Feather wreath

I've always quite liked wreaths but I've never had one. So when I saw two silver wicker wreath forms at B&Q for 10p each (!) I snapped them both up.

Yesterday I took one and hauled out the two white feather boas I've had forever and wrapped the boas around the wreath form. I didn't glue or pin them, just tucked the ends under. I added a length of turquoise ribbon and stuck it to the mirror in the studio with a thumb tack. Voila - my el-cheapo feather wreath!

The House Game

I share quite a few ideas here on my blog, but I hardly ever post a follow-up and you probably assume my ideas always work out.

They don't.

Remember Daniel's bunk bed shelf? He didn't like it. He said he felt like it was going to fall on him and then when he tried to push it further along the rail it broke. I never fixed it (what's the point if he doesn't like it?) So that idea was a bust.

And then remember the summer holiday schedule clock? Well, the battery in the clock died right after I made the little icons and I never got around to replacing it. Well, I asked Grant to replace it because he has an elaborate system of batteries that are charged, batteries that are waiting to be charged and batteries that are supposed-to-be-charged-but-act-like-they-are-flat. I can never find a working battery so that's why I never bothered to do it myself. Grant never got around to it so we never actually used the clock!

But The House Game ... The House Game actually works!! I know, I was shocked too.

Especially since it involves making my children work.

Ah, work ... it's a whole other post I've been meaning to do (along with answering your organising questions, which I haven't forgotten about.) Work isn't just something that is necessary, it is something that is so important for our self-esteem, minds and bodies. But like I said, that's another post. My point is, I wanted to get my kids working around the house more, and this is what I came up with.



Okay, well, not at first - to start with, it was just a numbered list scribbled on a piece of paper. It still worked.

On the list (or printed, cut out and stuck onto this patterned paper in a frame) are 12 numbers.

Next to (or below) each number is a room or chore. They go like this:

1 - Hall
2 - Studio
3 - Lounge
4 - Kitchen
5 - Landing
6 - Bathroom
7 - Daniel & Noah's bedroom
8 - Mommy & Daddy's bedroom
9 - Laundry
10 - Throw again
11 - Parent's choice
12 - Vacuum

The boys each take turns to throw the dice. If they throw, for example, a 3 and a 5 then that adds up to 8 and we run upstairs and do Mommy & Daddy's bedroom. (To start with, they throw with one dice until the hall gets done.)

My goal is to keep them moving. As I make the bed in my bedroom I visually scan the room and give them jobs to do (replace shoes in the wardrobe, bring me pillows off the floor, open the curtains, etc) until the room is done.

As I unload the dishwasher in the kitchen they are clearing the table and wiping it, putting away snacks, straightening the chairs.

As I fold the blankets in the lounge they are putting the remote controls where they belong, straightening the cushions on the couch, picking up toys.

When we are busy downstairs we have a plastic tub into which we throw all toys and things that belong upstairs, and then when we are done we take the tub up and put the things away.

When we do laundry it means that I am folding clean laundry and sending them off to put things away, or they fill a plastic tub with dirty laundry and take it to the cellar and put a load on to wash (Daniel can do this by himself, Noah helps him).

We are working together.

They enjoy it because it's fair (we are all working together, nobody is slacking off) and because it's not overwhelming (one room, one mini task in that room at a time) and they don't have to think, just do the little tasks I give them. They don't have time to stop and think, get bored or protest.

When I decide that we will play The House Game it is non-negotiable - but I usually let them know what will happen when we are finished (they can have a treat, we can go out, they can do a craft, etc).

It's amazing how quickly the house gets picked up and how good the boys feel about themselves afterwards!

I've only played this game with them with tidying, not so much cleaning (dusting, polishing, wiping, except in the kitchen), but that will follow.

So I just wanted to share this little game that works for us! I'm excited to try the framed version - I plan to use a dry-wipe marker to cross off each room as we do them.

If you try The House Game with your family please let me know how it goes!

Daniel's new glasses

We had a letter from Daniel's optician recommending that he come for a checkup (six months since his last one). I made the appointment and we went down and his test revealed that his eyes had weakened slightly. Thankfully, with the NHS we don't pay for children's eye appointments or the glasses. Here's Daniel in his new specs - he chose some trendy black and white frames.

Product recommendation

I have to brag about the fantastic carpet cleaner I found.

This was my carpet this morning, after the boys got fresh black shoe polish on it (!) and after I spritzed the cleaner on it.



This is the carpet cleaner I used - spritz on, wait 30 seconds and then dab off.



This is my carpet after.



I love it! It's like a miracle product. I can't remember where I bought it, but Google "Chem Dry Stain Extinguisher" and I'm sure you'll find a place to buy it. It's invaluable, especially when you have kids in the house!

New Zealand update

Grant has booked his flight to and appointments in New Zealand. He'll be going over for 3 weeks early next year, during which he will complete physical tests, psychometric tests, a first aid certificate, defensive driving course and interview.

As you can imagine, I'm not looking forward to his being away for so long but I feel more sorry for him than for me - he has to endure the flights there and back, go through the rigorous testing process and come home with a real idea of what New Zealand is like, complete with a longing to return. I don't know what I'm missing so I won't have as much impatience to get there.

He is also waiting on police clearance from South Africa. Anyone who has dealt with any kind of South African bureaucracy will be cringing in sympathy right about now.

A whole decade

Ten years ago today Grant and I arrived in England, exhausted, excited, dazed and elated. We'd spent the night on an aeroplane, not sleeping a wink, on our way to our new life with all our worldly possessions in two suitcases, a suit bag and two carry-on bags (and 6 boxes which were being freighted over). I had a splitting headache by the time we arrived and my first purchase in the UK was a box of aspirin (I still have the box!) and a bottle of water.

Although it feels like a lifetime ago and a world away I will always remember those winter days as we toured London, found a flat to live in and registered with employment agencies. It was such an emotional rollercoaster, taking us from the highs of excitement, wonder, hope, dreams, and pride in every little accomplishment and purchase to the lows of homesickness, longing for family and friends, bewilderment, culture shock, disappointment, stress, loneliness, frustration and exhaustion.

I get quite emotional when I think of how privileged we have been to be able to make this move to the UK and build a life here, and for the opportunities and experiences (both good and growth-promoting) that have come our way.

As excited as we are for our new life in New Zealand, I know I will miss England dreadfully. I know I will board that emotional roller-coaster all over again and homesickness will be waiting for me again - but I also know it is worth it, if only for the experiences and personal growth.

So, to my wonderful husband Grant, happy ten year UK anniversary. There's nobody I'd rather dream with and follow my dreams with.

Trick or treat layout

Daniel layout

Dinosaur layout

Do you mind? layout

Lunch layout

Invitation

This is the invitation I made for Daniel's baptism (yes, you're all invited).



I had them printed as white-bordered 4x6 inch prints and stuck them onto 5x7 inch pearlescent charcoal cardstock. I also stamped the envelopes with swirls in the corners on the front and "You're invited" on the back flap.

I am so blessed

Picture perfect - our bedroom and ensuite

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Our bedroom (8)

Above our bed are three Ribba frames from Ikea. In them are fabric monograms that I made (click here for details).



On my bedside table are two frames with pictures of my boys. They are quite dated and I need to get new pictures printed.



On the wall between the windows are two big metal frames that I got (with the prints in) for £1 each at a car boot sale. They are just perfect for the space!



On the left hand wall is the collage I made using a cabinet door (click here for details).





Ensuite (1)

Above the basin is a black Ribba frame from Ikea and in it is my "tasteful nude" of Noah (click here for details).



So that brings us to the end of this Picture Perfect series, showing 69 pieces of artwork / photos in my home! I hope that I have been able to give you some ideas for artwork around your home and shown that it can be done on a budget. Thanks for reading!

Picture perfect - the boys' bedroom

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The boys' bedroom (9)

Since we didn't paint the boys' bedroom (it's cream) and they have white furniture and curtains I added colour with the bedding and pictures.



Above the radiator is a grouping of four frames - these are also Ikea Ribba frames but they were all different colours. I spray painted then white and added photos of the boys and photos I took of their artwork (click here for details).



Above the chest of drawers are two ultra-cheap frames from Ikea that I painted white. I added some colourful scrapbooking paper and a 5x7 inch print to each.



There are three frames at the end of the boys' bunk beds:



I bought them in the reduced price section of TK Maxx for next to nothing. Two of them were brown and one was caramel-coloured and all were scuffed. I painted them with acrylic paint and added some photos of the boys with their grandparents.

Picture perfect - bathroom

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Bathroom (3)

These are inexpensive Ikea Ribba frames that I painted dark brown with acrylic paint. I added my own photographs.

Picture perfect - landing

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Landing (4)

I don't think I've ever posted pictures of our landing before. Here's a shot upward as I started ascending the stairs from the hallway - you can see the bathroom at the top of the stairs and you can just make out the corner of the pictures on the half landing:



Here's a shot from the bedrooms, facing back towards the bathroom and half landing:



Those three framed pictures are photographs I took when I first started out with photography. I still love them. The top one is of Noah in a flowerpot, you can see his chubby rolls and he has some drool dripping off his chin. Then there's a sweet one of the boys together, and then a photo I adore of Daniel looking so serious - you can see every detail of his exquisite eyes. He has the most incredible eyes ever.

The frames are 20x20 inch Ribba frames from Ikea, in oak.



The piece of wall between the boys' room and ours has a random light switch almost in the middle of it, but not quite. It's very annoying - I can't hang anything there.

Here's the wall to the right of our bedroom door, where the stairs continue up to Grant's parents' space. Those round things are the boys marble charts (click here for details - I've since removed the ribbon and they just hang on little nails) and then there is a pine frame with an old family photo. I would redo this bit but there's no real point since we're moving (I promise to do a New Zealand update post soon!)

Picture perfect - kitchen

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Kitchen (9)

This is one of the features I love in our home - the kitchen food pictures gallery. The frames were £4 each and I took the photos myself.



They look all higgledy-piggledy here but I have them as straight as possible in real life. They probably are still a little out, but you don't really notice (and trust me, I'd notice!)



And then on the windowsill I have a picture of the boys (sorry for the blown-out picture, the sun was glaring through the window).

New Zealand update

I have mentioned in previous posts our intention of moving to New Zealand. Finally I have an update on that - at the end of September Grant sent in his application to the police force in New Zealand and today we heard back that he has passed through the initial application stage! The next step is for him to fly out there for 2-3 weeks for all of the testing. He's hoping to do that in January. Once has passed that phase we will have to put our house here on the market and apply for Permanent Residency. Once our house sells we will move into a small flat so that we are ready to go when our PR comes through (they give you 3 months to come over).

There is a shortage of police in New Zealand and they are wanting to fill 300 positions in South Auckland by the end of next year. We're hoping Grant can fill one of those positions. In the meantime we have been doing lots of research and making our plans. We have decided to live in Pukekohe but we don't know where exactly Grant would be stationed. Once we know that we'll check how long his commute would be and possibly have to decide on an area closer to his work.

Thank you to my friend Amanda and my cousin Kyle (also a cop in South Auckland) who has helped us with our research! Can't wait to see you guys over there next year.

Picture perfect - living room

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Living room (26!)

Okay, 26 pictures sounds like a lot but it doesn't look like it in the room, I promise. There are so many mainly because they are small, but I do have a couple of big pieces.

Starting at the right hand wall as you walk into the living room I have four 8x10 inch wooden frames with nature photographs that I took. I staggered the frames for interest.





Moving around to the TV cabinet, there are two small photos there. A 4x4 inch print of the boys in a very inexpensive wooden frame and a small print in my crafted glassless frame - click here for details. The metal serves a purpose - it conceals the Wii remotes where they stand in the charger.





On the chimney breast we have this professionally-framed portrait of our boys displayed. Taking this photo took about ten years off my life (see here and here for details), so this photo will have pride of place above our fireplace for a long time!



On the mantlepiece are wedding photos. The first frame was super cheap, as was the dark wood one. the faux-suede one was a birthday present and the faux-stone one on the right was a gift from a friend who was visiting from Ireland.



Moving to the left hand corner ...



On the bench I have two pictures - one of Noah in a cheap straw-like frame that I intend to replace with one of Daniel, and a little canvas self-portrait that Noah painted at preschool (which is why I'd like the framed one to be of Daniel, or possibly a drawing of his). I painted a little Ikea easel with dark brown acrylic paint and distressed the edges so that the canvas is nicely displayed.



On the left hand corner wall I framed some photos I took of the boys goofing around. I alternated the frames vertically and horizontally for interest - they are all inexpensive 8x10 inch frames that I painted brown.



To the left of the sofa is another Ikea Malm nightstand that serves as an end table.



On it are two more framed shots of me with the boys when they were younger, and last year's family photo. The faux-suede frame was very cheap and the other was given to me by a friend visiting from New Zealand.



Okay turning around to the back wall, you can see the bookcase. (Do you like my little pumpkin salt and pepper shakers that I got at a car boot sale?)



These are the pictures on the bookcase:

A framed postcard of Jesus, and the two little pictures in the silver frame are of friends:



An off-beat picture of Noah playing:



Our boys and Preston temple:



And then on the wall next to the bookcase is a big brown frame I got for peanuts at a car boot sale, with a photo I took (click here for details):

Picture perfect - studio

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Studio (6)

Moving on into the studio. You've seen these pictures quite recently, but here they are again. The four frames above the desk were custom from my framer. I took the beach-themed photographs.



The picture on my desk is a 5x7 inch print of Daniel in Norway in an inexpensive faux-suede frame.



In one of the alcoves is a 24-inch canvas of a picture I took of Noah on his first birthday.

Picture perfect - hallway

I don't like blank walls in my home. I also don't like visual clutter. So I am quite particular about hanging just the right piece of artwork in a particular space.

The other day I realised I have over 60 pieces of art / photographs / framed items / canvases in my home! I thought it would be fun to post them all here on my blog. I also hoped to show that filling your home with art doesn't have to be expensive.

There are way too many pictures to have it all in one post, so I'll separate it out into different posts, room by room - the number in brackets is how many items in that room.

Hallway (3)

On the right hand wall as you enter is a beautiful brushed copper frame I bought at a car boot sale. It's a Venture frame - Venture is a very expensive portrait photography studio here in the UK. I bought it for £3 at a car boot sale. I peeled off the little Venture monogram and stuck an M (for Morris) sticker in its place. Then I cut a piece of fabric to stick in the place of a photo. It's the same fabric as that covering the seat cushion.





The frame isn't actually wonky, that's lens distortion (and my attempt to correct it in Photoshop).





Then on the left hand side you can see two framed photographs between the bench and the shelf unit. Click here for details. The frames were from a charity shop, I took the photos myself.







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Organising questions

So yesterday was my birthday and as a birthday present to me you can ask any organising questions you like. Because I love organising and solving organisation problems. So it would be like a post-birthday gift to me.

Having trouble storing anything? Can't get on top or organising something? Post your dilemma here and I'll do my best to help!

Treasure

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."

- Charles R. Swindoll

Sky and breeze

"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is."

- Mary Anne Radmacher

Beach weeds

"You will never find time for anything. If you want the time, you must make it."

- Charles Buxton

Neutralising

Our friends who are renting our house in Preston are moving out in January so we have decided to put the house on the market. Grant and I have spent three days weatherproofing the deck and log cabin and painting the kitchen (ceiling, door, backsplash and walls - two coats) and master bedroom (two coats - not quite finished).

The kitchen looks so different, as if all personality has been removed. Here are some pictures of how it looked when we lived there (red) and how it looks now, all neutralised for putting on the market:

Yellow and green

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul."

- Henry Ward Beecher

Splashing water

"It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts."

- K.T. Jong

Dune

"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities."

- Aldous Huxley