favourite things - inviteL

Okay, so this is a goodie.

Carly from The Simple Things manages to find the coolest of simple things. 

A while back she showed this gorgeous notebook, A 1000 kinds of stories, on her lovely blog and I just had to have it.   

I love it.  It's the book where I note all the hilarious, cheeky and plain whacky things that my funny children say.  Including today's at the shops, whilst trapped in the queue at the checkout (ie nowhere to hide). 

Woo full volume, dancing around me. 

Woo: "Mummy I'm thirsty, please can we have a bottle of that water?" 

Me:"In a minute we'll go to the cafe and get some" "Okay.  Mummy, do we need some chippies?" "No honey we don't right now" 

Woo: "Oh, not fair.  Mummy do I get diahorrea?"

Me: "Oh look the lady's ready for us."

People laughing their heads off all around me! Oh well at least they thought it was funny!

You might remember I made a bag organiser some time ago.  And I said it was a one-off and that there were plenty of places you could find them professionally made.  Well if you'd like to own one you can find it here.  They come in three sizes and an array of gorgeous colours.  Sure to set you off well in the New Year.

High on my wish list! Anyone?

These stunningly simple photobooks are also on my wish list - anyone? 

I love the colour palate, especially the three on the left.  Anyone?

inviteL is a fabulous Korean stationery company.  I just adore their products. And they offer free shipping worldwide - even better.

Anyway ... Carly is hosting a biggest and best giveaway ever.  If you hop over to her blog you can find out how to enter into the running for some of their wonderful products.  And even if you don't you can use the special promo code also at The Simple Things  to receive a surprise gift with purchase. 

Hint:  It's at the bottom of her post.

Happy shopping :)

E x

'my' bag organiser

I absolutely fell in love with Carly's  purse organiser.

So, I whipped one up myself. 

Actually whipped is not really the word, toiled, slaved, agonised would better suit.

 Let me assure you I will not make another so all the purse-organiser-makers need not be concerned by about declining sales!! 

 It was fiddly (understatement) to make.  But I'm impulsive and impoverished and really, really wanted one.  I wanted it so badly (like NOW) that I bought a piece of foam and set to work with fabric I had on hand.  In spite of the difficulty I had making it I LOVE it and highly recommend them to anybody who wants to reduce the clutter in their bag and to be able to find things quickly.  Although I don't have my big ol' camera pictured in the organiser it fits right in the centre, snug and protected. 

You can easily Google them or search through Etsy.

It's worth every penny the manufacturers charge, I promise!

[before + after] linen cupboard happiness - after

Ta dahhhh!

It's by no means perfect, but it's an enormous improvement

and it makes me feel like I've cleared a little bit of my brain in the process. 

 Tell me what's in your linen cupboard? 

Will you share your before and afters?

Go on, it makes you feel so much better :)

I hope you're having a super day.  The rain has held off here so far. 

Bound to begin as I collect Tigs from school ;)

Thanks for visiting,

E x

[before + after] oh, the horror - before

The linen cupboard.

 I barely needed to take things out, it practically emptied itself!

 

The Sort.

The Purge.

I'll be back as quick as I can with the 'after' to soothe your horrified eyes.

Oh, but it feels so good.  I love a good purge.  These bags are off to my local charity shop, the AAPS.  Anything that can't be re-sold can be used for the animals the AAPS help. 

There are lots of super soft towels in there.

And my favourite part - I gain 3 garbage bags of space in my house back! 

winter sweeties!

I have had a super busy day.

I managed to get the house and car vacuumed.
The car and laundry washed. Even the skirting boards got a going over.
I took the children to the dentist - with a clean bill of health :)
It was Woo's first trip and Tiggy was the most marvelous role model, thank goodness.

I completed a dozen other little tasks, pharmacy, grocery store, returning goods, collecting office supplies, meal preparation, flower buying (and arranging - fun) bill paying, plant watering, mothering, homework assisting, feeding, bathing, reading and putting to bed of the littlies - repeatedly!

Interestingly with a list like this I often feel exhausted but tonight I feel buoyant and happy that I was able to get so much done.

And finally, I managed a little online shopping which I cannot wait to play with, hopefully it'll improve the blog too!

The rest of my week is scheduled to be similarly busy. I only hope that by the end of this week I'll remain as upbeat and energetic. This week will culminate with the start of the school holidays and us going on a little holiday :)

That's about all I have today. Sorry it's just a boring run down of tasks but it's a rare event to get so many items struck off the list in one hit so it really should be documented ;)

My challenge to you is to get something really boring tackled.
You know, the item that seems to get left on every list and carried over to the next, day after day after day?
Yep, that one. Go on just do it!!

E x

before & after

Oh, my kitchen bench was a mess.  Just look at it.  (This is me keeping it very real!!). 

 I don't even drink that awful black drink - by the way.

 

Streamlined, orderly.  Much, much better.

For my fellow stationary loving nuts  I know there are quite a few of us out there!