Things I'm loving

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

This week has been one of sadness and heartached in NZ and our prayers continue to be with the people of Christchurch.

Things Im loving


the overwhelming support for a call out for softies for the children of Christchurch - awesome.

all the tireless effort from the rescue workers, civil defence, emergency services, volunteers, and all those who have come from other countries to help in Christchurch.

birthdays for special people

some time spent sewing

eating out with new friends at our favourite place to eat

Linking up to Paisley Jade

Softies for Christchurch

I am humbled by the number of responses I have received on yesterday's post, and all the people who have re-posted the post on their blogs to get the word out there (and thanks Sarah for doing this cool button for me!)

YOU GUYS ROCK!!

I am getting comments frequently from all around the world, signing up to donate a softie/s.

Your giving is so generous and will be so appreciated by the children of Christchurch.

I am thinking it will probably take 4-6 weeks to collect all the softies.

Tomorrow I will send an email to all those who have provided me with one :) with the address for posting.

For those who haven't included an email, we really want your softies too!...could you send me email on kiwiatheartdesigns@gmail.com and I will give you the mailing address.

The scenes in Christchurch continue to devastating and heartbreaking.

Kia Kaha Cantabrians. This is such a tragic time, we are all praying for you and sending our love your way.

A bloggy friend of mine has organised an awesome walk to raise money for Christchurch. Check it out here, maybe you can join the walk on April 2, in Auckland, or donate money towards their fundraising. It is a great idea!

Thanks everyone for your support.

Softies for the children of Christchurch

                                      

Lets join our hands and our hearts and make a special softie (handmade soft toy) to be loved by a child who has been affected by the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Leave a comment below with your email address and we'll coordinate getting these special toys to their new owners.

Anyone in NZ or around the world is welcome to contribute, maybe you'd like to include a little note of encouragement and love with your softie.

* update : sewn, knitted, crocheted toys for babies, toddlers, and children of any age would be most appreciated!!
I will send out an email in a day or two with the posting details etc.

Please pass this button on and pop it on your side bar so we can share the love.

YOU GUYS ROCK!!

Kiwi Mummy Bloggers - softies for Christchurch.

As with all of us, the devastation of the earthquake in Christchurch is weighing heavily on my heart.

After just having been through the floods in Queensland, I am thinking of what I can do to help. There were so many fabulous initiatives over there.

I am thinking perhaps we can start a drive for handmade softies for the children of Christchurch.

Please leave a comment with your email if you are interested and we'll get started and find a contact in Christchurch who will be able to see them distributed.

Christchurch in our prayers

Please pray for the people of Christchurch and the people of New Zealand.



Today this beautiful city, that has already experienced a major earthquake recently, along with a large number of aftershocks for the past six months, was devastated by a major earthquake only 10km from the city and only 5km deep.

The city looks like a war zone.  65 people have already been confirmed dead and hundreds are trapped in buildings or missing.

The city has been declared a state of emergency, our country is in shock.

Kia Kaha, the people of Christchurch.  Our hearts and prayers are with you.

An Award!

Thanks Sammy at Cherished and Lyns at Once upon a Time for the bloggy award!!! I love your blogs too!

Anyway, here's what you have to do:

1. Thank and link back to the blogger who passed this award onto you.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Award other recently discovered great bloggers.

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award...

Seven things about me:

1.  I spent six years at University and have a degree and a Masters which Ive never used...oops.

2.  I love to cook, bake and craft. I HATE housework and cleaning.

3.  I am very impatient (working on that all the time).

4.  I love fabric.. but have never bought it online because I need to touch it, feel it...

5.  I am sensitive - which is good and bad.

6.  I  am a reader, I LOVE to read.

7.  I have spent two years growing my hair so I can wear it tied up... so much easier than short hair!!

Right, that was hard!!

And I'm passing this on to these 'recently' discovered great blogs:

Craving Fresh - through this amazing blog I discovered the world of Real Food.
Inside the Scrap Heap - I have cried buckets of tears reading this blog and last week met Tracy in real life, she is Amazing.

Treacy's Travels - another lovely blog that totally tears at my heart. An amazing woman with an amazing family.

Little Poppa and Me - love visiting here..
Whats eating the cat? - who doesn't love Cat. Always leaves such gorgeous comments. Positivity plus!
Posie at Posie Patchwork - love love love her blog.

Of course I love heaps more but that would take me another week to list them all!!!

Things Im Loving....

I'm linking in with Paisley Jade's Things I'm Loving..

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

This week Im loving...

making new friends.... (and still loving the old ones too!!)

Yep, I know, I could go on about this morning forever!!!
Blogging rocks.. I tell you!! I have now met (IRL) 11 bloggers and they are all soooo nice!!!

finding an awesome doctor who is totally on my wave length and took me off a lifelong prescription and put me on a natural version!! Yippee, loving the new doctor.


Book Depository. I know a well known NZ bookstore is struggling as I write this and I realise places like book depository take away business from the stores... but I can't help loving ordering a book (or three) for less than half price and having them arrive in my mailbox less than 10 days later (with free shipping!)
Check out my new blog bookshelf to see what books I'm loving!

http://www.bookdepository.com/

REAL FOOD!!  There's a blog post coming about this... but I am LOVING eating a real food diet.

This wee girl who has been at school for only two weeks and has already received 2 Principals Awards for her story writing.

 Oh and the story..

Containers that arrive full of our stuff... and a funny girl who likes to have pictures of them lifting it!

husbands that arrive back in the country on the eve of our wedding anniversary... and then anniversary plans to spend the night (together with our youngest)..at a school camp ...lol... yep, really romantic! But at least we'll be together.

What are you LOVING this week?

Like camera-swinging-crazed-tourists on happy pills...

In fear of being the last person to blog about this awesome morning (yesterday).. here goes!!

(Kristy, borrowed your photo!)

I was one of the LUCKY bloggers to attend the Whangarei bloggers morning tea yesterday, very kindly organised by the bubbly and gorgeous Jacksta-B.

I had butterflies doing a funky little dance in my tummy beforehand... you know, eek, will they like me? am I too fat? will I be too loud?will I spill my drink (lol)....will someone photograph it if I do?!!

But all that worrying was for nothing -  it was AWESOME!!! 

Making bloggy friends is totally like internet dating. You find a blog and you fall in love (with the blog). You swap comments, you 'get to know' each and then comes the big day... the MEETING!! And you find out they're not some psycho, internet stalking, sociopath (that my Mum worries about, see Mum, again they are very normal and nice).



The conversation flowed easily, the laughter rang out throughout the town basin... and the best bit... the camera's were going off in all directions!  along with a bit of camera envy and air photos.... (funny!)

(borrowed this from Jackie because I didn't get one of this lovely gal and her gorgeous new bub!)

And the cherry on top of the beautiful rainbow cake (aye, Kristy!!) was meeting Lisa's sister and having a wee chat to the lovely Lisa too.

What a LOVELY bunch of girls. I am so honoured to meet each of you and your cute wee kids. For someone who is newly back in Whangarei it was such a highlight for me... you know, real friends my own age! and better still - with interests like mine. And best of all, I know I am not the only one who photographs EVERYTHING!!!

I can see this being an ongoing thing for us Whangarei bloggers. One teeney tiny morning is just not enough time to spend with you all. 

Blogging ROCKS!

Go here to check out the blogs of these lovely ladies

Jacksta-B

Inside the Scrap Heap

Sima-J

Bassett, blurbs and Banter

The South African Kiwi

Paisley Jade

She exceeds Rubies

Slow Sunday

We've had a nice slow day here yesterday..

Miss 9 and Nana made pancakes for breakfast.

Everyone chilled outside in the sun with some yummy cold watermelon



little lady muck



And I might have snapped a few pics..

After lunch we headed to the beach for a swim



lovin' my new polka dot jandals..but a pedicure wouldnt go a miss!



Made Sandmen..

A legendary Jellytip for the kids..



some ate it...

some just wore it...

After a quick trip to the supermarket for dinner supplies we headed to another beach/park
for dinner...
some climbing trees...



this is now my most favourite photo of my girl




swinging...

taking photos (who me??)

and coveting these gorgeous big Koru (anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE koru!)

all and all a fantastic day...just what we all needed.!

And Im wondering..do my kids love posing for photos, or have they learned the quicker they do it the quicker I'll get the camera out of their faces?

Things Im Loving...

Im finding this post hard to write today. Things are falling apart a bit here, now that Daddy has gone back to Australia for work.

There's been tears, tantrums, lack of sleep and poor behaviour and that's just me... nah, kidding... thats the kids and I'm a little over it.

My tummy has been causing trouble of its own all week... I can eat kumara, banana, apple puree.. and not much else :(

... sorry for whinging...but I'm keeping it real!

SO..in the spirit of Paisley Jade's great linky party....

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

This week I'm loving...

cool kids movies...

Love, love, LOVED this movie!!!

and the kids loved this one by the same director... although I was very tired and..um.. fell asleep...oops

Im loving exciting giveaway mail for Valentine's Day.. thanks Rhiannon from Remarquable Junque

Loving these nutty chickens... they destroy the garden if left to it.. but lay beautiful eggs.

All this fresh unsprayed, no pesticide, produce right outside our back door

and this one is especially for Paisley Jade...

I am officially revoking my former somewhat rocky relationship with Duraseal

I have a new love...

 slip on book covers from Warehouse Stationery!! woohoo, these babies are awesome! and only $1.95 each!!

they have boy ones too but forget to snap a pic before they went back to school.

What are you loving this week? Link up here to Paisley Jade.

** update... a link to buy the book covers.

http://www.warehousestationery.co.nz/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/WSL-B2C-Site/en_NZ/-/NZD/ViewOfferDetail-Product?CatalogCategoryID=MykKBTHBMtwAAAEdR00MoH00&ProductUUID=AXAKBTHBMEoAAAElZRoFxJg5&JumpTo=OfferList