2016 a year of positive challenges

Its funny how every time the calendar clicks over to a new year we have an overwhelming urge to improve ourselves.

Isn't that something we should think about everyday. I want to do that. I want to wake up each morning & think about what I can do, to be better than I was yesterday.

 I want to be a better wife, mum & friend. Relationships are something that we should all invest time in, especially family.I will be making time for a few girlie coffee dates with friends & dinner dates for the dream guy & I to catch up with friends together. As well as the usual mum time, I have lots of things planned for the kids as well.

My little Christmas reindeer, he falls under the family & fitness category, lots of love & walks for Ralph in 2016

I need to be fitter & healthier. I was on the right track in this department & feeling awesome but the festive season took over & here I am a little chubbier around my middle, bloated, uncomfortable & out of routine when it comes to working out.Oh, how easily I can be distracted.

 So time to find a little discipline & get back on track. I ALWAYS feel better for it!!!

I am desperate to improve my career options this year, maybe work for myself or maybe an employer, we will just see how that pans out. I am doing some pretty full on research into what option of study will work best for me & get me into a role within the interior design world, whilst working & maintaining life as we know it.You know, the current job, household duties, parenting etc etc.

There are so so many course providers, each teaching the same syllabus but with their own trademark style. The prices vary incredibly from college to college & then there is the option of attending face to face classes or online study.Do I do a diploma or just a cert IV. If you have any experiences or recommendations in this area all advice will be taken on board .No decisions have been made at this point......eeeek!!!!

I am a little photography obsessed at the moment, that is my relaxation, it really does transport me to my happy place. Its always on my mind as to how I can improve.
 Practice practice practice I think is the best way. I have decided to learn a little about editing this year & have already started trying to learn how to use Lightroom & will incorporate that with Photoshop, which will also be useful for creating design boards in the interior design world. I have noticed that just through the tutorials I have done so far on Lightroom it has made me put a bit more thought into how I take my photos, so winning already.

I have also joined up with a couple of photo challenges in hope that I can complete  365 days of photo's, or should I say 366 seen as though it is a leap year.Having someone set a theme for the day really challenges you to be a bit more creative. No doubt some of my photo's are going to be boring as some days you just have no mojo but I do hope to produce a few snappers.

 So far I have joined the
 Fat Mum Slim photo a day challenge
 &
 Finding Myself Young 52 weeks of memories challenge
I am yet to join a 365 day challenge, at this stage its just my personal mission. So  once a week I will post the weeks worth of photo's on here or you can catch me on instagram @dreamhousetrish
I think most of these will be taken with my iPhone. As much as I would like to do them on my DSLR the best camera is the one you have on you && for me its my phone. I have no major rules on this aspect as its all for fun. Its not convenient to carry a bulky camera. I often find my best photo opportunities arise when I am out walking or running, luckily my phone is also my workout tracker so I always have it on me & don't have to miss out on the opportunity.
My last personal challenge is to be a better blogger. Blogging has changed since I started but I haven't really moved with those changes so expect to see some new stuff going on around here as well. Firstly though I would like to get back into the routine of regular posts before I get to carried away. All will evolve slowly over time I think.

So how about you, any goals for 2016, I would love to here about them.
Happy New Year everyone, lets hope its a great one full of good health & happiness!

CHEERS
Trish xx

Farewell 2012, What a year!

 

Happy New Year my friends!!!

I cant believe 2012 is coming to a close already.

Its been such an incredible year full of ups & downs, I would even say life changing in our household.

 

For 2012 I set myself a few goals, I wanted to be

Consistent

I wanted to get myself into some sort of consistent routine with my fitness training, I wanted to be a yummy mummy!!

Well I did get it all together for a while there & I was feeling pretty good about myself, BUT & theres always a BUT,

I got a full time job & haven't managed to be organised to exercise much since, so, as you can imagine this one is back on the goal list for 2013

 

I also wanted to be

CREATIVE

This I did do, I got more creative with my photography & I did a fair bit of sewing & some great party styling, right down to making a fantastic prop box for a photo booth at parties, which has been a real hit & left us with some fun memories.

 

My last goal for 2012 was to show

COURAGE

when I communicate

My marriage was going through some pretty tough times & I was desperately unhappy in life, so I had 2 choices.

I could throw it all away

OR

speak up & fight for what I felt was right & change it!

Well finding the courage to speak up brought about some pretty awful days, followed by lots of change & I have to say, this is the happiest my life has been for a VERY long time.

 

So it turns out that 2012 has been a very tough year but well worth the fight.

I'm hoping 2013 might go a little slower as we have so many big & exciting things happening in life this year, it would be great to take the time to notice them & live in the moment a little!!

 

I have been working full time(45hr week) for 2 months now & I have so much to learn in my job its not funny, but I really am enjoying the challenge.

It feels good to know I am building myself a new career. I turn 42 this year & really felt that this was my last opportunity to have a big career change.

 

Dream child No1 starts her studies in fashion design at Billie Blue design college in Sydney & has just moved into her first apartment, all by herself. She is so grown up & mature, I'm so proud & excited for her!!!

Dream child No2 did 10 months as a hairdressing apprentice this year, but due to a not so pleasant work environment decided it wasn't the career for her & has since quit & gotten a traineeship in Business Admin which starts if feb2013.

 

Dream child No3 has really come a long way, its safe to say we have this ADHD under wraps with diet & homeopathic treatments, NO drugs. He has lots of lovely friends these days, not just the other naughty kids. He goes into Yr5 this year & has also been elected as sports captain for his house at school.

 

Dream child No4 has graduated from kindergarten & is now a big Yr1 kid in school, she has had a great year & learnt so much it blows my mind, she also caught every cold, flu virus & bug including  head lice so I think she should have a good immune system for the year ahead!!!

 

There are some intersting things occuring on the dream house front as well, which I will save for another post.

 

So I'm expecting

2013

to be a fabulous year full of rewards from lots of hard work.

 

My goals are to be

Organised, Efficient & Consistent.

 

I want to be organised enough that I can exercise consistently & be efficient enough that my house stays tidy & organised while I fit in this busy work schedule around my mummy duties. I also want to ensure I keep communicating with the dream guy so our relationship stays positive.

 

Any tips GREATLY appreciated!!!

 

What are your goals for 2013, I would love to hear them, they keep me inspired.

 

CHEERS

Trish xx

One month down

Well its the end of January already, all major celebrations are over, the school holidays are ending & most new years resolutions will have been forgotten...

OR HAVE THEY!!!!

Not for me, Im still powering on...full steam ahead I say....

Look I will show you!

Here we are at Week 4 over at

Family volley

& the challenge this week was "Daily Routine" & although this isn't exactly my daily routine, it is my goal to make it just that.

How often do you exercise?

I have done some form of exercise 3 x a week for the month of January, but I plan to step it up to 4-5 x a week in Feb.

Just gotta improve my diet & i will be a "yummy mummy" before I know it!!

I am really pleased that I have stuck with it so far...remember one of my goals was to exercise consistently...so....one month down....eleven to go!!!

One of my other goals was to get more creative & of course skillful with my camera.

These photo challenges have been very motivating. Having a theme to prompt you each week really does get you thinking & I have to say, I am really enjoying it so far....it's not to late to join in if its something you have been thinking about. You don't have to have a fancy camera or any great skills, some even just use their iPhone.

I find I have really taken a lot more notice of what goes on around me & how we live as a family because of these challenges & I think that's the part of  I am enjoying most!!!

The theme this week over at

Life with my 3boybarians

was "Self portrait"

& seen as though we celebrated Australia Day this week I thought it would be the best time to take a mug shot of me!

We have an annual BBQ with family & friends.

 We have the same core group of people at the party, all people from our old home town, that have also relocated here to The Hunter Valley  & we try to have someone different from that group host the BBQ each year &then  they invite a few extras from their circle of friends.

This year was at my sisters house, you all know Erin from her blog

Life...Style'n 

I am hoping its my turn again next year, I do love having a good excuse for some decorating!!!

It is always a fantastic day with lots of fun food & games, like back yard cricket & of course your Aussie themed hats, glasses & any other accessories you can get your hands on...

My family  refused to pose for a photo & this is all I got from dream child no4.

I hope all of my fellow Aussies enjoyed some great Australia Day festivities.

Have a great weekend everyone!

CHEERS

Trish xxx

Lounging around in luxury

Image via cottage & vine

I love to see beautiful white chairs & sofas.

They look fantastic in this ink blue room don't you think?

Image via Decorpad

I am assuming this lovely chair is in a bedroom being located near that gorgeous mirrored dresser.

 I can only imagine how glamorous the rest of the room must be. I expect it is very formal  due to the symmetry in the lamps & the grouping of art on the wall, but I think it would be a rather romantic space as well looking at the pretty mirror over the dresser.

How does your imagination recreate the rest of this room?

 I am visualising a tufted bed head & plush white bedding!

Image via Decorpad

I dream of one day owning an ottoman like this one, only not in white.

 My family & white would never work well together, he he he!!!

I certainly wouldn't say I lounge in luxury but were not to shabby here either.

Oh that's right, I am not meant to be lounging at all, I am meant to be exercising.

Catch you all later.

 I am off to honour my new years goal to exercise consistently.

 So far, so good.

 I have been working out 3 x a week & next week I plan to up the ante to 4 x a week.

 I will be a yummy mummy before we know it.

YAY!!!!

How are you going with your goals, are you still on track?

CHEERS

Trish xxx



Project Resolution

I prefer to call them goals rather than resolutions, I feel like it gives me a better chance at succeeding...crazy I know!!!

Can you guess what this goal is going to be?

Ah yes, you are close.....

My goal is to be

CONSISTENT!

If I am consistent with my exercise program, eventually I will build my fitness & strength & eventually I will loose a few kilograms & eventually I will get back to being a Yummy Mummy....yes that's right, I was once an awesomely fit healthy & super toned mum, but, unfortunately I let it all go & joined the land of the flabby sloths...bummer.... it really does hurt when you have to get fit again!!!!!

I am also continuing on with my goal to be a fabulous & creative photographer so I am joining

Darcy from Life with My 3 Boybarians in her project 52

This weeks theme is "Resolution"

Do you make resolutions or set goals?

CHEERS

Trish xxx