Time is ticking on by.  I sit here, waiting for my hair dye to take and I realise that I have not blogged for ages.  I am still here.  I am still plugging away at the little things I love.  My reading list is 1 and 2 halves down, 10 to go.  My garden is getting gardened gradually.  My running is up and down.  My weight is up and down.  My crafting is getting ... somewhere but I have signed up for a fayre so things will have to go up a gear.  My family is gorgeous and funsome.  My hair is done.  I will return tomorrow.

New Year - introspection

I always find myself every new year, in a resolving mood. I love a fresh start to a day, a week, a year, a new exercise book and a clean car interior. I do irritate myself when I let days, weeks, years, books and cars get into such a mess (and they always do). This year, I will not resolve to do lose a zillions pounds by February or read 12 books a week or never each chocolate again as they are easy resolutions to break. This year I will take stock of what I have, use things I need and charity shop everything I don't need or use. We have a reasonable sized house but we have limited storage available. I plan to go through every part of this house (and my life) and re-organise every little corner, understand what we have and what we need and clear out the excess shite and make the most of what we have. Today I tidied 2 cupboards in the kitchen and made a note of things we need and moved things that were in the wrong place and will charity shop the stuff we have that I hate. 2 cupboards down and it's only day 1!

I also spent a hour or so in the garden whilst the boys messed about. It was good to get some fresh air as we have a had a bit of cabin fever these last few days. I want to DO the garden this year. Get a greenhouse. Dig a border along the back fence. Dig up my pots. The front garden needs a LOAD of work done to it but I think that if I focus on the back garden and get that where I want it then I will be brave enough to tackle the front maybe later in the year.

I will re-visit the 101 list and go back to the monthly goals I started last year. When I was blogging and writing them I was doing them and it was good.

This month I shall ...

1. Write and start a weight-loss plan. I work well when I have it written out in front of me.

2. Clean the inside of my car (Mr G did the outside today and I feel compelled to finish it!)

3. Make a playmat for my best mate's little boy.

4. Get a gardening diary and work out my plan for the year.

5. Find a dentist.

6. Complete The Great Organisation of the kitchen.

Come on January - let's get sorted!

I love blogger, but ...

I love love love Blogger. Even though I have not been posting for the past few months I have still been using it to follow all my fave blogs on RSS as this is a great way of reading the "headlines". I have, however decided to stop doing this as I find that there is soooo much lovely interesting stuff going on out there, that there is no time left to do important stuff like blogging myself and doing useful things like, erm Christmas shopping! I often read blogs for half an hour, an hour day whilst waiting for the boys to go to sleep or just noodling about on t'laptop until stupid o'clock at night. This is all very well and lovvely, but not ultimately useful or creative for me. Now this time will be used more creatively for doing inspiring crafty things and making some space and money for little old Gherkin.

The blogs I follow are largely crafty ones, written and photographed by some very clever and talented and INSPIRING people who make me OOOh and aaaah daily on sight of their pretty wares. They are just so amazing and make me go "I could make that!" and all to quickly I find myself with a bunch of new fabric and bits of shiny things to do to it and then no time to actually make a dent in said fabric and shiny things! I have vowed for 2011 to clear a space in my crafty boxes (and there are MANY) and make stuff with the stuff I have and then blog about it myself and maybe inspire someone else to drag a box out from under the bad and do something with the contents!

Here is a list of the things I plan to make over the next decade or so.

Voile fabric flower brooches (5 fabrics bought this week)

Vintage button rings (ring blanks awaiting toppers!)

Dust ruffle and bunting and bolster cover for Cornichon (fabric in bag awaiting wash)

Bunting for Little Pickle (ditto)

Earrings for Folksy shop (beads hanging around since summer)

Envelopes to sell (too many books in wardrobe waiting to be snipped)

Slides for birthday presents (make-your-own-button kit relatively unused)

Quilt for Mr Gherkin (need to get rind of some fabric!)

Quilt for me (fabric saved from January awaiting wash)

Quit sandwiched for Mum and Dad (WIP right now- will be done for Christmas!)

Lavender bags to sell (huge bag of lavender is residing in my wardrobe - yum but ugly)

Baby quilt for N's little girl (so much fabric to use up!)

Baby boy quilt (ditto)

Cut up old clothes for the ultimate recycling quilt (memories of old sicky babygros)

Denim quilt (nobody needs a whole box of old jeans that don't fit any more, do they?)

That is just the tip of the iceberg. Quilts take ma ages. Hopefully, I will have much more time on my hands now I cut out my inspirational reading time and turn it into inspired crafting time!

Small Challenges

I made a bet with myself tonight as I made tea for the boys. I bet myself I would be able to resist picking at their tea (frankfurter sausages in ratatouille with rice). And I DID! I love frankfurter sausages (they are soooo gross but sooooo addictive and once I pop I can't stop. Anyway I was strong all through teatime and did not try one (as I know that would have broken the seal) and even when clearing the table I did not break. I was so pleased with myself that I decided to go for a run after putting the kids down and I DID! It was was lovely too - through the woods which were bursting with wood anemones and threatening to explode with the promise of bluebells. I came home invigorated and refreshed and not hungry and very pleased with myself. I then shaved my legs and prepped my toes with the first part of a pedicure. I am soooo organised and ready for an early night! Get me!

A new month, new goals

Just had a quick squiz at February's goals and I have to say I have achieved a fair few!

Here :

1. Meet a neighbour - DONE-the lovely Wendy and Rob and their lovely kids

2. Have a day shopping all on my own, just me = roll over to March I think!

3. Clear out one lot of cupboards - DONE - Cornichon's cupboards and drawers and Little Pickle's drawers are all sorted.

4. Start running - bad knee has hampered efforts. All fit now so no excuses!

5. Sign up for 5k - will be done tomorrow night

6. Finish Cornichon's quilt - DONE and started on one for Mr Gherkin

I suppose I could have done better but I won't beat myself up over it. There's always March...

Goals for March

1. Sign up for 5k and start training plan.

2. Finish Mr Gherkin's quilt.

3. Have a day shopping ALONE and BY MYSELF.

4. Get back on the WW wagon and lose 2 lbs.

5. Clear out a cupboard space again

6. Shop around and change energy providers

Not very interesting but a focus at least.

February Goals

I have just been checking back and realised that a post I wrote on Feb 1st has not been saved! How annoying! I made a short list of goals for February and I am sure I published it but it is nowhere to be found!

Anyway here it is, to the best of my recollection.

1. Meet a neighbour

2. Have a day shopping all on my own, just me

3. Clear out one lot of cupboards

4. Start running

5. Sign up for 5k

6. Finish Cornichon's quilt

101 List

I am a follower of the whatshappeningatmyhouse blog and she has done something called a 101 List which is just a list of things she intends to do, some time, no time limit. I like the idea of this and have plenty of things I would like to do but never get round to remembering or accomplishing. I plan to use this post as a record of those things I think about doing but always forget about. The list is not in any kind of order. I will update it as and when I think of stuff or achieve stuff. I thank whatshappeningatmyhouse for the idea and may have been inspired by some of the things she suggests only because they are truly great ideas!

1. Set up a new account on folksy and sell stuff on it

2. Learn how to use my ice-cream maker. (Feb 10. Binned Mar 10)

3. Run a 5k event.

4. Run a 10K event.

5. Own an allotment.

6. Go out in a wig.

7. Have an overnight stay in a posh hotel.

8. Drink champagne away from home with my darling husband.

9. Have a family weekend away without help.

10. Have a girly weekend with my best bud.

11. Make friends with a neighbour. (Feb 10)

12. Have a professional hair colour.

13. Go running 3 times a week.

14. Hit 10 stone.

15. Go to New York for a grown-up holiday.

16. Clear out bathroom cupboards. (Feb 10)

17. Make a quilt for myself which is beautiful.

18. Go out with my brother and his wife.

19. Go to the theatre.

20. Buy a good coat.

21. Go to a car boot sale.

22. Have a Swiss massage.

23. Re-gold my wedding ring.

24. Look after my hands for a month and have a manicure.

25. Look after my feet for 2 months and have a pedicure.

26. Do sit-ups every day for a month.

27. Use body moisturiser every day for 2 weeks.

28. Have a 3 day detox on just fruit and vegetables.

29. Have eyebrows professionally shaped.

30. Have a facial.

31. Sign up for beauty testers and enjoy the pleasure.

32. Establish a weekly house cleaning routine and get boys involved.

33. Climb the Garth.

34. Ride a bike.

35. Go on an Easter Egg Hunt.

36. Go away for New Years Eve.

37. Visit 25 places for Family Fun Days.

38. Watch 52 films.)2/52

39. Sign up for an evening course.

40. Complete 30 items from Biddying To Make List.

41. Set up account for selling books on Amazon.

42. Do monthly clear out for charity shops on 15th of the month. Done Feb

43. Do monthly paperwork/organisation on 1st of the month. Done Feb

44. Sign up for weekly class with Little Pickle.

45. Make coffee friends with 3 Mums in Nursery. (1/3)

46. Get Cornichon involved with a weekly class.

47. Phone a friend on Sundays.

48. Re-start Thursday lunches with Mummy friends.

49. Get an eye test.

50. Get the boys involved with the dentist.

51. Read 25 books.(1/25)

52. Get new curtains and poles in the lounge.

53. Get monthly subscription to Sew Hip.

54. Organise monthly nights out with sister.

55. Get 50,0000 grains at www.freerice.com. (2000)

56. Start Christmas cards before December.

57. Decorate Cornichon's room.

58. Decorate Little Pickle's room.

59. De-register for Find The Duck Books

60. Re-organise Cornichons' cupboards.

61. Update all downloaded pictures.

62. Fix up kitchen notice board to replace post box.

63. Read the instruction book for my camera.

64. Arrange a shopping day for me, just me.

65. Make the porch look pretty.

66. Have the car valeted. (Done Feb by me)

67. Tidy the shed.

68. Go to France.

69. Re-connect with Uruguay.

70. Go to bed before 10pm for a 1 week.