Two Days In

Well, well. Here I am. Finally at home with some time to myself! MissyMiss is now back at school and has settled into her new grade beautifully (touch wood, it stays that way!). Which means, that finally, I can begin to get moving on some things that have been on hold for far too long!

One of the things I am most keen to do this year, is establish a proper household routine. I do have one but it's a bit up in the air, to be honest, and because of this, I often find I am running around chasing things at the last minute instead of being on top of them because I have pre-planned and worked on things in advance. So this year, I want to establish something that lets me run as effective a household as I can, which in turn, will allow me to work on my other projects.

One of the things I got for Christmas was a Family Planner Calendar/Organiser by Kim Parker, which lets you slot in reminders/activities each month for each family member. This has been a great base from which to start my new household routine. Each day on the calendar, you can see exactly who has what activities due/planned (there's a different column for each person), and it's a great way of seeing at a glance what's coming up so you can plan for it. I have added in weekly events, special occasions, birthday parties, etc etc and plan on updating this on a monthly basis. It definately works better for me than a diary (in book form), where you can't see each person's commitments easily, or anything more than a week at a time.

On top of this, I have created weekly, monthly, and seasonal schedules for myself. With the weekly one, I have all my main tasks allocated to a particular day. The monthly one sets aside those tasks that need to be completed only on an occasional basis; and the seasonal one lists my 'spring clean' tasks. This lets me keep on top of everything I need to do, which in turn, will give me time to work on my projects!

I have decided on three main things I'll be working on during the first half of the year. I had lots of time over the school holidays to think and plan what I might like to do, not only to keep my creative self sane during my at home hours, but also to bring in a bit of extra cash. One thing I should let you know, is that I am great with theory. I could theorise till the cows come home, but as most of you will (hopefully) have realised, in life, theory doesn't always go to plan. And so, rather than theorise about the one best thing that I should do, I have instead decided to put aside time during the week for a few different projects, give them all my best effort, so that I can see which ones work and which don't. Six months is most likley enough time for this, and so, come mid year, I plan to reasses things and decide what to focus on for the remainder of the year, and beyond.

Here are the three projects I'll be working on each week.

The first, is a writing project. It's a non-fiction book that I have outlined, and began work on previously, which has sat untouched, I'm sad to say, for a few months now. Initially, in my let's-see-if-this-is-gonna-work phase, I'll be working on the book one day a week, which will basically involve drafting at this stage, plus making notes on how I might further research certain aspects of it. It already has a title - I think it makes it more 'real' to be working on a book with a title than just "the book" (although I am not going to reveal the title on here, so pretty much "the book" it'll be, for blogging purposes anyway)!!

Secondly, I'll be devoting some time listing on ebay all the stuff around the house I've meant to list for eaons (which will please my hubbie no end!!). This will not only help clear out all the excess STUFF I have lying around, it might also bring in a bit of extra cash (always useful when you are on one income!). But also, I hope to learn something about online marketing, selling techniques, etc, which I can transfer over to my third project...

...doing some vintage/retro inspired arts and crafts which I may eventually be able to sell via a blog/etsy/website. I am the first to admit, aside from the odd dabble, I've never done anything like this professionally, so it is a bit of a gamble and will be a huge learning experience for me, especially initially as I wade my way through the possibilities and find my talent (if I have any!!)! But it's something I'm drawn to, and have always been drawn to, and I am old enough now to know that when you are drawn to something, there's usually a reason for that. So I am going to do the Aussie thing, and 'give it a go'. What happens from there, we'll see.

Two days in, and I'm already feeling like I have accomplished quite a bit!

Have a great afternoon all!

Yours sincerely,
Linda Atkinson

See You When School Starts

Hard to believe, but the January school holidays are drawing to a close.

Part of me looks longingly back to all the beach days, playdates, and fun times we've had this summer and wishes we were back in December with it all ahead of us again. But then another part of me, if I'm honest, is going, "Oh thank GOD!" because finally I will be able to get some time to myself so I can finish up my blueprint for the year, and get moving on all the projects I've had to put on hold over the summer. Not to mention that 'back to school' also means the luxury of ten minutes of peace where I can relax with a cuppa without hearing "Mummy Mummy Mummy" every five seconds! :)

So do bear with me as I make my way through this last week of holidays with MissyMiss. I don't have as much time as I'd like at the moment to devote to this blog, in fact, I don't feel it's really gotten underway yet; I will be posting much more regularly once February arrives. Cross my heart!

Anyhoo, as they say, I'll see you when school starts!

Yours sincerely,
Linda Atkinson

Christmas In January

The end of the first week of January traditionally marks Orthodox Christmas and is usually the reason we don't take down our Christmas decorations right after New Years (like everyone else!!). Although we don't celebrate Christmas in January, Bobby's parents do, and I was bought up to recognise it as a special day also, as my Dad is from Eastern Europe - so by tradition, our tree usually stays up till after January 7th. Then it's all hands on deck (ok, well, usually just mine!) to clear away all the Christmas clutter just in time for a flurry of January birthdays.

Taking the Christmas tree and all the decorations down is always kind of bittersweet for me, because it brings back not only memories of the Christmas just finished, but also so many other Christmases past. Some of my happiest Christmases were the ones I spent as a kid, waiting patiently with my brother on Christmas morning for my Nanna to get herself ready so we could just start opening those darn Christmas presents! Nanna would always come for a sleepover at Christmastime, and Christmas morning, the excitement was palpable as everyone waited and waited and waited while poor old Nanna shuffled around at a snail's pace trying to get herself sorted...! But, ah, the joy and excitement when she finally came into the lounge room and sat down and we RIPPED into those presents!!! No Christmas morning has ever been the same since she passed away.

And so as I pack our Christmas things away, without fail, I always think of my Nanna. She was as much a part of the tradition of Christmas as Santa himself; and it's funny how I never quite realised that until much later on. Ah, what I would give for one last Christmas morning with her now!!

As far as Christmas goes, I am about as traditional a girl as you get, but a few Christmases ago, in the midst of my very, very, very PINK phase, I went out and did something completely untraditional, something in my heart of hearts I'd always wanted to do. I bought us a PINK Christmas tree. Now this was no easy feat, let me tell you. Pink Christmas trees here in Australia are as rare as snow, and I had to search high and low to find one. But find one I finally did. And boy was I excited to have THE shabbiest, prettiest, pinkest tree you ever did see. I could not wait to put this baby up. I could not wait to decorate it! I was beside myself, just about. I had my PINK tree! Finally.

Well. Truth be told? It sucked. Truly, truly sucked. My much longed for pink as pink can be Christmas tree, looked just awful. On a green tree? You can decorate it anyhow you like! A white tree?? Looks nice with your lilacs and pinks or silver or whatever. But a PINK tree?? Trust me, nothing goes with a pink tree. Believe me, I tried and I tried and I tried! In the end, I just decided, ah well, I paid a fortune for the darn thing, and so it's staying up, and I just did my best not to focus on it too much!!! Which was pretty much impossible, since it was very, very PINK. After that? I stuck with tradition! And our tree the last few years has looked just gorgeous.



But enough about Christmas, for another year at least. With three birthdays coming up in the next few weeks (two of which I'm hosting!), I am more about cupcakes and chasing up RSVPs than Christmases past right now, which is as it should be.

Till next time...!

Yours sincerely,
Linda Stankovski

On Holidays

One of the things I adore most about January is that lazy, holiday feel that's in the air. With both my husband and daughter on holidays at the moment, we are enjoying lots of sleep-ins, late breakfasts and doing with each day what we will. Sometimes that means we're off to the beach or the movies or visiting friends; other times it means just enjoying a day a home doing nothing in particular at all.

No, this year we didn't 'go on holiday' anywhere, and for that, I'm glad. Because sometimes going away defeats the purpose of actually being on holiday, with all the packing and organising and seeing the sights that's involved. Sometimes I think, you just need to enjoy your life in all it's simplicity: relax, recharge and well...as we used to say back in the 80's, "veg out"...!

These holidays, instead of racing around left right and centre, I've been doing some thinking, doing some writing, and slowly putting together a blueprint for, what will hopefully be, a very rewarding year ahead. Inbetween long bouts of doing absolutely nothing, of course!!

I am making the most of these long, lazy days because before you know it, February will be on the horizon, and Life will start all over again!

Happy holidays...! Enjoy!

Yours sincerely,
Linda Atkinson

Wishlist 2010

And so we enter a new decade with this new year, 2010. Two thousand and ten, or twenty ten...I kinda like two thousand and ten; "twenty ten" sounds like something out of a science fiction movie...don't you think? "Two thousand and ten"...is nicer. I think, anyway!

And so - new year, new decade - and new resolutions, so the tradition goes.

What should I promise myself for this bright and shiny new year ahead? When I remember back to my early teens, I always looked forward to that fresh new page of January 1, where I could splash out my dreams for the year, and optimistically expect them to all come true, no matter how unobtainable or far-fetched they may have been. Ah, youth (says the old lady of nearly 44).

As the years passed though, my resolutions evolved into things that were much more practical - lists of things that were far more sensible and obtainable and reachable. And as more years passed, my new year resolutions seemed to dwindle and dwindle, until finally: meh. New Year's Resolutions?? I'll get around to that later.

And that's where I'm at this year.

Which is a shame really, because the chance to brush off the old and emerge into the new is a gift, and one that is not only worth receiving, but receiving well. And if I am to make the most of this gift, then surely it's better to dream big dreams than eke out some meek little ol' resolutions with no potential for scope whatsoever.

Well then, here's to dreaming BIG!

Ahem...!!! [drumroll please]

* To finishing my book and getting it published ... :)

* To planning a trip overseas with my family - Paris and Memphis and New York City goddamit!!

* To dance lessons for MissyMiss

* To making extra cash doing something I love (being a bit vague here on purpose lol)!!

* To getting fit doing something more exciting than excersises or going to the gym (dance??)

* To being that wonderfully organised Mum that I've always wanted to be, with a fabulous home office and everything at my fingertips (now that's dreaming BIG lol)!!!

It feels good to say, yes, this is what I would REALLY like for the year ahead. Dreams are powerful things, they set reality in motion - they are the first step forward in a new journey.

Cheers, 2010!

What are your new year resolutions? I would love you to share them here!

Sincerely,
Linda Atkinson

An Ode to Christmas

Yes, I do admit, I'm making up for lost time: three posts in one night! Who knows, this may even be some kind of blog-world record, but I did want to make mention of this Christmas just past before the new year sneaks in.

Now as those who know me will know, I am normally a super-organised kinda girl. I make lists, I tick off items, I get things done.

Christmas this year was different.

With what seemed like a dozen different activities, classes and events, all scheduled for the three or four weeks leading up to the festive season, and the fact that MissyMiss got sick in the last week before Christmas, even my trusty old lists didn't help me. Let's face it: that final unexpected glitch (of MissyMiss getting sick right at the last minute) - really threw me. For the first time in my life, I didn't send out Christmas cards this year, save for a handful overseas. Our annual Christmas newsletter nearly became our New Year's Newsletter, as I struggled to get it finished before the man in red came flying down the chimney. And I was still shopping for groceries and last minute gifts on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve, people!!! That's unheard of. For me, anyway!

I think back to our Wedding Anniversary in November, and in a perfect world, that's when everything should have been done and dusted. Well, the majority of it anyway. Christmas should be for enjoying, not racing around getting things done. And so my pledge for 2010 is this: do not overschedule in those final weeks before Christmas, and if you just can't help it? Make absolutely sure that you are super-organised and leave plenty of leeway for any unexpected surprises!!

We did have a lovely Christmas in the end, but yes, the lead-up was way too rushed, and I think the Christmas season seemed much shorter than usual because of it. But we hosted a wonderful Christmas Lunch, which everyone seemed to enjoy, and everyone had fun exchanging presents afterwards, not to mention the joy they got out of watching MissyMiss's recreation of her Dance Concert, complete with glittery Christmas costume!

One of my favourite gifts this year though, was not a Christmas present at all, but rather, an Anniversary gift that Bobby and I bought each other for our 9th Wedding Anniversary. Don't you just love these beautiful French country inspired cannisters?? Funnily enough, Bobby and I were browsing the store separately when we spotted them, each taking one in hand to show to the other. So love that my Bobby has exactly my taste, heh heh!!





Well, that's it from me for 2009! May you have a fun, safe and happy New Year's Eve! See you all again next year!

Sincerely,
Linda Atkinson

How To Officially Qualify As A Stay At Home Mum

Now that I am a full-time Stay At Home Mum, it came as a bit of a shock as I've read over the past couple of months on numerous blogs and forums, that in quite a few circles, the definition of 'Stay At Home Mum' only applies to those mothers with children who are not school-aged. Ie, if you are at home full-time with kiddies under the age of 5 or 6 (who are not yet at school), then, congratulations, you qualify as an official 'Stay At Home Mum'. If, however, like me, you are a Mum, and stay at home full-time, but your kiddies are at school, then officially, you're not actually a full-time Stay At Home Mum. You are just a housewife.

What's seriously interesting to me about all of this, is the fact that providing a home - making a home, creating a home during the day - ie being "just" a housewife - is part of mothering, is it not?? Isn't being a housewife part of what mothers do? Isn't that part of the job description?? I find it incredibly interesting that in the year 2009, many of us see 'motherhood' and 'housewifehood' as two separate things, when in reality, for mothers, they are one! After all, isn't creating and managing a home part of the caring and nurturing that a mother provides for her children? Isn't this part of raising a child?? Being a full-time mother is more than just changing nappies, playing games, feeding your child and putting them down for a nap. In my humble opinion, anyway.

In times past, being a full-time housewife/mother was seen as a valid occupation. Full-time mothers did not cease to become full-time mothers when their children started school. Stay At Home Mums did their job with pride: took it seriously, and did it well. They were respected and appreciated, and an accepted part of society.

Now, women are 'free' - liberated, apparently - and able to choose exactly the career they want. They can work, or they can stay at home and be a full-time Mum - oh wait, just so long as they go back into the workforce and 'do something' with themselves once their children start school. Because homemaking, apparently, was not included in the wide sweep of women's liberation. In some circles, yes, but in the wider world, not so much, according to what I've been reading lately, anyway.

Regardless of public opinion, I do consider myself a full-time Stay At Home Mum, despite the fact that my child is now at school. This is my career of choice, and I am finding the longer I am in this new career of mine, the more there is to learn. It's proving to be one of the most challenging roles I have ever taken on - I get to do everything from scratch - event planning entertaining, arts & crafts, money management...the list goes on. It's an enjoyable job. Yes - job. It does exist, and it is a valid choice, thank you very much!

Please understand that this post is not a dig at parents who choose to work full-time, or choose to return to work once their children start school (whether full-time or part-time). I am simply saying that staying at home and continuing to 'work' in the home once your children start school, is also a valid choice, and one that, unfortunately, I feel is not as recognised as it should be.

To each their own. Now that's true liberation!

Sincerely,
Linda Atkinson