Inspire Me Thursday - New Year Resolutions

I have written my resolutions a little differently this year. Most years I make a list of things I want to achieve, but I decided not to make a to-do list this year. Instead, I am listing some words I want to use as a theme for the year. I couldn't choose one single word for the year so I chose many. With the words I have mainly focused on being a parent for the first time, organisation and savouring every moment of being a parent.

Life Savour / Spirit / Love / Friendship
Relationships Attention / Listen / Openness / Support
Art and Domestic Order / Confidence / Creativity / Growth

I also plan to start an art journal using mainly pen and ink. I'll use a little collage and watercolour when I want some colour and texture!

New Years Day

We had an evening picnic with my Dad and Janice who are visiting from Sydney. There was a beautiful sunset, unfortunately I didn't get any good shots of it. Here are some photos of black swans and ducks on the Swan River.


Oh Christmas stick, Oh Christmas stick...

Last year we went to the Swan Valley and selected a real tree. This year we have the budget version, I bought the sticks at a florist for $6. They resemble driftwood, I think of it as our summer Christmas tree. We laugh at it every time we look at it, I think it's the lights wrapped around the bottom. I love my green Santa carving, I bought it around 7 years ago when we were living in Sydney.

So many changes

I'm thinking about so many things at the moment. I'm trying to get things organised around the house while I have the time and energy and can still (sort of) bend over. I feel like the house has so many little things that need fixing, painting etc. We will probably be moving on in a year or so, and it would be nice to have it looking great when we do.

I felt so inspired to do art while I was at work, I had so many things in my head I wanted to create. Now I just feel overwhelmed by all the things I want to do! I am encouraged by this post by Penelope Dullaghan. I need to do my own thing and not compare myself to other people. I will get out my art diary and create, draw, scrawl, and see what happens. My style is so all over the place right now, it needs to move on to something new. I also need to stop procrastinating, the internet is such a time waster.

I am moving on from my past in many ways. In my new life as a mother, and working for myself again.

Even the way I dress is changing. Not just because I'm not going to work and I am getting bigger, but because I can relax a bit and wear dresses, skirts and sandals every day. It feels great!



I wanted Steve to take a photo of my chai that says chai on it. You know, just in case I wasn't sure what I was drinking.

We are enjoying our remaining days as just the two of us.

Melbourne trip with Jen


Jen and I flew to Melbourne for a weekend of shopping, markets, good food, exploring and getting swept away by the wind and rain. The photo above was taken at Melbourne Central shopping centre, which is built around this old building. The photo below is of Jen at the chocolate shop on Lygon Street. We were so stuffed already from our big dinner that all we could stomach was a pot of Chai.