Buy nothing new Month.

Today is not only the first day of October it is also the start of Buy Nothing New Month. I have taken the pledge and believe it is very achievable to do.  I love to recycle and upcycle things so hoping to be a great month.  But if I get stuck I will be begging and bartering with my family or friends. 

 

 

I truly love heading out to check out the second hand shops in the area.  I have over the years picked up some amazing things and since I am now dieting I believe they will be my best friend for quite awhile.  Plus I know I am helping out a charity.  After my spring clean over this weekend I have 6 bags of goodies heading to the local charity bin to be recycled.

 

 

Would love to see others join me on this quest.  It is only for a month.  Lets look at it and see how easy it is.  This does not include essential items like food, medicines, hygiene things.  During this month when you need to buy a non essential item think "Do I really need this"and if you do "Can I buy this second hand".  Most times you can.  We have many websites available.  Ebay and Gum Tree come to mind.  I know in my region at the tip we have the recycling centre plus we have some great shops in the region like Reverse Garbage.  Salvo's have massive shops.

 

Come join me.  Think of the money you could save and how many items you stop from going into landfill.

 

 

 

Have a great week everyone.

 

 

Sue x

Scavenger Hunt- Solitary Tree

Once again I am joining in the fun of the Scavenger Hunt over at Deb's this week.

 

All these were taken last christmas in various parts of Tasmania when we were on holiday.s

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sue x

Soaps Up!

Apparently I heard a whisper that Christmas is not to far away which means the next couple of weeks are very busy for me.  I have a few markets and christmas markets to attend up until christmas so the last couple of weeks I have been busy making and creating some gorgeous soaps.  Thought I would share some photo's with you.

Definitely has been a busy couple of weeks.

Sue x

One full week and going great.

Its just been a week since I started this diet.  Last weekend was a bit hard with the family deciding Macca's for breakfast was happening and Pizza for dinner.  While I walked on that treadmill they were busy having a feed of grease.  I am no longer a fan of Macca's and don't really enjoy their meals anymore.  Any way 1 cheat this week was a glass of red wine.  So far I have lost just over 4kg which is great.  I am exercising now and walking more.  I am finding that my feet are not swelling and I have more energy.  I not really feeling hungry but by Monday this past week I had a headache all day.  I think my body was craving the sugar.  I can remember what it was like when I gave up smoking and the cravings I had there.  I am enjoying going to my daughters place and using the Fat Wobbler and the Treadmill.   Plus the grandchildren are joining me.  Anyway I have a long way to go before my ideal weight.  I have noticed my jeans are already looser and think I will be visiting the op shops in the area for clothes until I reach a weight I am happy with.  Below is a photo of me when I was about 22.   Alot smaller than what I am today. 

 

 

Diet Time

I am normally not a big fan on dieting.  I have to admit I love my food and growing up my Mum was always on a diet.  I felt I didn't want to be like that for years.  Always watching my weight but due to a health scare I thought I should really look at losing some weight.  I am a large cuddly woman and have become larger over the last 4 years.  Four years ago I managed to give up a 40 a day cigarette habit but I think that was the start of the weight gain.  Instead of craving for nicotine I replaced that addiction with sweet, creamy rich foods. I have decided to try the meal replacement meals.  I know alot of people have tried them and had loads of success but I know some people say they don't work.  What have I got to lose only weight.  Any way I have at least 40 kg to shift.  I am on day 2 and feeling pretty good.  I have started exercising.  Nothing major.  Thankfully my daughter has a treadmill and this amazing machine that I call the Fat Wobbler that I use.  She only lives a street away.  The weekend is here I am determined not to buckle under the pressure.  I have just finished my shopping and have loads of fresh fruit and vegies to tied me over.

Each week I will blog on how I am going and any failures I have had over the week.  I have put up a picture of what I look like now.  The photo isn't to old.

Wish me luck.
Have a great weekend.

 

 

 

Beautiful Boy

 

 

 

 

 

Sue xxx

 

Saturday with friends.

I love this time of the year.  Maybe its the weather.  It truly was a magical weekend this weekend.  William was away on a fabulous Foodies Weekend which by the size of the strawberries he came back with from the farm was an enjoyable weekend.  He headed to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.  DH went for a bike ride and I spent the most fabulous time  with two special friends.  Narelle, Melinda and I spent the day exploring Reverse Garbage at Woollongabba.  If you have never been there you are missing out on a wonderful place.  I stumbled across this place when they were at their old site down near the river about 2 years ago and love coming in and picking up my stash of treasures for my creations.  All three of us left there with loads of goodies.  I managed to get some vintage rolls of wallpaper, pink hook things, scraps of bridal material and some strips of sheer fabric in all the colours of the rainbow for my collection.  This place is full of stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

After our visit we decided to head to the lunch destination.  A cute little nursery over on Stanley Street which has a cafe and giftshop.  The Cottage Nursery.  Well since the Clem 7 tunnel has been opened the original route was changed.  Narelle and I took the lead with Mel following.  Let me say one the first "Thank you Narelle for being the driver this time"OMG we had such a time getting there.  Stanley Street East is a one way and we were heading the opposite way.  First we got stuck on the Riverside Expressway and ended up doing the loop getting off at Margaret Street then back on the Expressway.  Mel took over the lead.  She had the Iphone with the GPS in it.  Anyway during the drive we got lost a few times.  Had plenty of laughs but we finally arrived at our destination about 45 minutes later.  The place was beautiful and thank goodness I haven't activated my credit card or I could of spent some serious money in there.

 

Lunch was amazing.  But we could of been anywhere having lunch.  It was the company.  The three of us get together every couple of months and just talk about anything.  Our family, holidays, hobbies,work everything you can think of.

 

 

Not having my camera there I would of loved to have taken loads of photos but had the mobile phone to use.  The menu was beautiful.  I had the Slow cooked Pork Belly with Lime and Cumquat butter sauce and Seared Scallops.  Yummy and for dessert we all picked the same thing.  Creme Brulee with Crossiant filled with Rose Water jelly.  We were in heaven.

 

The lunch went to quick and eventually it was time to go.  One more get to gether before Christmas.  The next one is at a Day Spa.  Our treat to ourselves.

Thanks Narelle and Mel for a fabulous Saturday.

Sue xx





 

Scavenger Hunt- In my garden

Joining in on the fun from Deb from Ramblings of a Square Peg in a Round Hole in the Scavenger Hunt.  This week is In my Garden.  Enjoy the photo's.  I love this time of year.  Everything has new growth.  Flowers are out and my vegetable gardens have come to life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Gathering

First of all I would love to wish all the Father's around the world a Happy Fathers Day.  We had a magical day here.  Being the second day of spring the weather is perfect.  Today we also had a birthday party to attend.  My youngest grandson celebrated his second birthday this week so a party was in order.  The day was full of tears, laughter, and of course the christening of the new play area that my son in law Adam built for Eli and their number 2 baby which is due in January.  I really love days like today when all the kids get together with all my grandbabies.  Bill and I are so blessed to have the most amazing children ever plus the added bonus of 4 adorable grandchildren and another on the way.  Life is so wonderful.

Its my party and I'll cry if I want too.

Catching bubbles.  3 of my 4 grandbabies.

I'm telling Grandma what you are doing!

Just playing in the sun.  Callum my oldest grandson.

Happy Birthday Eli.

What only one cupcake!



My four kids (Sorry 3 kids and hubby)

It truly was a magical day for the family to get together.

 

 

 

Sue  x