Friday, December 09, 2011

Favourite Things Friday

Another Friday - another favourite. I hope you're all managing to stay sane and calm in the lead up to Christmas. I think we can safely say I have officially lost it. 

With less than two weeks to go before I start my Summer Holidays (for almost 7 weeks! - I'm going to have so much fun doing nothing) I'm officially counting down the days. And with all the things that are going on at work and home you'd think I wouldn't have any time for creative thoughts and brilliant ideas or to fit one more thing in.  But this week has seen my brain working overtime and a plethora of brilliant ideas just keep popping in there and once my brain processes the thought it says "Brilliant-you can fit that in before Christmas". And who am I to ignore my brain? I love being inspired and challenged and working to tight  deadlines and  that is my favourite thing this week. 

It doesn't matter that with 70 working hours left until I start the aforementioned holiday that I have 300 hours worth of work to do. So what if I'm only about 1/3rd done with my Christmas gift shopping and have had parcels destined for the post office packed and sitting here since about Monday . And  we don't really  need to eat anything particularly special for the Christmas season.  ...Baked ham and chimchurri beef is highly over rated. My current Christmas grocery list has draining paper and gherkins on it. I can probably make a meal for the hoards that will be here for breakfast out of that.( I'm taking gherkin and draining paper recipe suggestions if you have any) 

I must make an apron (or two or three ) out of this fabric line which I love but cant see myself making a quilt out of. But I'm going to have to buy the pattern first.  

I must make another quilt using these fabrics (and some other fabrics too that I haven't cut yet )I can finish another quilt before Christmas in addition to the two full sized ones I'm also planning to complete can't I? ? It's only a little quilt. 


And while I'm at it I decided it wouldn't take all that long to knock up a few bibs. Bibs don't take long and you can never have enough bibs.


I'm planning a project with two of these manky footstools that I found by the side of the road.  (How many of you secretly think that's kind of gross?)


My front verandah needs a makeover. It looks woeful. I have a head bursting full of ideas to make this look like something out of a magazine cover (or at least less like the entry to a crack house ) Do you like my 99 cent bucket plant pots? Classy.


I'm going to update these old cushions that have been lurking around since August ...


And as if that list isn't completely unachievable all on it's own I've decided that the sewing room update I decided to do while I'm on holidays needs to be done BEFORE Christmas so I'm off to Ikea today. 


The scary thing is that these are the ideas I've had this week ...who knows what I'll think of next week ! But you know what? I can do this. I am woman -hear me roar. I have blind faith I can do anything I put my mind to. (even if it drives me into a nervous breakdown in the process) 

I want to confess that this week I have cooked dinner once - on Monday - and that was only because Little P was here and has nutritional needs.  It's been pizza and Maccas and eating out  all the way for the rest of the week and I'm not planning to cook tonight either. That's how you get things done. And I'm not planning any housework for the next two weeks either. Or any sleep....


So what's your Favourite Thing this week ?

32 comments:

  1. I only put things on the curb when the cat peed on them...so yeah, kinda gross. ;) That's quite a bit of plans you've got there!

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  2. Good luck with all your "to do's" ... Though it doesn't sound like you'll need it.

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  3. I knew what my favourite thing was going to be until I saw that photo of pizza. Now I want THAT to be my favourite thing please!

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  4. ha! I love your post. I no longer feel guilty for not cooking this week. Unless you count the Christmas cookies I just made with my son.. but being honest, they didn't turn out that great. But we decorated them to death and had fun and that's all that matters right? Is it bad that I kind of love the footstool project? I mean, unless they do smell like cat pee.. But if they don't, I can't wait to see how they turn out! I love a good makeover project. :) Good luck with all of those quilts and other projects!

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  6. I just can't get used to the fact that you guys have summer in December. I can't imagine a warm Christmas!

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  7. My fav is purchased gifts, and dinner out. You really need to learn to say "NO", my dear... and that is to your creative side. Some things are attainable, but should be started on Jan 1 for Dec. 24, 2012. (I've made myself nuts doing what you are doing, and I just can't do it anymore.) Hubby is writing out the Christmas cards and I'm wrapping the gifts, and that's it. (No kitchen, and very few places to be able to wrap a gift, made it mandatory to simplify this year. - I'm wondering what I can use for an excuse to simplify next year, too.)
    Hugs,

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  8. I love your ambitious thoughts. In previous years I too started to think I could accomplish so many things in a short time. This year I'm limiting my baking to a few requested cookies and the basic meals that we like. But I have started to make Christmas cards to send out so I guess I'm back to my old ways....

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  9. I'm so sorry Shay - you lost me at Ikea. What else did you say?
    Oh yeah - lots of takeaways and not cooking that's right. You are a woman after my own heart. How on earth do you think I get so much done? You cracked my secret right there baby - the kitchen and I are not friends!!

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  10. Love it! I think we're all getting a bit manic as the holidays quickly approach! Love the footstools - here we call 'em "ottomans" - they will be great - I also love that you are self-professed plant killer, but you are forever hopeful and have new plants around.

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  11. I'm so curious to see what actually gets done, and how many orderlies it takes to wrestle you into that strait-jacket on the way to the looney bin...

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  12. haha - good luck - aim high - only way to fly!

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  13. You are going to be working so hard on your 7 week break that it will be a relief to go back to work. lol

    Most items I see on curbs deserve to be there, but I've seen other people pick up great stuff. If you change out all the fabric and stuffing, I don't see anything gross about it.

    With my luck, anything I'd find on the curb would be like that commercial where the two guys see a great chair on the side of the road, load it into the back of their little SUV, drive down the road, turn to each other and sniff, and then you see them drive off with the chair back on the side of the road.

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  14. poops - i linked the wrong fave thing friday - that was from last month! have now put another one on - shay, can you plse delete the linky at spot no. 2? thnks!!

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  15. Looking forward to seeing the finished footstools! And.....what is this Christmas shopping of which you speak?

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  16. Girl, you are making my head all swimmy with your project list. I am reveling in my slog-dom/slackness when it comes to the holidays stuff. If I get the tree strung with lights that work this weekend, I'm calling it good.

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  17. You go girl!! Or should I say Wonder Woman? You can do it!!!
    Cheers
    Linda

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  18. I was doing fine with the pre-Chrissy stress until what my husband said actually registered...'it's only 2 weeks you know til Christmas!' I think I actually did the one foot nailed to the floor circles of sheer panic. I was feeling rather calm again until I read your post...Arghh!! I wouldn't be cooking dinner either. LOL!

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  19. What drugs have you been taking? I think I need some to start being even slightly productive.
    Ikea, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, love!

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  20. Hooly dooly!! Holely molely!! Busy bee!! That's a whole lot of project planning over there!!

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  21. If I ever decide to play "Keep up with Shay" remind me that I will lose. ☺ I'm excited for your holiday...cause I can't wait to see what you accomplish. Selfish, I know...but you are an inspiration! Happy Friday night! ☺

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  22. How do you get 7 weeks off in a regular job? Or is it because it is school hols?
    Looks like you will be little miss productive again and get loads done, enjoy.

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  23. Thanks so much for hosting this fun party.
    Don't work too hard and don't forget to breath....:))

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  24. Inspiration! It is indeed a lovely feeling and you should enjoy every drop.

    Do send us the address of the nearest asylum, so we may send cards and letters, won't you?

    ;-)

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  25. I'm right there with you. I've got 2 more table runners to finish and am thinking of adding two more. I decided a couple of days ago to make pillowcases for nieces and nephews (11), I'd like to get a quilt put together and I'm hoping to throw together some ornaments (which take about 3 hours each) to give the neighbors. I'd also like to finish up several other projects, all before Christmas. What am I thinking? Crazy.

    I guess our best option is to stock up on caffeinated stay-awake products and plan on sewing straight through the next two weeks. At the end of it all, you and I can enjoy a padded cell together.

    xo -E

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  26. Not cooking isn't a crime, but those footstools are! I hope disinfectant is part of the reno job. Setting too many goals for two weeks before Christmas is a female tradition the world over, I think! Good luck on reaching some of them. 7 weeks off, wow, that has never happened in my adult life. Can I become an Australian by proxy and get the school holidays too?

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  27. I think your roadway finds are neat! Everything can be cleaned and they're going to look fabulous when you've recovered them. I been spending all day today working on my two color quilt. I linked it because I'm so glad to be almost done with it even though it says it's from Thursday. I'm feeling giddy knowing I'm coming to the end of this one.

    How marvelous that you are having a seven week vacation! Wow.

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  28. I am back to reading the blogs after three weeks of no computer. I love pizza and make my own as you must remember, however here in Florida, I buy prepared dough. It is pretty good but am wanting my own.
    My Chrismas list is being done by my darling daughter this year, with only a bit of me put into it.
    I do not have a list till cottage time, then it begins.

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  29. Seven weeks! Wow! I am living on the wrong continent and working in the wrong profession.

    I need to make some bibs too ..

    I don't think the footstools are at all gross. I have a dear friend who used to always pick stuff up and she found some incredibly great things. As they say, one man's junk ..

    You are my role model. I need to try to be more like you.

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  30. Shay...you are my hero. End of story. xoxo

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  31. OK I quit. You've worn me out! I'll be dead impressed if, no, when you get it all done!
    Seems so wierd that you are about to start summer hols. It's minus 4c here this morning.

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  32. I can't wait to see what you do with those footstools. And I'm jealous you get away with cooking once a week. There. I said it. But you know what else? You seriously deserve seven weeks off.

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