June Goals Review

Here's how my month went:

• Finish, frame and hang my crossstitch - done!
• Keep up the videos - done!
• Celebrate Isabella's birthday - done (still tidying up)!
• Three exercise sessions per week - 3/4 weeks.
• Get caught up with my crochet projects - on track but not quite.
• Get on top of the garden - nope.
• 3 DIY projects - nope.

Took on a bit too much this month but with holidays in July I'll be looking to correct that!

Currently...

...winding down for Summer.
...easing up on myself.
...planning the fourth birthday party of the century.
...watching European property shows.
...enjoying the slightly cooler weather.
...drinking more tea.
...learning while I teach.
...getting craftier.

Make it Monday - June Birthday Cards

Most of the June birthdays for us are in our German family and they don't really do cards.

Yesterday I finally used some of my black card stock. I jazzed it up with tape after I saw a tutorial online. I'm really pleased with it and it's a bit different.

Isabella turns four this month and I wanted to make her a special card. I used this big 4 and brightened it up with my Gonis gel paint. Then I stamped some flowers which matches what she did for her invitations.

June Goals

Here are my goals for this month:

• Finish, frame and hang my crossstitch.
• Keep up the videos.
• Celebrate Isabella's birthday.
• Three exercise sessions per week.
• Get caught up with my crochet projects.
• Get on top of the garden.
• 3 DIY projects.

June Goals Review

Here's how I did this month:

• 2 letters - 1 done
• 3 recipes - done!
• Plant flowers in the garden - done!
• Make soap - done!
• Register for the C1 exam - done!
• Cycle tour - done!

Not bad for such a busy month with a week away and a week of third birthday celebrations.

Currently...

...enjoying the sunshine.
...saying goodbye to one phase of life.
...making plans for the next one.
...chasing around after our little crawler.
...preparing for 3rd birthday party #2.
...spending more time in the kitchen.
...drinking decaf.
...eating too much cake.
...watching the new Orange is the new Black.
...dreaming of a holiday.

June Goals

This is going to be a really busy month for us with our trip to England and Isabella's birthday so I'm keeping it fairly simple:

• 2 letters
• 3 recipes
• Plant flowers in the garden
• Make soap
• Register for the C1 exam
• Cycle tour

June Goal Review

Here's what I wanted to do this month:

• plan and have a first birthday party - done!
• take a family photo - done!
• plan and go on a four day class trip - done!
• sew a dress - in progress....
• research a memory box system - not yet.

Currently...

...planning our first children's birthday party.
...preparing for Ristedt with my class.
...working long and hard.
...forgetting to set my alarm! Oops!
...enjoying the warmer weather.
...appreciating all I have.
...drinking raspberry pop.
...ordering fancy outfits for weddings and balls this summer.
...laughing at Isabella's new expressions.
...feeling proud of our feline baby and his outdoor exploits.
...looking forward to dad's visit.
...hoping for a long summer.

June Goals

Here's what I want to do this month:

• plan and have a first birthday party
• take a family photo
• plan and go on a four day class trip
• sew a dress
• research a memory box system

Make It Monday - June birthday cards

I liked the May birthday cards so much that I used the same idea this month. I decided to experiment with colour more.

The pink and blue play really well on the cream card and I'm really pleased with the contrast number one for our girl's first birthday this month. (Where did that go??)

I'm thinking of experimenting with shape more next month if I can get hold of a different shape cutter.

June Project Life

As predicted, this took me a little longer this month. That was partly because everything is taking a bit longer at the moment but also because there was so much to include this month.

I started with the usual text journaling and covering what happened 'before Isabella'. I love the yellow section on the right above which recaps our last baby preparations.

The main new thing in this spread is the large family photo on the right above. I hope to get lots more of these in.

The rest of the spread was full of Isabella, and grandad's first visit. The project is finally full with people!

I love these photos and that being a daddy has gotten Nico back into photography. You can see the quality of his photos. This is also the first spread with a good mix of tablet camera photos and the Pentax.

Currently...

...waiting patiently for the stork.
...drinking lots of water and tea.
...trying to stay cool in this heat!
...reading Gone With the Wind.
...enjoying our time as two.
...catching up with friends.
...getting very crafty in our new sewing workshop.
...watching the tomato plants shoot up.
...nesting.
...eating lots of risotto.
...feeling glad that the midwife is back from holidays.
...house-hunting.
...listening to the chirpy neighbourhood birds.

Marbling!

I read this post a while ago and with the time, energy and materials to try it, I finally got around to it this week.

It combined one of my ‘30 things‘ goals (trying a new craft medium), making my June birthday cards and listening to some music with the bump (I'm sure this baby will be a professional dancer one day).

The whole technique is tricky and I underestimated just how messy but I'm pleased with the results. I found it easier to work with cooler water so that the colours didn't clump on the stick (see Elise's tutorial for instructions and better examples).

I would have liked to take more photos of the process but it's good for my tablet that I didn't. I did ruin one Tupperware, one pair of washing up gloves and a sponge. I also suspect I'm high from nail polish and spiritus fumes and may be in big trouble with the hubby when he gets home...we'll see.

I'm also not sure I like the cards that picked up less colour but they are growing on me and I love the colour combination which was coincidence based on what was in my collection.

I recommend this craft idea but recommend you use disposable gloves, containers, etc and open all the windows!

Goal Review

So, it's the end of another month already and it's time to round up those goals.

The order of service is not quite finished - I have been trying hard but Idee is not cooperating in that they are permanently out of stock of the products I need...the inside is done, and I am as far as I can be with the outside at the moment.

Wedding finances are sorted!

I fell a little behind on the mile a day - mainly due to the hot weather at the start of the month.  Once project week started, I started running on a morning and upped my route to 2 miles a day to catch up.  I have averaged one mile a day even if I didn't quite achieve it.  I have certainly run more than I would have, had I not set this goal.

I did indeed get in touch with some old Erasmus friends from Barcelona and heard back from them.  It feels great being in touch with them again.

I completed a new scarf and I am much more satisfied with this one.  I like the mix of colours and the wool was a better, warmer quality too.  Between that and the wedding planning, it's been a crafty month!

A I posted on earlier this month, the balcony is sorted and looking great!

June Goals