My Birthday

I had a wonderful birthday this year. I took Monday off work and we traveled down to Hawkes Bay to spend it with some of the fam-bams. Had an amazing dinner of roast lamb, kumara, potatoes, yams, pumpkin and some beans. Fantabulously yummy! And then apple pie for dessert and some of my Mum's homemade birthday cake. So that was Sunday night.

On my actual birthday AJ and I went shopping and got some awesome new clothes. So nice to have a husband who likes to go shopping with me. He's seriously amazing. Now I'm really overdue to go through my wardrobe and get rid of things. On the bright side, I went through my teenage clothes left at my parents place (it only took my 6 years). Most of it is to be donated.

So yah, awesome birthday and miss HB already.

My birthday present

So AJ decided that since we're going away for my birthday that I needed an 'at home birthday'.

So we celebrated it on Sunday. HE GOT ME A SEWING MACHINE!!!! Awesomest husband ever. 
So far, I've tested out all the different stitches and have been finding some ideas of what to make online. I think one of my first things to try and make will be a maxi skirt or something. 

Can't wait to start creating. Watch out Spotlight!

Employment

I finally have a job!

Had my first day at Manukau Farmers today and it was quite fun.
Four weeks of training and then I'm at the new Pukekohe store (which, btw, is going to look fantastic once it's open!).
The store manager for the Pukekohe store came in today and gave me a huge hug to welcome me to the team! Everyone is so nice and get along so well. Fantastic understanding customers too. If you're honest with them and say that you're just learning they're amazingly patient. 

I'm exhausted now, but at least I have a job that I can see myself enjoying. 

Bring on tomorrow!

Sunsets

As the sun set tonight I was standing out on the deck with Andrew just watching. The sky went a beautiful bright orange which set off all sorts of amazing colours around our garden. The dahlias are blooming a bright yellow, and the sunset just made them pop that little bit more.  A rose bush blooming bright pink is even brighter in this light. And all of the greenery of our little patch of paradise went even greener.

I love sunsets. Growing up next to the river, I'd take solitary walks up the river, sit on logs and watch the sun set reflecting on the river making it sparkle. Seeing the willows and hearing the paradise ducks calling to each other just makes my day. I can't wait to be able to do that again.

Update

Here's an update on my 13 before 2013.

• Been making lots of Christmas cards. I almost have enough for all my overseas friends.
• Been working on the scarf whenever the T.V. is on. Not sure I'll get it done by the end of the year but I'm working on it at least.
• Have done 2 things off my mending pile. They were easy - just sewing a button back on.
• Andrew and I have decided to do the windowsills over summer when he has time off work. So could be late 2012 or early 2013 that it gets done.
• Have weeded the garden a bit. Made a dent in the corner that was pretty much overgrown. 

That's all for now. Let's see what I get done today :)

13 Before 2013

I've seen this on quite a few blogs that I read and thought I'd give it a try.

There's so much that needs doing and I think that this will help keep me on track.

1. Make Christmas cards
   - I always send out quite a few Christmas cards each year and this year I've decided to make them using recycled materials. I buy the base card and envelopes but put everything else together using old cards and cut outs from magazines.
2. Finish knitting scarf
   - I'm determined to actually complete the scarf I started making a while back. It will be my first completed knitting project.
3. Complete mending
   - My mending pile has been sitting there for so long that it's about time I tackled it. Mostly simple things. One thing I actually need a sewing machine for so I'll leave that until I'm at my parents over Christmas. My aim is to get through everything that can be hand sewn.
4. Clean microwave
   - A simple job that I always seem to forget to do. 
5. Sort small spare room
   - We've been in this house for almost a year and this room still has boxes full of stuff. I need to sort through and find homes for things in here. If we don't want things anymore then I'll have a donate/sell pile.
6. Fix rotting windowsills and repaint
   - Our windowsills have a few places with rot. So we need to chisel out the rotten bits and put resin in. Then repaint. A job for both hubby and me.
7. Clean fridge and freezer
   - Another job that I always put off. It really needs doing. Might leave this one until it's reasonably empty in there.
8. Weed garden
   - I need to get on top of the weeding in the areas we've planted things. There's a certain area I find quite daunting but I need to suck it up and get it done.
9. Plant remaining plants
   - Mum and Dad came up with a pile of plants for our garden last month. We've planted most things but have a few things that we still need to find a home for.
10. Get rid of boxes in big spare room
    - We have a pile of boxes in the other spare room that we really need to put in the recycling as they're just gathering dust.
11. Clean and sort pantry
    - It's a jumbled mess in there. Need to get rid of a few things as well I think.
12. Clean and sort bathroom cupboards
    - Exactly what it says. 
13. Clean kitchen properly
    - AND KEEP IT THAT WAY! I have a terrible habit of letting our kitchen get too dirty. Time to fix that.

Frustrations

I am sick and tired of applying for jobs. And not hearing back from places, even if I have an interview.
Or, be told I have work, only to find out that they don't need me any more half a week before starting.

Why does it have to be so hard to find a job? Especially after 5 years of studying. I either don't have the experience or I'm overqualified. I just want a job. To earn a bit of money so I feel like I'm contributing something to our household.

Ah well. Things happen for a reason I suppose. I just wish I knew the reason behind all this for me.