Sunday, June 26, 2011

One week down......

23 to go - assuming I make the whole 6 months that is lol.

I think my husband was a little concerned that I would go back to work and enjoy it again and change my mind about a different direction.......well he need not have worried!!!!!!!!

We have talked for a long time about a more simple, sustainable life, one where we make everything we can from scratch, grow our own food, slow down and not be such a slave to the almighty dollar. We do this to some extent now, I try to make a lot of things but I do fall off the wagon from time to time - my maternity leave being a huge fall off the wagon - the amount of junk food consumed was ridiculous and I'm not proud of it.

It is with this in mind that we plan to sell our house and buy something small and cheap, no it won't be easy with 6 kids but I am looking forward to it. So it seems silly to then say in celebration of us deciding to slow down etc we decided to buy something. Something I have wanted for a long time but never really got around to getting. I'm a bit of a tightarse, the husband much less so - so it took quite some convincing on his behalf to let this marvel come home with us, but needless to say now that she is here I keep dreaming of all the wonderful things I can do......breadcrumbs, peanut butter, mince........

Already she has been put to good use - making 2 whole orange cakes from here http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2010/06/whole-orange-cake.html, chopped everything for 2 potato bakes and minced a whole rump.

Anyway I'm sure you didn't come here to listen to me ramble on a bout a food processor. I am still adjusting to work routine and as such didn't get a whole lot of sewing this week. Also I am waiting on some denim to arrive which has slowed me down too. I am hoping I can knuckle down this week and actually finish a few things. Kristie your order is almost complete, Petrina starting yours tonight and Rox and soon as this blasted denim gets here then yours is next cab off the rank :).

Macallum modelling his pirate cord set - red, sore conjuctivitis eyes and all - gotta love him <3. I am hoping in amogst everything too I can test out a new product I think is very cute and hope others think so too :D

And a little boy owl by request who went to his loving new home this week

I think thats about it this week in summary at the CouCou household......oh just quickly I almost forgot - a new logo is in the works and fingers crossed will be ready shortly ......yay


xxx

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Sad sad day

This is how I feel today - tomorrow is D day - the day I have been dreading - yes tomorrow morning at 8am I will be at work again. I have shed a lot of tears and daresay there will be a few more in the next week or so BUT when I am thinking more clearly I manage to tell myself  that it is temporary and the sooner I go back the sooner I can quit. I have always struggled to go back after maternity leave but not like this - I think because this time I have a purpose, I know what I want to be doing and how I want my/our lives to be.

Anyway lets move on from misery.....


One of the new items I made this week, my boys are in love with this, I am hoping other people will be too. It's been so far so good for getting Hudson to clean up his toys, big thumbs up there :D


Who doesn't love Dr Suess? The books are so much fun to read - and I love this outfit, really must add some for my little boys to my to-do list.
Anyway as of today emails and enquiries will only be answered first thing in the mornings or at night. I hope that's okay with people.
Keep your fingers crossed our house goes on the market soon and we get a great price - okay how about just that it sells pretty quickly, hoping for a great price is a bit unrealistic in this market lol.

xxx

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

3 reasons to be glad its winter

lets start by saying I am NOT a fan of the cold, thats part of the reason I moved to QLD after all.
1. Thank God for jeans - I just realised my baby is 14 weeks old and I haven't shaved my legs since the day before he was born.
2. The kids sleep later, well not so great on school days but heaven on the weekends
3. Beanies - need I say more

I am struggling with this cold weather, its even making me daydream about a move further north lol

oh and I just thought of another happy winter thought - I have been trying to adjust my body clock. I had gotten into the habit of going to bed around 8.30 - 9 with the baby, but realised with my looming return to work that after this time nights will be my main sewing time, so I have taken to having a long hot shower after all the squidlets are sound asleep, aaaahhhhh its heaven - previously my showers consisted of various kids coming in to ask random questions or just talk in general, while I appreciate the chit chat with them - it just doesn't compare to a few minutes of hot water shower bliss :)

Next week I return to full time work :( and to say I am extremely upset would be an understatement - I had every intention of only going back part time, well the things that needed to be done to enable that to happen haven't happened YET. With a big emphasis on the yet!!!!! And the difference now is that I have decided I no longer want to work out of the home at all, so my revised plan is to quit my job by the end of the year :).



I worked on a couple of different things last week and it was fun - I swore I was not going to get into the ruffle thing, but I did and I loved it. Although I will still say there will be no ruffled bloomers from me :).


I have a couple of new things I am trying hard to get perfected and listed and I can say that both of these products I adore and I hope they will be a big hit.Along with those I am trying to get a few boy things made since last week was all about the boys. I am very worried about how I am going to find the time for everything come next week - but as they say where there is a will there is a way!!!

oh and before I sign off, next goal as far as fans go is 500 - how long do you think? - we seem to have stalled where we are for now.

Stay tuned people

xxx

Sunday, June 5, 2011

better

I did promise a sunshiney happy post didn't I? Does it get anymore sunshiney than this gorgeous pic?

Seriously though I think I am getting better within myself at just taking things as they come, so thats a good thing. I didn't reach the goal I had set for myself this week - BUT I did do better than last week so I am happy with that. I think this weeks goal will stay the same as last weeks and we will see how we go :D. Another positive for the week - or 2 weeks really - it took less than 2 weeks to get to 200 fans YAY really really happy with that - next goal as far as that is concerned 500 - how long do you think that will take?

I have ideas in my head that I don't seem to be getting the time to put together but I keep writing them down in the knowledge I will get to them eventually. I also have another idea - but that will be dependant on other people so thats still really in my head more than anything.

I made this for a swap - the other half of the swap I chickened out and bought something - I wish I hadn't now but live and learn right!!

I have been toying with the idea of a market stall - there are a couple of specialised handmade/baby/childrens markets coming to my town soon. But I am not much of a people person, so that it something I would have to work on. Ideally i would share a stall with someone but I don't know anyone here. Also the $$$ outlay involved in not just the cost of the stall but stock etc is huge - well to me it is lol. I have decided to go along to these markets and check them out first and see if its something that will be worth my while in the future.


Anyway its time to get off my but, get back to the family, do some baking for the school week and fingers crossed some sewing today.

xxx