Saturday, June 7, 2014

Taking Stock - Mid year

Well its almost half way through the year and I think I can safely say that this is going to be a pretty cruddy year. Various little issues in my non-blogging life are making being my normal happy self a little harder to be and I've not spent anywhere near as much time sewing as I'd like. 

I guess I can be upset about my situation for as long as I like, but in reality I'm the only person who can get me out of this funk. So I decided that I will need to start being responsible in taking charge for my life, my productivity at work and how I spend my spare time!

Pip over at Meet me at Mikes regularly likes to 'take stock' so I thought I'd try it out. I've tried to be positive and you can have a try too if you like! It's fun!



  • Making : McCalls 8939 still. Though I'd really like to move onto my new shirt pattern (above)
  • Cooking : Planning on making a big ol' leg of lamb for tomorrows Sunday Roast
  • Drinking : Lots of tea - especially T2s French Earl Grey blend. Yummy!
  • Reading: The Biba Experience. An encapsulating gigantic book on Biba from start to finish
  • Wanting: This niggling little cough that I've had for 3 weeks to go away!
  • Looking: For some new illustrations to go on our walls. My boyfriend has decided that my girly/animal/cute pictures will need to be switched out for something we both like
  • Playing: An amazing iPhone game called Monument Valley. Its a beautiful game which uses geometry, surrealism and Escher-like castles to guide the character through places with some tricky bits thrown in. So much of it made me smile at its beauty and reminded me of my favourite book - Invisible Cities 
  • Deciding: On our meals for the next 2 weeks. Need to go grocery shopping tomorrow!
  • Wishing: For more sewing time
  • Enjoying: Sitting on my couch and catching up on blogs :)
  • Waiting: For my new coffee machine to be delivered next weekend! Yay!
  • Liking: Anything colourful, beautiful and happy. I need that more then the alternative right now
  • Wondering: If I perhaps bought a few too many patterns recently... 
  • Loving: That its a long weekend! Thanks Queenie!
  • Considering: My sewing projects and what I can make quickly in order to fill me with lots of warm and fuzzy feelings
  • Watching: A history doco on SBS - Medieval lives - Birth, Marriage, Death
  • Hoping: That I can get my shit together and do some more sewing soon!
  • Marvelling: At how sweet and intelligent Elephants are
  • Needing: A navy infinity scarf for winter
  • Smelling: My new purfume - Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau du Fresh 
  • Wearing: My jim-jams and a snuggly hoodie
  • Following: Lots of neat-o people on Pippit! Have you seen the cool new app? You can even add your own blog 
  • Noticing: All the new ways my body is moving and working after going to Yoga almost every Tuesday this year
  • Knowing: That at some point this week I'm going to have to go back to the gym regularly after a cold induced hiatus
  • Thinking: About all the different ways I can bring myself back to my old self
  • Missing: Nicole - my silly faraway friend/sister-in-law-to-be-one-day
  • Feeling: Quite run-down and exhausted
  • Admiring: Everything this girl is making lately
  • Sorting: Out various draws and cupboards in my house. Next is the sewing/technology/"other crap" draws
  • Buying: 70s sewing patterns - get ready for some new instalments of Sewing the 70s!
  • Getting: Tired of having a messy house! I think Monday will need to be a cleaning day
  • Pondering: If perhaps I should skip the cleaning and sew instead...? 
  • Bookmarking: Macramé kits - My friend and I are keen to try out some Macramé hanging pot holders
  • Disliking: Our Government. Enough said
  • Opening: My mind to all the excellent and wonderful women out there who have achieved so much in the world but have been ignored because of their gender
  • Giggling: At my cat. This morning as I was sitting on the couch checking my various social medias, my cat, who had been snoozing next to me quietly, suddenly woke up dramatically and launched himself vertically into the air and immediately down again and ran under the couch. I'm not sure what spooked him, but I laughed a lot and now have a scratch and bruise on my knee to remember it
  • Snacking: Rye crackers from Ikea with goats cheese spread and salty tomato's
  • Coveting: Everything from Gorman. Pity my pay-check only allows me to buy socks or shirts :(
  • Helping: Myself to some more Terry's chocolate orange!
  • Listening to: Van Morrison, The Fairport Convention and Jeff Buckley


You can try too if you like - just copy and paste. (But remember to put your own answers in of course!)

Thanks lovelies for taking the time to read! 
Cat xo

20 comments:

  1. Hi, Cat! Hard to believe we've hit mid year. Setting priorities, limits and boundaries and managing time are challenges that face us all. I wish you luck and good sense in sorting it out for yourself. You are on the right track drinking lots of tea and practicing yoga. I think it will also give you a boost to shake things up and put colorful new illustrations on your walls. I hope in the midst of your busy life you will set aside a little time to visit me. I value your friendship, dear Catherine. Hope you feel better soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! June already! I hope your are enjoying the summer even though I'm sure Florida is summery all year round! I am always behind on my blog reading but don't worry I will eventually read and comment in all of them! Thanks for the positive vibes and kind words always!

      Delete
  2. Oh I can relate to those first two paragraphs so so much! I started 2014 feeling like this year was gonna be great, and just...yeah. I'm even more bummed that it's halfway through the year already, I don't know where the time goes. You're completely right though in that a lot of it comes down to mentality. I hope it's nothing major that's been upsetting you and you'll begin to feel better soon. It seems as if you're on the right track to pulling yourself out of the blues. Colds certainly don't help, hopefully it'll surely be gone soon after 3 weeks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you lady! Your saying the right things and I'm totally agreeing with you! What has happened to this year?! I just need to stop being a sook perhaps? Haha! And funny that your mentioned "who knows where the time goes" I was going to post a song by the fairport convention of the same name but I chose Chelsea Morning cause it's way more positive and up beat!

      Delete
  3. Hey Cat! It feels like the time has gone so fast, can't believe it's mid-year already either. I hope you feel better and I hope you get more sewing time in!
    So cool that you are getting a new coffee machine. Coffee is vital in my book too :)
    I bought Marc Jacobs Daisy recently and I'm also loving it also.
    I can't tell you how flattered I am that you mentioned me, you have completely made my day! Your blog is my absolute favorite, so it means so much coming from you!! :).
    I really like the idea of this post, it's so important to celebrate all the good things and I also try to do this when I need to get out of a funk.
    Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I can be such a Debbie downer sometimes on this blog! Perhaps I should ban myself from whiny posts! Haha! And hey! You deserve it girl! You make so many awesome things! I was pretty bummed I couldn't come to the tour de south and meet you! But perhaps next time. And oh my I can't wait for that first cup of fresh coffee! My boyfriend are so excited!

      Delete
  4. Awwww, sorry to hear the year is a bit of a Debbie Downer. I know how you feel. Your list sounds great...sounds like there's to be happy about. Chin up Buttercup!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol!! Debbie Downer! That is totally what I have been calling myself! "Come on Debbie downer" I say. " get your butt behind that machine!" Ahh deary me! I think I need a holiday!

      Delete
  5. Sorry to hear you're having a crap year. Like you say, sometimes, when you can't change things around you which make you unhappy, you need to change your attitude to those things. I hope writing this post helped to make you feel a bit better.

    Have you heard about the 100 Happy Days challenge (http://100happydays.com)? A couple of my friends have done it, and they found it really helped to make them focus on the positive stuff around them - even if it was occasionally just their bed at the end of a hard day. I'm thinking about giving it a try...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! It always makes more sense when someone else says it! and yes I have tried waiting it out but it's not really helping. So I think in the end I need to have a new attitude towards things and perhaps that will flush out the negative vibes! I have seen people using the 100 days happy hashtag but I didn't know if there was a start date or something but I guess I could start anytime!

      Delete
  6. Sorry to hear you've been feeling down Cat, I hope things start to look a bit more positive for you soon and you manage to fit in some sewing time. I look forward to seeing your wonderful creations when you do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Perhaps I should take a sabbatical too?! Or just a short little holiday! I just done know where the time goes sometimes

      Delete
  7. Hey U !

    Just wonderful dresses You are making :-*

    Is anyone for sale, perhaps?

    Bets Regards Anette J Sweden

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! I only have one for sale at the moment. A blue mini dress. About a size 8. There is a link to the page with all the details at the top right of the blog site!

      Delete
  8. Sorry that this year has started off a bit shoddily for you. I like your list and totally agree, if you can't change things at least try and change your attitude.
    Hope you mange to make some time for sewing, its the best therapy there is - I need to crack on and you're always my inspiration. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww I know! I totally respect your advice as I know you've been in equally shitty situations! I must make a mantra. How would Vix handle this situation? Or HWVHTS. It's the new WWJD. I hope you like some of the new patterns I bought then! I got a bunch of 70s and late 60s ones recently!

      Delete
  9. Cat I'm sorry you're feeling down. You do come across as an exceptionally optimistic kind of girl, and your 'taking stock' looks pretty darn positive to me. I hope the crappiness in life does turn around for you. Look after yourself and keep on being fabulous. Cheers, Sarah :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks lady cakes! I try not to be a sad-sack on here too much but it's a blog so I guess I can write it if I'm feeling it! Time to inject some positivity into my head and life!!

      Delete
  10. I cannot even fathom how it's mid year already; the time is going by way too fast! I do hope things are or will be okay with you! Sending lots of good and positive vibes your way ♥

    Oh goodness, aren't Terry's Chocolate Oranges just an absolute blessing?! Yet another weakness of mine.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm with you in hoping the next 6 months of this year are easier than the first 6 months have been. I hope things pick up soon.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comment! Please do not comment anonymously - feel free to use the Name/URL option instead as I’d still love to hear from you xo

*Spam comments will be swiftly deleted, so please do not bother

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.