't get stuck in the rut I was in before that made me so sick.  This approach certainly makes a big difference!!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 141

Day 141

I am so proud of myself at the moment!  I actually had a few curlies thrown at me and I got through them with no worries whatsoever!!  I didn't get all stressed and do my usual internal panic carry on in my brain.  I handled everything with ease and in a relaxed way.

To you it might not seem like much but to me who is a total stress head it's a huge step.  I am the type who plays everything over and over again in my brain until I drive myself nuts and it makes something small turn into something out of control so to be able to deal with it so quickly and effectively is just fantastic!!

It's been nice to be offered some challenges again, I forgot how much fun and rewarding it can be!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 140

Day 140

Today was my first day of instore training for my new job.  I will admit I was a bit nervous this morning about going back into the workforce and getting myself organised all over again but now that today is over I am so much more relaxed.

I really enjoyed myself.  There was a lot to learn and I am sure I will make plenty of mistakes and I will be confused about everything for a while but they were so understanding and the bonus is that I am not the only newbie.  Most of us will be in the same boat!

I can't wait until tomorrow when I am back for my second day.  I feel a bit more confident now that everything makes a lot more sense.  I can do this!!

Monday, June 11, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 139

Day 139

In this cold weather I am absolutely loving our new outdoor heater that we splurged on yesterday.  I do like the outdoors but am a big softie and don't like it in the cold so it was so nice today to rug up on the outdoor lounge and enjoy the nice warmth from out new heater.

I would've really loved to get one of those chimneas or the fire pits but it's impractical to have in our undercover area so we got one of those gas heaters thingys instead and I must say it is absolutely awesome!!  I think we will be spending a bit more time outdoors this winter!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 138

Day 138

I love having nothing planned and no where to go for a day.  It's nice to be able to take your time getting out of bed and not rushing through breakfast and being able to enjoy a nice hot shower.  Life is so busy these days that it's the little things like this that I appreciate.

I am sure that later on we will end up getting up to something but the fact that nothing has been planned makes this morning a little bit more relaxing because for once we aren't running late to get anywhere!!  So before we make a decision on doing something I think I will sit back with a cuppa and read another chapter in my book :-)

Saturday, June 9, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 137

Day 137

I love it on a Saturday when you get a lot accomplished.  We have had a super busy day and have gotten heaps done.  Now it is time for us to sit back with a nice relaxing drink!!

For a post busy day treat we have decided on a bit of a movie marathon with the original Superman.  Our youngest is always up for a superhero movie so we thought we'd make the most of it while our older one is at a birthday sleepover.  It's a perfect way to spend a cool night snuggled up under the blankets in our jimmy jams.

Friday, June 8, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 136

Day 136

Woo Hoo I love Fridays :-)

Not only is it the end of the working week, it's also happy hour arvo.  And what better way is there to spend a Friday than to have a bit of retail therapy followed by a nice relaxing lunch and finishing off with happy hour.  Aaaahhh this is the life!!  Seriously there is nothing negative about this positive post at all!!  Not even the cold weather and the threat of rain can get me down because the sun is shining in my heart! 

Happy long weekend!!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 135

Day 135

Aaaahhh it's nice to have a day off after 3 days of induction!   Don't get me wrong I thoroughly enjoyed every day of my induction but I must admit I am feeling a bit drained with mental overload today!!  There is a lot to take in!!

Next week I start my training in another store so I am ready for when our store opens so I am so excited about that too.  That gives me today and tomorrow and the weekend to enjoy before I am thrown completely back into it!!  So I am making the most of my last couple of days of freedom and I have to admit it is lovely!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 134

Day 134

Today was my last day of induction.  Another day with the fantastic team I will be working with.

I also learned something new today which was pretty exciting.  At our morning tea break a teacher who was at the school where our induction was held came and told us how he has set up these solar box thingies (as you can see I am a very technical and well educated intellectual peron!) so we got to see Venus over the Sun.  I haven't seen anything like that before so it was a first for me.  Even though it only looked like a shadow dot over a light, it was still exciting to know what it actually was!!

So the old saying is true! You can learn something new everyday!!!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 133

Day 133

After another awesome day in induction for my new job there's nothing better than coming home and getting in my flannel Wonder Woman pjs (because it is damn freezing outside!) and chilling with the kids while hubby cooks dinner.

I am feeling so good about this whole work thing because my whole family has been so supportive about it!!  It also helps that I absolutely love what I am doing at work and the people I am working with are a lot of fun and seem like a great bunch!

Tomorrow is the last day of induction and then the real fun begins with store set up and training.  There is so much to learn and a huge store full of tempting products for me to buy with my pay!!

Monday, June 4, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 132

Day 132

Today was my first day of induction in my new job.  So far I absolutely love it!!  I feel like I found a place that suits me perfectly!  Not only do I love the products but I love their attitude to business and their ethics.

I am lucky enough to not have to work but I really want to do something that I love and would enjoy and I feel positive that I have found that job.  I am so grateful that out of over 400 applicants that I was one of the 35 people that they chose.  I can't wait to go back tomorrow!!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 131

Day 131

Okay I am now officially excited (and also a little bit nervous!!).  This is my last day of being a kept woman before I head back to the working world tomorrow.

I am excited because I absolutely already love the company I will be working for and all their products but I am a bit nervous because my last job made me so sick with stress and I have a bad case of the once bittens!!  So far so good though, my new boss seems to be so understanding and accepting of the fact that I want to be there for my kids and that I can only work part time.

I have really missed the working world.  Especially being part of a team and interacting with customers.  I love being a mum but I also love being my own person and at work I am not "the mum" or "the wife" I am me.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 130

Day 130

I have rediscovered my love of music.  I feel like I have gone back to my teenage years where I like to have my music blaring when I get ready to go out.  Although I have to say that an Ipod is so much better than the old tape deck!!  My kids don't even know what a tape is!!

I love having all these songs at my fingertips and the quality of sound is a lot better than what I had as a teenager - that's not too hard since all of my old music was taped off the radio so it usually sounded pretty dodgy and had some sort of announcement at the end or the beginning!!

Mind you a lot of the music I listened to back then, I still listen to now.  I have to remind myself when I have my ipod on when I walk to school that I am in public and so I shouldn't start dancing in the streets!  But it is so easy to get caught up in the song and I feel like I am listening to the theme song of my life at that time!

Luckily my family all love music too so the impromtu discos at home are always welcome (especially from my girls!!)

Friday, June 1, 2012

A Positive Year - Day 129

Day 129

It's been a while since a movie/retail therapy day with my mate but I have to say that when they come around I absolutely love them!  It's always ends up being a fun day with lots of laughs and least one good bargain and of course today was no exception.

To top off an awesome girly movie day was the fact that it was raining so it was perfect weather to be spending indoors anyway.

I just hope when I start work next week I can have to occasional Friday off so we can continue with a girly day every now and then!