Aunty Shabby

A rather pregnant pause

 After declaring I would post more often, I once again regressed and lapsed into a state of blog inaction. Is that a term? It should be. Anyway, lots of excuses - busy end of the year, mother-in-law from overseas staying with us, and oh, did I mention I was pregnant? Yes, Aunty Shabby will soon be Mummy Shabby. I know being pregnant shouldn't be an excuse for inactivity as such, but when you are feeling like crap for several months, not eating and worrying that your baby might be malnourished as a result, blogging is the least of your worries (all first time mothers can probably relate to some of this)!

I am now more than halfway in my pregnancy, the baby is fine so far and I am feeling much better, so I plan to get back on with things, including this blog and my business. (And NO - that image is not me!!) Which is what, in a sort of circuitous way, prompted me to blog today. 

After going to my prego pilates class this morning, I decide to check out the 20% off sale at Spotlight. As you do. I had started a baby blanket for my baby (to be) and again, as you do, discovered I didn't have enough wool to make it as big as I had wanted. Of course they didn't have any of the wool I wanted left - but I did find some other stuff- when I observed a group of ladies enthusiastically exclaiming at all the different wools. I could tell they were new to the whole knitting/wool thing and when one of them was selecting an acrylic wool next to a much nicer wool I was getting, I couldn't stop myself from pointing out that the wool I had was the same meterage, but real wool, cheaper and much, much nicer. I have never been a big fan of acrylic. Luckily, she seemed appreciative of this unsolicited advice, and we, together with her friends, chatted for a few minutes about the joys of wool, knitting and crochet. One of them then admired the scarf I was wearing - Ghost gum, see this post from July 2008 - describing it as "designery". What a compliment! I told her I had made it and was trying to get my act together to sell them under my label, Aunty Shabby. To which she then replied, "I will GOOGLE it". You can then imagine my horror at her finding a woefully neglected blog, and to date, still no website! I cautioned her to hold off on her search, and so of course was immediately shamed into action! 

I have actually been working on a few things, but can't upload any new pics, as my digital camera acquired a large piece of dust on a recent trip to Sydney - another reason not to go there (oooh, mean) - which is showing up as a big black dot and needs to be removed at some considerable expense. It may be cheaper to just buy a new one. 

Am also helping my sister, greenolive out at the Modish Creators Market at Malvern this Saturday, so am getting back on the crafty circuit! More to follow...

And sometimes the pie is perfect

      

Photo from Barca's photostream on http://www.flickr.com/photos/barca-q8/2424762695/

There's just the right amount of bacon, it's not too salty, the crust is a crunchy, golden brown, and the consistency is not too gooey or claggy. Perfect.

Like when you get back to work, after being away on sick leave, and find that your office HAS been thoroughly cleaned, as requested. Or when the jacket that you wanted is on sale - in exactly your size and the colour you wanted. When you just make it in time to the cafe downstairs to get a bacon and egg muffin with cheese (10:30am cut-off just like Maccas!) Or when the right Williams sister wins. Especially when someone tells you that you look pretty and that your eyebrows are nice, when you are feeling a bit average and in need of a wax. But mostly when you lie in bed at night, look across at your husband, who is ready another one of his crazy, esoteric books on agriculture or something, smile, and realise you are happy.

If you are wondering what all this talk of pies and life is about, let me explain. I have been at home sick for the past week and a half, so clearly have had too much time cooped up alone and am going a bit loopy. A few days back at work ought to set me straight again.

Pictures of me

I promised Alby Mangroves (I don't think this is her real name) from Life in General that I would post yesterday, specifically about my hand knited scarves. I lied. But in my defence, at the time of making the promise I intended to, stuff just happened to prevent me. My right leg happened.

Well, without boring you with all the details, I have a foot condition called plantar fasciitis (look it up if you don't believe me), which is actually rather common, but not always diagnosed, and at times, causes me problems. Foot pain and it affects my gait, so at times I walk funny (apparently) and have pain in my legs or hips. Don't laugh, it's not nice to make fun of the disabled. 

Anyway, on Monday afternoon whilst walking to the train station after work, my right knee started hurting and continued all night, to the point where I had to take 2 panadeine forte to stop the pain and be able to sleep. Luckily I had one of my regular massages booked for Tuesday (remedial, I WISH it was relaxation) as the pain had spread to my calf and shin, and she worked on it. It hurt like a bitch though and I spent most of the day with my leg up and very cranky. In no mood to blog. I am at work today and whilst it is a bit better, I have been limping around and look and feel stupid.

SOOOO - back to the blog. Nothing about my scarves today alas, but I did rather fancy doing my own flickr mosiac, as recommended by the lovely Alby, so here it is. (Yes, I did it in my lunch time, so am not wasting time or God forbid, blogging in work time!)

I followed the rules as I know them -

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's Mosaic Maker

 

The questions are:

 

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you.

12. Your flickr name

 

ENJOY! Can you figure them all out??!! Why don't you have a go at your own!

 

I'll be back on the weekend...

It's official...

 

Image courtesy of The Simpsons

I have no life. It seems another month has passed without me blogging. Just another part of my life which has suffered greatly from neglect of late. So much for my promises and resolutions to get back to regular posting.

So what has happened to rob me of my life and deny me those precious few hours each week when I know I should be doing something else, but instead blog? It seems LIFE. Let me explain. When I started this blog in November last year, things were pretty normal. I had finished study for the year, work wasn't too busy, everyone was in good health and I had some time on my hands. It seems since I began study again this year (end of February) everything has gone pear-shaped. My Mum's visit over Easter didn't help either, then cue bronchitis, way too much study, a sick cat and lots to do at work, and you get a stressed-out, cranky Aunty Shabby who has no time to blog and even if she did have time, would be too demotivated to say anything nice and would rather lie on the nice, new leather couch and eat chocolate.

And that's another thing. Started gym program as dismayed that weigh same amount as did almost five years ago before went on huge diet and lost heaps of weight, only to put it all back on. I have only been once, as no time to go, but then feel guilty because I haven't been, so lie on the couch and eat more chocolate.

Good thing it was our wedding anniversary last month, as I may have even forgotten I was married. Poor Mr S has also been the subject of my awful neglect, but as he is studying too it has been more of a mutual neglect situation. Oh - before I forget - I got those earrings I wanted. I almost can't believe it. Feel a little bit too spoilt. Very nice though. Will have to post a pic of me wearing them!

And so of course, this little rant brings me to my climax - no time also means no time to craft. I still haven't finished that baby blanket and I am pretty sure the baby has already been born!

My last assignment is due in a week and  half, so if you can indulge me just a little longer, I will then be back in June, bigger (well, actually hopefully smaller) and better than ever!!

Breaking the drought

The blog drought - not some other kind, you naughty bloggers! Anyway, coming back after such a long time away is hard isn't it?! What to say? It has to be something fabulous, so it doesn't look like you have been away from your blog doing all these other things and come back just boring and bored. Sometimes though, there just seems to be nothing to say. For someone like me, who likes to talk (and used to be paid to do a lot of talking), this is a scary prospect.

I was thinking about all of this whilst I ate my breakfast at work this morning, whilst also reading the AFR (yes, I do try to multitask). I do love the Friday AFR - lots of legal stuff, to make me still feel a little bit important and connected to the REAL business world, interesting world and financial news, good pics and if I'm lucky like today, the BOSS mag. Mr S usually hogs the papers at home (is this a male thing?), so when I get a chance to read it, I take it! Anyway, whilst chomping on my bacon and egg muffin with cheese (I know, not healthy, but very satisfying) - which I washed down with my decaf skinny latte and OJ - I browsed the job ads and read about a woman who started working at Estee Lauder as a secretary and was now manager of operations at Origins, the new Chief at VISY, and a former hair care guru's mansion for sale in Sydney for $30 million.

This was all extremely inspiring and I folded the paper up feeling very happy and focused. The way I usually do after I read stories about successful executives or luxury goods. The problem is how to harness this feeling and keep myself motivated and positive. I have not had much luck with this particular skill (is it a skill?) lately, but I suspect I am not alone. I also hadn't realised it has been almost a month since my last post - what a month it has been!My Mum came down for a visit - great but tiring, then back at work for a few days, making lots of stock (yes, I will post pics and updates soon), and then I got sick, again. Really sick too, the type where I actually thought for a few minutes that I'd rather be dead than feel this way for a second longer. OK, maybe a bit melodramatic, but you know what I mean! Better now (not 100% but on the mend), but I was woefully behind at work and with my study,the house was a mess and I hadn't eaten properly for about a week; after two days back at work I am pretty much caught up, but still behind in study, the house is a bit tidier and I am back to eating normally and reasonably healthily (if you don't count today's muffin), except I still can't handle diet coke, which I usually drink like it's water. Maybe this time I can try to give it up for good, or at least cut back. And alas, work and study (and a clean house) must come before my blog, hence my prolonged absence!!!

Take care fellow bloggers and try not to get sick this coming winter (for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere), for it is only when we are sick that we truly appreciate good health!