Right Now

Me Right Now

Finally I get a chance to blog without the frustration of a slow internet and without the guilt of not organizing my house! Two months after the big move, and we still have boxes around us. We have been to the dump around five times in the space of two months, gave away 2-3 car loads of charity bags and boxes, AND WE STILL HAVE BOXES & BAGS AROUND US! This move has turned out to be a huge De-clutter Your Lives episode. I know simplicity is approaching.

I love the new place we live in. We are still in Auckland, but out in the bush/country. It's the atmosphere I dreamt about for my kids to grow up in. We are renting the place at the moment and are very happy! It feels so good to not have a mortgage right now, and we are in no hurry to sign up for one too.

I'm still decorating the inside of the house, so I'll show parts of our outside for now and the inside on a future post.

Almost everyday I am thankful we found this place, dispite no broadband connection and no TV... yup NO TV! Its alright though because we were hardly chained to it before in the old house and its actually really nice, nice not having the temptation to sludge out. O! we have rented a lot of DVD's though heehee!

No broadband connection has been a blessing in disguise too. I pay $50 NZD for two gigs a month! At first I was like... nooooooo we have to move... AGAIN! But I thought about it and found I can make it work with the business as long as I do big uploads and downloads at my sisters or brothers house. With the 2 gig allowance, I have to think about the sites I allow myself to "stumble" upon and use the net for mostly business, I have an exception to facebook and pinterest of course! But it means I can just get to other tasks around my home and this is exactly the way I want it to be. Especially now that I'm homeschooling two children - which I am loving by the way! 

Hey did you see the post about Kushee? It's my new gift store, have a browse when you have a few minutes!

So that's me right now... embracing the simple life, one box at a time!

Me Right Now + Two New Stores for 2012

Right now

I'm about to make some last minute shopping for pressies... I really hope it's not insane out there in the malls! Thank God I did half of my shopping on-line in the beginning of November.

I am looking forward to two Christmas feasts this week, one at my lovely in-laws and one hosted by me - for the first time! Its going to be fun! I'll make sure I share photos with you all.

My camera lens is not communicating with my camera (most of the time), after many attempts to dry and wet clean it,  I may have to buy a good simple point and shoot camera to get me through the holiday season, before I'm in any position to fix or buy a new Canon!

Next week I will be on Holiday in some part of the North Island, planned by my husband who wants to surprise me. But that plan didn't work when the property manager called to confirm his booking at such and such place with me! I laughed! ...at least he tried, and there's actually a second destination too.

In 2012

When I get back from holiday I will have three weeks to pack every single little thing inside my home for the big move. Still don't know where we are moving to - oh boy! But there are two main reasons why we have to move. Change of lifestyle and we want more for our money, Auckland is an expensive place to own a home at the moment. Some of you have asked why all of sudden, especially after doing the place up finally. Well the idea of selling our house motivated us to get the place finished and styled, in hope of getting a better price and it worked! We got an offer the day after it was listed with the agent (actually we ended up with two offers before it went unconditional!), a real answer to our prayers! Thanks to those for encouraging me to be brave with the move.

Some of you may have noticed why I was selling my new release scrapbook collections on here, and may have suspected a change of stores. You're right to suspect that! I left Twopeas In A Bucket a while ago, due to the fact they concentrate a whole lot more on the traditional side of scrapbooking, and with that came a few disadvantages for me with the promoting and marketing side. I am still thankful for making the move there a couple of years ago though, because it sure opened up a few doors for me, and the people there are lovely. I am now in the position to run my own store and a number of facts have helped me see that this is the best solution for me. So there's something to look forward to! & watch out for some cool collaborations too!

Oh and there's another store launching in January too! Giving you the chance to own a Vinnie Pearce product. The name, the site and date will all be revealed at a later date (sorry for teasing - but you know me). If you are a retailer and would like to check out samples of my products, please visit my booth(5052) at the -

4 - 6th March 2012 
ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane
Auckland

Wow - that's a lot to fit into for the next two months! I didn't even mention my weight-loss goals and my growing desire to scrapbook more! I'm sad to say that I have lost focus on both! I am hoping after January I can refocus on these areas again.

 

I'm Back + Mixed Media Scrapbooking

Hi there! Long time no posts - I know! Sorry...  I've been battling the flu and bronchitis for over two months! Nuts I know! I started feeling more myself since a few weeks ago. I was a bit scared to hop on and post something about how I was feeling, just in case I developed something afterwards that would keep me from my normal daily and on-line activities.

So what have I been doing now that I have most of my energy back? Lets see - lots of housework! I hope I never feel like I've lost control of this again, feels great to be on top of things now.

Eating healthy and exercising more. I have put on soooo much weight this year, partly because I was always so sick... I didn't have the stamina and focus to workout and plan healthy meals. I feel really great even though its only been a few weeks!

Scrapbooking! Yes I scrapbooked! I went for a thirty minute walk yesterday and came back with loads of energy... so I decided to use it all up on these (sorry about the blurry photo, you can click to enlarge if you like) -

CREDITS: Prima flowers and stamps, 7Gypsies stamps and text fabric tape, acrylic and crackle paint, inks, grey Tattered Angles mister, canvas paper, artisan element from Pinkpaislee. DIGITAL: Distress Brush Set 02 for splatters, Journey Back - Trims for trim with wordart

I finished this one today (love working with paint and inks!) -

CREDITS: 7Gypsies stamps and text fabric tape, acrylic paint, inks, brads, buttons and fibre, canvas paper. DIGITAL: Distress Brush Set 02 for splatters, wood grain paper (muted) from Creashens Moon & Back Kit.

Thanks for visiting! Hope I can share more with you ...AND on a regular basis! Have a wonderful weekend all!

I Woke Up Thirty Today + Some Inspiration & Advice

 I have some advice for those who are still in their twenties.

I really wanted to get that out there, because all through my twenties (Except on my wedding day & honeymoon) I had a very negative view of my body. Even though I was a nice size 10-12 (for half of my 20's) I felt overweight and I hated having my picture taken. You know I really regret spending my twenties with so much insecurity in that area. This last weekend I have been thinking alot about this and looking back at photos of me in my twenties.I can say now,  I really had nothing to worry about, I looked OK... I actually DID LOOK OK!

So to those who struggle in this area...

Here are some pages from my last weekend in my twenties.

CREDITS: RENO COLLECTION, out this Tuesday 10am, pacific time.

Inspiration for the pie chart and composition came from this photo posted by KIKKI.K on facebook -

next set of pages -

CREDITS: RENO COLLECTION, out this Tuesday 10am, pacific time.

Of course I plan on creating pages about starting my thirthies, so maybe by the end of this week I'll have something up here.

I'll be back tomorrow with a FLARE FREEBIE! so watch out for that!

One Of Those Posts...

You know the 'I'm still alive, just busy with...' post! March hasn't been a very good month for me health and energy wise. I'm hoping April will be different - WELL IT BETTER BE because I'm turing 30! heehee aaaahhh!, I wanted to celebrate big time with a HUGE party, but sadly things have not gone the way I had desired (sigh) there's always next year right. I will however have a 30% off sale in my store so watch out for the notice!

Just wanted to let you guys know, now I have to pick my Noah up from School.

xox

 

Hello Friends!

... and have an amazing start to your new year! I'm wrapping presents up right now.

Going to the Gold Coast in 3 days!!!

Next blog post will be next year!

May God bless you all!

 (tag by Creasheans)

Don't Forget How To Live...

Go on a computer fast! I know that's mad and I was kind of joking with that. Maybe just spend less time on it though, like me, I haven't been glued to mine for the last few weeks - and I love it!

I've been spring cleaning, organizing, giving the entrance of my home a makeover. I found this old pic from 2008 when we had just finished stripping the wall paper...

and then in 2009 we painted it a deathly grey color, thanks to my husband and his fondness for mis-tints!

 I'll update you on the AFTER photo when we've finished!

So don't forget how to live! I know you spend way too much time on that computer of yours! Give your eyes a break and go for a walk, paint a piece of art, or ... em... mop your floors! Even better, do it while listening to last weeks DIGI SHOW PDS018, Anna Aspnes says it well! "Are we living to Scrap, or are we Scrapping to live!"

Going On a Small Design Break

Yep! Thats right I'm done for the year! I need to re-charge my batteries and chill out.

So for now it's a blog break...  just for a few weeks. And a design break for the rest of the year! Thank you to every one who has supported my work this year! I appreciate each and every one of your comments!

xox

Vin

Podcast: Flooding Emotions + If Our Memories Could Talk

Hello all! Are you having a good week so far? I hope so. Mine has started off... you guessed it, busy! Soon, very very soon, things will slow down for me, and my kids can have all of their mummy back.

I was invited to join the panel over at the Paperclipping Roundtable this week. I was able to talk on issues related to emotions we are faced with when revisiting past (GOOD) memories when scrapbooking and how we can deal with them. Also lots of valuable and empowering thoughts from Angie Lucas, Nancy Nally, Noell  & Izzy Hyman. Have a listen and I encourage you to post any other thoughts you might have on the subject in their comments section.

When you have finished there, watch this clip from the Disney Pixar Up -

If our memories could talk to us (assuming our childhood memories were filled with fairly good memories) then I'm sure it would say the exact message at the end of this clip...

I'm going to rent this movie again! I adore it so much! ...Yes I did cry watching it for the first time!

Homemade Cleaning Products + Hormone Imbalances

Cleaning was never my strong point, but now I love it! My mother in-law inspired me with her really well organized and styley home. Honestly she has amazing taste for her age. I will have to share some photos one day of her newly decorated home in Mission Bay, you'll be inspired for sure! Here's one from her aussie apartment -

I'm drooling! What flair she has! AND she is the most sweetest mother in-law I could ever dream of!

I've been wanting to post this for a while now. Did you know that most home cleaning products are highly toxic? Some are even Carcinogenic and can mess with your hormones. I found this out while doing research on balancing hormones in women. One thing that kept coming up in articles, were the use of chemicals in cleaning products as well as diet.

I hear so much talk about what cleaning products are doing to the environment... but what about our bodies... what about my children. I was always so concerned for my kids when ever I sprayed around the home and mopped, etc. To hear that the chemicals used could end up disturbing their developing hormones has lead me to a decision to stop using toxic chemicals altogether for cleaning. You know how I used to love the the lemon scented jif? Well not any more! Instead, I'm using natural ingredients that's just as effective... like good old baking soda and vinegar! I am telling you, they do the job better! And your kids can even help cleaning with out polluting their tiny bodies, hah! By the way, if you haven't already involved your children in cleaning (even if its not done well) than you need to start now... so they aren't shocked when you ask them to help out when they get older!

So I have confidence in what I am using, I feel a sense of achievement for making my own products and hopefully it will count towards my efforts in balancing my own hormones... so I can have another baby! ..or two ;)

I recommend visiting Wendyl Nissen's site for easy and inspiring cleaning recipes. Wendyl has most common chores and problems covered and updates her site regularly. Check it out!

Because my selection of products are growing, I don't like the site of plastic bottles with messy writing in my cupboard. And because I believe you should clean in style, I made these little labels to print and stick on the bottles. You can use them too! Download here!

It is really fun customizing all the smells too with essential oils. I get mine from EAST WEST ORGANICS in Glen Eden. I have shopped around on-line and couldn't find anything as affordable and pure smelling like the selection they have there.

Plus the labels are so darn cute! I love adding the Cinnamon leaf oil to my all purpose spray, aaaand It's also an Antimicrobial (Don't worry that's a new word for me too today!)

Enjoy creating your cleaning products... I know I have... I've become obsest! Once I finish my current design works for clients, I'm going to start on soaps, room freshener's, hand sanitizers and laundry powders. There's just so many reasons why everyone should go natural when it comes to cleaning products at home.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend ahead!