Taking Stock – December Edition!

It was feeling like it was time to take stock again.  I really encourage you to have a quiet 30mins to yourself and do your own.  If you do want to do it yourself, I’ve added a blank template at the end.  If you publish on your own blog,  please credit Pip with the idea.

 

Making:  Decisions about a blog redesign and goals and direction.

Cooking:  Christmas wreath pavlova with berries and cream.

Drinking:  Bubbly carbonated water from my new Soda Stream but it’s just not as bubbly as I remember it was as a kid!

Reading:  A great book on the practice of developing your creative writing. Truly the most useful book, called Writing Down the Bones (Freeing the Writer Within) by Natalie Goldberg

Wanting:  My paperwork to file itself.  I don’t know why I don’t do it as it comes.  How many years do you have to keep paperwork again?

Looking:  At the world in a new light through, my new glasses from Specsavers.  My sight has deteriorated significantly in my right eye, so it’s no wonder my eyes have been feeling so tired!  Also, love new frames.

Playing:  Christmas music from those old cd’s that you used to get free with Christmas edition magazines!  I have heaps – I used to buy All the magazines!!

Deciding:  What to give my boys for Christmas this year.  They will be together – I will be away.  They don’t know what they want and neither do I know what to get!

Wishing:  For just one more Christmas with Adrian.  I know it’s impossible but it does say wishing.

Enjoying:  Watching how easily my Boys slip back into the brotherly groove, even when they have not seen each other for 3 years and they are now 24, 30 & 32.  No doubt – something will be broken!!

Waiting:  For the postman to deliver my online gift purchases.  Everyday is a surprise as to what I will be wrapping each night.

Liking:  The way my tentative foray into gardening, is starting to show with patches of colour beginning to appear throughout.

Wondering:  How inspired I am going to be, when I get to hear Oprah on her  speaking tour in 10 days time?  Very, I hope – bucket list ticking  off happening that night.

Loving:  The way my love for life seems to be returning, after a very long couple of years.  Tiny steps on sure and stable ground.

Pondering:  On how I will financially sustain myself in the coming year?  Is there a job that I haven’t thought of yet, that will give me all I need?

Considering:  What the  best way to develop my writing is and if it really is a way to  help anyone else or just myself?

Buying:  New underwear from Bella Bodies ….. bamboo, people – very cooling!

Watching:  The Queensland storms roll in each afternoon.

Hoping:  Those storms bring cooling rain to clear the humidity – not just thunder, lightning and wind.

Marvelling:  At my cat’s loyalty  to me, when I continually bring out my suitcase, and go away on holiday!  Off to New Zealand for Christmas with my extended family in, 12 days!

Cringing:  At the Channel 9 Cricket commentators.  Is anything more embarrassing?

Needing:  A  small garden shed and a decent office chair – for totally different reasons …. obviously!!

Questioning:  Everyone about what they would like for Christmas but desperately wanting to give surprises!

Smelling:  My beautiful  Night Before Christmas (Dancing Sugar Plums) candle by Megan Hess for Glasshouse Fragrances.

Wearing:  New comfy  Summer sandals by Rivers and loving them sick.

Following:  The preseason and the drafting of the new Brisbane Lions players for 2016.

Noticing:  More and more, that if you take care of yourself, you are better prepared to care for others.

Knowing:  That I Can Do Hard Things and Love does Win! Thank you Glennon Doyle Melton.

Thinking:  “I’m contemplating, thinkin’ about thinkin’…” some of my favourite lyrics from Robbie Williams song, Come Undone! (Warning: Disturbing Clip!!!!)

Admiring:  The wonderful way the New Zealand Community said goodbye to the Legend that was Jonah Lomu.

Sorting:  Through my cupboards and giving to charity those things that others could put to better use than me.

Getting:  Excited about my trip home to my Mum’s in New Zealand for Christmas.  Leave in 12 days!!

Bookmarking:  Small garden shed adverts from Bunnings and sending them to my Boys!!

Coveting:  Not much really – feeling very contented at the moment.

Disliking:  The Brisbane heat and especially the humidity.  Chaffing and sweating are not my friends.

Opening: A cold bottle of New Zealand Sav Blanc on this hot Brisbane arvo.

Giggling:  At everything Jimmy Fallon does!  Love him so much.

Feeling:  Blessed to have caring friends and family, who encourage me to take risks with my life.  But, also, give me a safe place to land if things go wrong.

Snacking:  On fresh, raw, green beans and MANGOES!!!!!

Helping:  To support local business by shopping at Millie Jones – my favourite gift shop in the world!

Hearing:  The sound of the birds, as I spend some time outside in my garden, watering.

There’s mine done. Have a go at your own – it can be very revealing.

Here’s a blank one if you want to.

Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Buying:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Cringing:
Needing:
Questioning:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Coveting:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Snacking:
Helping:
Hearing:

From Pip at Meet Me At Mikes

 

Taking Stock!

I thought I would share a template for Taking Stock, that  I found on Smaggle – which then introduced me to Pip from Meet Me At Mike’s blog!  It’s not something I have ever done before but I found it rewarding and helpful.

If you want to do it yourself, I’ve added a blank template at the end.  If you use it anywhere, please credit Pip with the idea.

Making : Headway with emptying the last 6 boxes from my move 2 years ago!!
Cooking : Delicious baked trout with my HelloFresh food ingredients box for dinner.

Drinking : Tea! Tea! Always tea!!
Reading :  Carry On, Warrior.  By Glennon Doyle Melton.  Again!  Because I love it, it speaks my language and it gives me hope and a good laugh.
Wanting : My furbaby, Fev, to stop clawing my favourite chair.  I have her nails clipped but she just won’t stop in between clips!
Looking : At the beautiful birds playing in my bird bath.
Playing : Candy Crush Saga …. addiction!!
Deciding : On dates to fly home to New Zealand for a family Christmas.
Wishing : I had a money tree in the backyard!
Enjoying : My lounge room curtains, 2 years after a curtain consultant said they are not fashionable and too busy for my space!!

Waiting : For the birth of my friend’s first grandchild.
Liking : Shake and Stir’s new production of Dracula.
Wondering : If I will ever get over my anxiety or at least be able to manage it enough to hold down a job again.
Loving : That my Boys, even though they are men – still call me to share their lives and loves and fears and dreams with me. I’m very blessed.
Pondering : On how to move forward with my blog.

Considering : Getting rid of my Foxtel due to financial constraints. I’ve already decided not to renew my football membership tickets next year for the same reason. For a sport mad person, this is a life changing sacrifice.
Buying : Early Christmas gifts!
Watching : Season 3 of Ray Donovan. 
Hoping : That having all my old palm trees removed from my little backyard, will inspire me to grow beautiful flowers and plants.
Marvelling : At my son, BossBoy’s, artistic talent.

Cringing : At the amount of medication I am taking. But knowing that I need every single bit!
Needing : To change the “poor health story” running on loop through my brain.
Questioning : My decision to do hardly any ironing. I’m beginning to feel like a wrinkled mess most of the time!!
Smelling : The beautiful Lemon grass & Lime candle from Peppermint Grove.
Wearing : My new Du Jour Geo Navy Ruby Olive necklace.

Following : The All Blacks progress through the Rugby World Cup.
Noticing : That I need new batteries for my smoke alarms as they are beeping at me.
Knowing : That I can do hard things but wishing I didn’t have to!
Thinking : That I really need to cut back on my screen time – especially around bed time. I know I sleep better when I do!
Admiring : My new short hair cut – now that I am learning to manage it.

Sorting : Through old letters and documents from my mother in law’s move.
Getting : Really despondent at the governments inability to show compassion and care to so much of our community that needs a hand.
Bookmarking : dooce.com and  Meet Me At Mike’s
Coveting : The beautiful singing voice of Chloe Charles.

Disliking : The way Centrelink and other government departments, seem to make it so difficult for those of us that really need help – short-term. Especially, if you are actually trying to get well.
Opening : All the doors and the windows to let the early Spring warmth inside.
Giggling : At Adam Hills: The Last Leg on ABC on Saturday nights.
Feeling : Annoyed at my constant battle with my rotten facial hairs! Age and asthma medication make it an never ending harvest!
Snacking : On fresh Aussie oranges. After visiting a cousins citrus orchard – I just can’t stop!!

Helping : Myself to all the cooking chocolate because I have no treats in the house.
Hearing : My neighbour’s car drive up and remembering that I need to book mine in for a service – soon!

Here’s a blank one if you want to do it too! Surprise yourself.

Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Buying:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Cringing:
Needing:
Questioning:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Coveting:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Snacking:
Helping:
Hearing:

From Pip at Meet Me At Mikes