Book - made with love

It's been a crazy month so far. In fact it's been a crazy year. So much has been going on, there's really no time to even sit down, think about it, and write about it. 

So, my first craft project of the year.

The guestbook for D's wedding, which was a great start to doing all things with.

Here are some of my favourite pages.

Let's start with the very last page of the book.

 Very pretty flower embellishment. 

A couple of simple pages for easy writing.

Making things a little more interesting:

I particularly love this one which has all the things I love doing with craft:

First, the tag with the couple's initials on it and one of the very pretty dragonfly brads I've been dying to use.

The envelope is filled with bits of paper and little cards for guests to write their messages on.

Notes clipped to a ribbon. 

Button!!!!!!! Yeah I just needed an excuse to use that paper with that button.

Getting over a Breakup

We're barely over the Chinese New Year festivities, and Valentine's day is almost here!

Whilst I'm happily stamping hearts on cards (erm...let's see if I'll finally get round to posting pics of them!), here's a bit of reflection on a year of being single.

Before one starts to enjoy being single again, and possibly no longer defining themselves as "going through a breakup", there's that crappy bit of actually trying to recover from feeling lost and heartbroken.
To get through that, here they are, my top 5 things to do to get over it and start enjoying yourself again.

#1 Set yourself a time limit
You need time to heal, right? But how much time? I know you're going to say "Jeez that wasn't very helpful", but really, my answer is that you'd probably know yourself a little better. Too short a time frame and you'll probably get frustrated with yourself wondering what's wrong with you and why you're not okay yet. Too long a time frame and suddenly you're that girl nobody wants to hang out with because it's been like forever since your breakup and you're still whining about it.

#2 Channel your attention to those who deserve it
In case you temporarily forgot (which is understandable, and somewhat forgivable), there are still so many people in your life whom you love and who love you back. I'm talking about family and friends who have just been there for you all the time, and are probably the ones listening to all your "love is crap" tirades now. Didn't have as much time or energy as you would have liked left over for them whilst in a relationship? Well, here's your chance!

When friends make sure you're not sitting at home, alone, possibly crying into the ice cream tub you've just polished off.

#3 Rediscover the things you enjoyed doing - but didn't really fit into your routine as a couple
You had your own interests and filled your time with your own stuff before you became one half of a couple. Sure, whilst together, you made sure you did the whole "have your own thing so you are both still interesting to each other" thing recommended by women's magazines everywhere. But as much as you hate to admit it, you did change a little to accommodate the relationship.
Now celebrate the fact that you don't have to accommodate anyone's crap anymore. At least for a while, until you find someone worth the effort.

Back to the orchestra!

#4 Get out there and do a whole bunch of new stuff
Not really sure if all couples are as guilty of this as I was - "We should try that sometime" was a phrase Voldermort* and I used so often, but never really got round to doing much. Probably because half the things on the list I wanted to do but he wasn't so keen on, and vice versa. So now that it's just your list of things you want to try, go ahead and get cracking! Grab your buddies who might also be interested, or you know, go by yourself. Whatever you prefer, just get out there and do it!

*In the early days, obviously I was going on and on and on and on...about well...you know., but it still felt a little weird to say his name. So eventually in conversations with friends, it went from "you know...him!" to "he who must not be named" to...well...Voldermort for short. So let's just keep calling him that, shall we?

Sure, let's go wall climbing even when I can't even look over stair railings for fear of fainting.

Taking up a new hobby, preferably one that involves learning a new skill helps. Nevermind if it never really comes to be anything useful. At the end of it, you feel like you're an even awesomer and more interesting person than before. Or maybe that's just me. 

#5 Check in with yourself every now and again
Take some time to ask yourself how you're doing every once in awhile.
Are you a little less over it than you thought you would be by now? Why is that?
Or maybe you're going  a little too far to try and prove to yourself you're fabulous.
Or, as I discovered several months before my self-imposed due date, maybe you're doing better than you thought you would.
Whatever the case, don't ever stop trying to be a better person. Even after you've found someone new.

some inspiration from Pinterest

Spring Cleaning for the Undomestic Goddess

It's that time of year to give the house a good clean, throw out the old, and hopefully only fill up the new found space with only the most carefully selected things that make one happy each day. And if you're one who isn't accustomed to throwing things out, this can be one of the most harrowing times ever!
So here are some things I've learned in my weekend of spring cleaning:

1. Never spray window cleaner when a breeze is blowing because a couple of seconds later, it's all flying back at you. Learnt this the hard way, and several times over whilst cleaning the windows. Along the way I learnt it's best I not be singing along to Matchbox 20, at least whilst spraying.

2. Whilst  cleaning the windows, I also realised cleaning takes some thought and planning, a concept I've only begun to grasp. Don't tell Mum I only figured out how to reach some parts of the windows after I was done with about half of the windows. There is no way I'm going to get the ladder and start all over again just to get those spots I missed.

3. Get stuff you want to get rid of out of the house. Immediately. I finally threw out about 8 pairs of shoes. Don't gasp at me like that! Let me explain! Six of the eight pairs were indeed in various states of damage and were marked for disposal ages ago. They just never made it out of the house. One of the remaining two was a very disappointing pair of Hush Puppies shoes that turns my big toe purple after a tad of walking, and the other a pair of Tiamo flats that lost the embellishments after my second wear. Never trust embellishments that can't withstand a night at a club! So there, shoes that all needed to go.

4. Sometimes, you just need to part with clothes that can still be worn, but you know you're never going to wear again. Admittedly, I've only managed to clear out two bags (shopping bags, at that, and not bin bags) of clothes. In my defence, that's because I don't buy all that many clothes to begin with. I've also resigned myself to the fact that I am somewhat of a hoarder, and if going slow is what it takes to get rid of stuff at all, then go slow I shall. I now have a go out if I haven't worn this by the next time I'm in the mood to clean pile. The good thing about clothes, unlike shoes, is that there's no shortage of charities that are willing to take them. Ranging from those that will take torn clothing for fabric recycling, to thrift shops that obviously require clothes to be in perfect condition, you can rest assured your clothes are going to a worthwhile cause or a good home. Alternatively, you can give some of them to your baby sister, eh, Mac?

5. A lightweight but sturdy step ladder is a girl's best friend, at least at spring cleaning season.
Alternatively, never have anything above the height at which you can reach standing on tiptoes. Up to you. I actually prefer the latter. But we all know that isn't always possible.

6. Disposable gloves are also your next best friend, especially if you're paranoid like me. You know, chemicals from cleaning products, bird poop from windows, and dust that could contain just about anything the wind blows.

So there you have it, six super random tips on spring cleaning that you probably already knew.

Sometimes, all you need to do is ask

So, here's a short post before we all head out for another awesome weekend.

I'm pretty sure it's happened to all of us at some point or other. Or we might have even been guilty of this once or twice.

You're supposed to have a relaxing boardgames night in with the gang, when suddenly one in the group brings along someone they fancy, and keeps letting them win.

Or an awesome girls' night out. But someone brings her guy along as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

Well that didn't happen last weekend. 

Because, trivial as it may be, there are times I think most of us forget how to be more considerate people. So much so, I hadn't even realised that there was this very simple solution to situations like this. Until a friend of mine, one half of a very happy couple, presented the solution I didn't even know I needed.

She asked if she could bring her guy along. 

That was when we bought our tickets to Tiesto. 

Which was shortly after a disastrous evening where I thought I was headed out for a movie with my two friends, and a girl one of them had recently started seeing. Only when we met up did I find out that the other friend had brought someone along, too. Nevermind that he didn't have a shot with her. I could've at least been given a heads up. And maybe brought along someone I didn't have a shot with either. At least then I wouldn't be the odd person who didn't have someone sitting across from me at dinner. And I'd have someone to offer half of my humongous pile of mashed potatoes to without it being awkward.

"What? Are you crazy? Of course we'd never say no!" was our response when she asked. 

But the point is, she asked.

The result?

No surprises.

No awkward moments.

Lots of partying to awesome music. 

Everyone's happy.

Cheers to that.

Have a great weekend, everyone!