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{my creative space} today by the senses

December 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

christmas lists and lights

With feelings swinging from overexcited to overwhelmed as the big day nears, I thought I would do a quick snapshot of life here at Lime Lane today.

Hubby and the smalls are all officially on holidays, although Hubby will still have plenty of work ahead of him until Christmas ~ if you know what I mean ~ while I have one excruciating shift left at work. The days before Christmas holidays always seem to be a little harder to get through, it seems. I don’t feel until that is out of the way that I can get into the full swing of Christmas preparations. And I’m ready to get my Christmas on, so bring on the holidays.

So in the meantime, I am filling my time:

Listening // to modern Christmas carols ~ She & Him and Michael Buble mostly, interspersed with the not-so-festive sounds of the smalls bickering

Smelling // the gingerbread house sitting on the dining table

Reading // Christmas recipes

Writing // food shopping lists and the last Lime Time newsletter for 2012

Making // Christmas gift tags

Thinking //  ideas for this little space right here

Snapping // everything with Christmas lights in the background ~ see evidence above

Tomorrow, my Christmas excitement might just about explode.

Links //

 

 

 

 

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{my creative space} to do lists ~ when size matters

December 15, 2011 By 6 Comments

making a list, checking it twice

School strike, too many late nights, Christmas, work, to do lists. If you had to sum up your life in 30 seconds what would you say?

The official creative spaces has finished for the year, and good thing too as there’s not much to see here.

Although, if you’ve been hanging around with me this week I have been busy creating some things to share with you.

There were the reindeer noses bag toppers and some quick and easy 2012 calendars you could use for teacher’s gifts.

So I have been creating. But I have also been forgetting. And I haven’t been sticking with my faithful habit of writing to do list.

I wrote one last night, all those things that I needed to do, things I should definitely probably get to today. Things that needed to get out of the way. Things with deadlines. Things past due. The little things are stacking up against me while I lean heavily on the big project I’m supposed to be working on.

When it comes to to-do lists, do you find that size matters?

I’ve already crossed three things off my list in the first hour. They didn’t take long, I’d just forgotten about them. And they have deadlines. And I need them out of the way so I can move on to the big project which has a more flexible deadline.

I don’t mind having a long to-do list, it’s the size of the tasks that is important.

The more I can cross the more productive I feel and the more organised I am. And the less people I disappoint. Sad but true.

So in my space today, a reminder, for you and especially to me, about the importance of to do lists.

Make a list, check it twice.

Do you find life turns a tad chaotic without a to do list?

 

 

 

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{my creative space} the workity work work edition

December 8, 2011 By 2 Comments

wrap it

In all honesty, this should be a blank page. Which is all I had pretty much had this morning. I just can’t  break the creative space habit.

It’s not that I’m not doing anything, it’s that I’m actually doing too much.

I have a pile of … stuff … on the desk next to me which any moment is going to fall and swamp my keyboard.

A lovely metaphor for my life at the moment.

The good news, Christmas is organised. Our shopping almost complete, we just have to sort out our Christmas menus. But at the moment I have lots of workity work on that is taking up a lot of time.

I’m one of those people that likes to have everything that needs to be done out of the way before moving on to the other stuff.

You know I have the biggest hankering to take photos but just can’t get out there.

One thing on my list is wrapping presents, and making tags to make for said presents. I’m using up a stash of paper I bought a couple of years ago and never used so trying  to do something special with the tags. I like the photos idea, thinking envelopes and perhaps some embellishments.

Hankering is a great word, don’t you think?

our creative spaces ~ the real creative peeps

 

 

 

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{my creative space} done ~ one advent calendar

December 1, 2011 By 18 Comments

advent calendar

I did it.

With hours to spare ~ as in the minutes before the smalls came home from school yesterday ~ I had 25 little packages tagged, numbered and wrapped ready for the advent calendar.

advent calendar

Last night, while they were sleeping I put it up on the wall in what is supposed to be the shape of a Christmas tree. The execution is a little on the dodgy side in true Kellie fashion {I need reinforcements because the masking tape isn’t holding too well!} but at least Master 9 did recognise the tree shape!

It was all very hush hush and a massive surprise for them this morning. And for hubby who was also in bed when I put it together.

I included a little welcome letter as this is the first time we have had an advent calendar quite like this.

Each little paper bag contains a little card {see printable below} with a message ~ sometimes a clue like :

Christmas is coming, its almost here,
Time to start counting the days of cheer
There’s a special gift on mummy’s chair
Find it, open it and don’t forget to share

{this kicked it off and lead to the Lego advent calendar I had stashed away}

or something simple like :

Santa Says
Don’t forget to brush your teeth
{with some new toothbrushes}

I’ve also included some charitable activities which include putting presents under the wishing tree at a department store and one bag includes those clever gifts of chickens and pencils from World Vision.

advent calendar proccess

The whole she-bang is a mixture of activities and treats ~ some chocolate Santas, gold coins, as well as reading The Night Before Christmas and going to see the Christmas lights.

There were some moments of panic yesterday when I had two tags and three activities or when a sheet of numbers went missing. And I need to call in the blu-tack brigade to keep the bags up I think.

But it was all worth it! Their excitement was contagious.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

If you want a quick and easy way to make your own, I’ve included the printables below.

And if you want to see my list of advent activities and treats, click here {Google Docs}

our creative spaces

 

 

 

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{my creative space} making a list and starting my advent calendar

November 24, 2011 By 14 Comments

advent calendar supplies

This week I am actually in the midst of something crafty ~  my advent calendar for the smalls. I’m really excited about putting this together for them and can’t wait to see their faces.

I have all my supplies here ~I’m using the white bags I package my mini-prints in ~ and I’m whipping up some  numbers on my trusty computer to put on the front. Tape and twine to decorate.

The plan, is next Wednesday night while they are sleeping, I will put the bags up on the wall in the shape of a tree. I’m scribbling down some plans on how that’s all going to work, trying to figure my shape out. I’m also trying to decide whether to start at the bottom or the top with the number one? What do you think? Finish at the top, or have number one at the top?

I also have a list of treats I’m going to put in the bags. I’m still searching for ideas but so far it includes:

  • Movie tickets (lots of movies coming out before Christmas I’m sure they will want to see)
  • Santa chocolates
  • Little toy treats
  • Smiggle treats
  • Vouchers for family activities like trips to the park
  • Christmas ornaments
  • A little something from Oxfam

Some of the items won’t fit in the bags so will involve a clue or a treasure hunt. I’m also looking forward to these little moments in what will be our usual hustle and bustle of life leading up to holidays. A time to stop and enjoy the season and excitement while they are still young.

This is the first time we’ve ever done something like this and, because we also hold off on the decorating until the first weekend in December, it will be a great way to start building the Christmas spirit for them.

Only 30 days to go!

our creative spaces

 

 

 

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