tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91301998310197290172024-02-07T15:59:10.272+13:00Sophie SlimSophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.comBlogger752125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-49303385690445043752018-05-10T14:42:00.001+12:002018-05-10T14:42:48.564+12:00Our New Whare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let go back in time to about this time last year (has it really been so long since I have blogged??!)... </div>
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Once again, our Landlord told us "Im selling", why do they always do that?!</div>
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And so we were pushed off the plank into finding a new home. </div>
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We had spent years in the rental market, assuming that buying our own home was impossible.</div>
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Instead, we saved our pennies, week by week, we increased our Kiwi Savers and made voluntary contributions in to them... And over the years it started to add up. </div>
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We couldn't believe it when we started to house hunt for our<i> own </i>home and that it might just be possible!</div>
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I found this little gem while Graeme was visiting family out of the country. I called him and said "We're putting in an offer". We did, we got it, and we love it. </div>
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When I visited the open home I walked up the driveway underneath these sunlit trees, the sun was peaking over the house and I was sold already before I even went inside.</div>
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When I saw that little red stain glass window I fell in love (even more!) with this 1929 bungalow.</div>
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Sure, it's got its limits. A tiny section mostly, which makes me a little sad on somedays, and happy on others (we came from a rental with a great yard). We're hoping we can make it useable for the girls for this summer so there will be lots of things to draw them outside to play and explore.</div>
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But for now, it's home for the next hopefully many years. I'm so glad to be paying our own mortgage. Just today I paid the next rate installation and I felt so relieved by it. No more landlords, house inspections, unmet expectations, surprise visits, and stresssss.</div>
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What seemed impossible 6 years ago became possible! </div>
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I'm so glad to be here and feel so grateful for our home. It suits us so well and we are doing little things to make it more ours.</div>
<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-77323211328224704542016-12-12T09:05:00.001+13:002016-12-12T09:05:43.377+13:00Birthday Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In November I had a fantastic time celebrating my birthday! I had a few friends over for a Mexican lunch, we ate yummo food, there was a donut cake, and lots of wine and sunshine. It was practically perfect in every way.</div>
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That week I also treated myself to a new birthday dress, with soft and delicious fabric called Tencel, which looks and feels like linen, but is actually made from sustainable wood (!!). It's more expensive than anything I would usually buy, but it was exactly what I had in mind so I splurged and blamed the birthday for it.</div>
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You can find the FREE link to this pattern and instructions here if you scroll down:: <a href="http://peppermintmag.com/other/sewing-schools/">Free All Dressed Up Pattern</a></div>
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It was a great pattern that needed no adjustment except a little sway back pinch in (usual, for my curved back). All of the pieces fitted together, and the instructions were easy to understand. This pattern comes highly recommended by me!<br /><br />(Why designers go to the trouble of creating a lined bodice, but then don't give instructions for an enclosed need zipper i'll never understand)</div>
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<b>DRESS DETAILS:</b><br /><b>Fabric:</b> Tencel, sustainable wood fabric (looks and feels like linen). Navy, grey and cream stripes.<br /><b>Pattern Links:</b><a href="http://peppermintmag.com/other/sewing-schools/"> All Dressed Up - Issue 24</a><br /><b>Design Details:</b> Princess seam bodice on front and back, front cut pockets and side zipper.</div>
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Happy days!</div>
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xxx</div>
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<b>READ MORE:</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2015/10/modern-mexican-embriodered-dress.html"></a><a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2015/10/modern-mexican-embriodered-dress.html">Mexican Embroidered Dress</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2016/09/jungle-dress.html">Jungle Dress</a><a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2015/10/modern-mexican-embriodered-dress.html"><br /></a></div>
<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-17789362246587148692016-11-01T15:08:00.002+13:002016-11-01T15:08:25.934+13:00Dining Table and Chairs DIY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Towards the beginning of the year I bought this table and chairs set off trade me. The chairs have "Yugoslavia" stamped into the wood underneath and they were bought from someone in a rest home, so I guess the family bought them to New Zealand a wee while ago? </div>
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They are sturdy, solid and in great condition, and were a dark brown when I bought them (below).</div>
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I spent months sanding these back, painting and varnishing to get it looking this good and I'm so proud of my work.</div>
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The table top is great and is a huge step up from the table we had before, which had a glass table top and would always collect spilt weetbix and milk in the cracks between the wood. </div>
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I'm really happy with the finish of this! It's so easy to keep looking nice.</div>
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The chairs are a dark navy, although they look a lot darker in this (terrible) photo lighting than they usually do (more accurate colour photos below). </div>
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It took me a <i>long</i> time to decide on my colour scheme. </div>
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Originally I wanted all different colours (green, yellow, blue and pink), but once I finished the table and had it in place I loved how grown up it looked. </div>
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It's probably one of the nicest things we own, and I wanted my chairs to reflect that. I'm on a bit of a navy blue bender right now, so that was the next most obvious choice for me.</div>
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I love having my friends over for a cuppa now that we have somewhere nice to sit to enjoy my great view.</div>
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Also, the table extends out, so we've had a few dinner parties with everyone squeezed in our tiny dining area. Once you're in, you can't get out! I kind of love it. </div>
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Next up on my project list, I'm thinking a mini wall quilt to adorn the wall in the dining space...<br />
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<b>READ MORE:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2016/10/tall-boy-duchess-diy.html">Tall Boy Duchess DIY</a><br />
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Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-71138667166622069192016-10-03T16:14:00.000+13:002016-10-03T16:14:06.118+13:00Tall Boy Duchess DIY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kb2L8G5lxClss2k_fD9WYWvvootuNQBPT7fykksXtuZ9vyg7-FvJ0XlV7ndSRrXa3YRYgn3ABzOmnlRj_tFLLBWchG8X6IKlPceMpeIZ3IuLzekgDzj4f948HApfQeEeTPboRgCYjbVv/s1600/IMG_7961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kb2L8G5lxClss2k_fD9WYWvvootuNQBPT7fykksXtuZ9vyg7-FvJ0XlV7ndSRrXa3YRYgn3ABzOmnlRj_tFLLBWchG8X6IKlPceMpeIZ3IuLzekgDzj4f948HApfQeEeTPboRgCYjbVv/s640/IMG_7961.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Earlier this year we met our new neighbours, a lovely family direct from Australia. They ended up moving out a month ago to return home and told us to come over for some pickings at their furniture they weren't shipping back to Aussie.</div>
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I've been wanting a tall boy for a while now; Our clothing storage was in a dire situation and our room isn't big enough to accomodate much else. </div>
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And! They had one to give us! So we quickly nabbed this tall boy that had been their parents, it was in great condition, aside from the varnish needing a spruce up so I rubbed my hands together and went straight to Bunnings! </div>
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A week spent sanding, varnishing, painting, spraying and watching in every spare moment, produced this! </div>
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I am so happy with the results! The wood has a beautiful satin finish to it that looks SO great up close.</div>
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And now Graeme and I have enough space for all of our clothes, rolled up the <a href="http://tidyingup.com/">KonMari</a> space saving way.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTghn-d1CPJOWrIyLcoa0wR_7clMFtl6fJsbxpa6p8sayU43cH7PBvBn3Fah5dNuk6nO2Xxsl4gCGSYef-sybgI5aJjhnDrn4ssqtD_xEEtgQHNSMw01_Zh84oA56Iwsox86NAYUruSxiT/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-03+at+4.11.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTghn-d1CPJOWrIyLcoa0wR_7clMFtl6fJsbxpa6p8sayU43cH7PBvBn3Fah5dNuk6nO2Xxsl4gCGSYef-sybgI5aJjhnDrn4ssqtD_xEEtgQHNSMw01_Zh84oA56Iwsox86NAYUruSxiT/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-10-03+at+4.11.42+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kia ora Lavender whānau xx</div>
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<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-91556546713675106622016-09-30T14:39:00.003+13:002016-09-30T14:39:50.790+13:00Jungle Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSis0IQQOV0o3U9saEfH92XhkvX3HznHHhd71ZTn5KbUPC__o6zAdIVR8lcOa7xcBwf6l4KmfZcop3l-by_lRpDzbeSdbYrwT_stYkr4iekUjUqxjC07_1aiXjiM118PK3Aqk8ZpySl00/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-09-30+at+2.20.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSis0IQQOV0o3U9saEfH92XhkvX3HznHHhd71ZTn5KbUPC__o6zAdIVR8lcOa7xcBwf6l4KmfZcop3l-by_lRpDzbeSdbYrwT_stYkr4iekUjUqxjC07_1aiXjiM118PK3Aqk8ZpySl00/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-09-30+at+2.20.13+PM.png" width="358" /></a></div>
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Warm spring weather is almost here!</div>
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Now I have a fun jungle dress to wear when the sun shines, yipee!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniYjwKvSAACegQ0zM1N18CLVPYUHmzewrLOvsyhNDs_JylZevtBfpGitR7garBEdVt4lTjqJhFNGf6__VrLVZJP5a08EGQqdXvMta-kDVctoBukv7JfYOF6Csm1L-0NUhhP6q1lqN4914/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniYjwKvSAACegQ0zM1N18CLVPYUHmzewrLOvsyhNDs_JylZevtBfpGitR7garBEdVt4lTjqJhFNGf6__VrLVZJP5a08EGQqdXvMta-kDVctoBukv7JfYOF6Csm1L-0NUhhP6q1lqN4914/s640/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="364" /></a></div>
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This is a Tilly and The Buttons pattern, from her book <a href="http://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/products/love-at-first-stitch">Love at First Stitch</a> which I rented from the library. It looks much sweeter on her little petite frame.</div>
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I lengthened the bodice by 2cm, and added in some back neckline darts after all was said and done. One of these days I need to try a full-bust-adjustment, because I think I border line need one. Also, sway back adjustment should have been added. I did do an acceptable toile! I swear.</div>
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If I was in the Great British Sewing Bee (watch the latest season 4 on YouTube!) I think Patrick would critique that there are some fitting issues, but I've made a wearable garment. </div>
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I've binged the GBSB so much lately that I hear Patrick over my shoulder when I sew now. </div>
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Not such a bad thing, really.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYf7SpcMC2yAT7nR4iY4nJ5zLjMZ-hLyhx4BsBLEqqA6EMsfPe2sV7kxdohKNsxAP7nsMCbZ_daRwO3SvX1qbaL9uiGw88eCMdF5SN5RA1yTxu3DaK-WiUkJ4f7S2Tmuc3DVTYDzmHDcc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-09-30+at+2.38.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYf7SpcMC2yAT7nR4iY4nJ5zLjMZ-hLyhx4BsBLEqqA6EMsfPe2sV7kxdohKNsxAP7nsMCbZ_daRwO3SvX1qbaL9uiGw88eCMdF5SN5RA1yTxu3DaK-WiUkJ4f7S2Tmuc3DVTYDzmHDcc/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-09-30+at+2.38.06+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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And also, I've sewed the best zipper of my life, so there's that to be proud of. </div>
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That, along with the colours, stretch and fullness of the cotton sateen make it a great dress! I'm looking forward to wearing it more and more, just as soon as the weather decides to kick it up a notch! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_q6CzfbkPY7i-0JEfTqnz2igXdh8y-m6Iwk2lb6SyMk98qY_4Cx7oiwu3vnPRrK-coweFn2cDLeD5X5kqEruaRQ9xldxT76Az4UTT8QqfkSpVHWllcnl6tZHXnIFVomInF6MWNre5UsAq/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-09-30+at+2.20.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_q6CzfbkPY7i-0JEfTqnz2igXdh8y-m6Iwk2lb6SyMk98qY_4Cx7oiwu3vnPRrK-coweFn2cDLeD5X5kqEruaRQ9xldxT76Az4UTT8QqfkSpVHWllcnl6tZHXnIFVomInF6MWNre5UsAq/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-09-30+at+2.20.00+PM.png" width="390" /></a></div>
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I think I inherited this fabric from Debs stash, along with a free pattern from the Library, and a $8 zipper make this a pretty cheap dress! </div>
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<b>READ MORE:</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2015/09/green-knit-dress.html">Sew - Green Knit Dress</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2015/10/modern-mexican-embriodered-dress.html">Sew - Mexican Embriodery Dress</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2015/04/great-british-sewing-bee-and-crafty.html">More on the Great British Sewing Bee</a></div>
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<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-2956373495415932012016-09-28T11:57:00.003+13:002016-09-28T11:57:47.729+13:00Scrappy Quilt Complete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2 years in the making this quilt is <i>done</i>!</div>
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<i>Phew!</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApJJgPtcxF8iHMBO5INzRiaocYDQAFwlqV_pwGEgkuVQ8LAEyWgbFAVCrc10O5uMMncnCC9bzqrRNyoo13akNHlcrDDd47mrSg-PQeFRpWxaW7YsFfAfEdGgCx1ppS61a9Wu-3wTdiaCz/s1600/Scrap+Quilt+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApJJgPtcxF8iHMBO5INzRiaocYDQAFwlqV_pwGEgkuVQ8LAEyWgbFAVCrc10O5uMMncnCC9bzqrRNyoo13akNHlcrDDd47mrSg-PQeFRpWxaW7YsFfAfEdGgCx1ppS61a9Wu-3wTdiaCz/s640/Scrap+Quilt+1.jpg" width="628" /></a></div>
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This has been my longest project, and definitely the largest in volume! </div>
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Although I started out with much gusto, spurred on by the quick sewing of Deb and Clare who seem to whip quilts up over night, it turns out that no matter how motivated, sewing little 2.5inch squares in rows and blocks is bloody boring. </div>
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So much cutting, so many tiny seams, so much ironing, arranging, mess.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJEdpit8JH3rFePm1T-vVNdqFjm6tnO-J0GJYY1b9cWt5-dorJ3BaE9wBmePvCCCk5PwfFJEU8aP7YuNWMKPln5bNCmbz8qvnTpEZMvUQs1Qk4V9ahMLz1lKb5i6-yA_E1pdKofLmyfks/s1600/Scrap+Quilt+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJEdpit8JH3rFePm1T-vVNdqFjm6tnO-J0GJYY1b9cWt5-dorJ3BaE9wBmePvCCCk5PwfFJEU8aP7YuNWMKPln5bNCmbz8qvnTpEZMvUQs1Qk4V9ahMLz1lKb5i6-yA_E1pdKofLmyfks/s640/Scrap+Quilt+3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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However, over the years I've been learning perseverance, and also I must be upping my standards.</div>
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What would have been "fine" is no longer "fine", and I found myself unpicking 24 meters of top stitching of the quilt top so that I could hand stitch it again. My machine quilting skills were below par, and after musing over it, I set about with the un-picker and spent another month unpicking and restitching by hand for a much nicer finish. </div>
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All that to say, even though I cursed and loathed this quilt, and went through the 5 stages of grief over it, I eventually came to love it (stockholm syndrome?), and wanted it to look its best. And, it was really great having a project handy that I could pull out whilst watching tv, or something to sew in the sunshine.<br />
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I absolutely love the binding, the backing, the bright colours, the yellow thread, the flowers, the spots, the patterns...<br />
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I might even go so far to say, I miss creating it.<br />
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But now I have a bright and happy quilt to keep our family warm, and the satisfaction of creating something that has a purpose and is of use to our family is at an all time high.<br />
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2 years ago to the day I wrote this <a href="http://deb-robertson.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/scrappyquilt-guest-post-sophie-slim.html">Guest Blog Post on Debs Blog</a>, so today I am calling it Finished! Done! </div>
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Thank you for the box of scraps <a href="http://deb-robertson.blogspot.co.nz/">Deb</a>, and for the endless amount of inspiration!</div>
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And here's looking at you Clare, for all those tidy rows of squares. Keep on stitching, Sister! </div>
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<b>READ MORE:</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_443038230"></span>Posts about my Scrappy Quilt here<span id="goog_443038231"></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/search/label/Sewing">More Sewing here</a></div>
<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-37568639229228064682016-09-24T15:39:00.000+12:002016-09-24T19:06:39.101+12:00Millas Monarch 5th Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rā whānau kia Camilla! Now you are FIVE!! </div>
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To celebrate, we had a monarch butterfly afternoon, as you have requested for the past year. And threw in some My Little Ponies too at the last moment. A girl can change her mind if she wants to! </div>
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I made you some monarch wings to wear as well as for decoration, we had rainbow streamers, and a huge monarch cake! You were a pretty happy girl having all of these dreams come true!</div>
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We played a treasure hunt game where we found pictures of My Little Ponies in our garden, and then had an obstacle course! The obstacle course started our taking the ping pong ball (EGG) on a spoon and throwing it into the bucket with the leaves on it. Then, crawling through the tunnel (CATERPILLAR). Then, racing to the finish line with rainbow ribbons (BUTTERFLY). The little children were so happy to find out they could keep their ribbons!</div>
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You can't wait to be starting school in the new year, and you are loving being a 5 year old. You know you're a big kid now, and as always responsibility is high on your priorities list. You are nailing this 5 year old, big sister, growing up thing. I am so proud of you Milla.<br />
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For the last term, and until you start school in January, we have been having Mondays to our selves while Katie is at Kindy having her "special day" by herself.<br />
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I love Milla Mondays! You are such fun to hang out with. You talk my ear off all day, and we do something special together. Some times it's tumble times, or the library (our new favourite place to go together), or just to a cafe, or to Willowbank, or painting at home together, or ... where ever you want to go! It's lots of fun, as I said!<br />
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You've been practicing your phonetics, recognising more words in books and on signs and have been writing little notes. The other morning you came into my bedroom saying "look mum, I wrote 'Katie is in bed'", and sure enough, you had! Clever cookie. You'll love school! In the mean time, we've been playing word games, practising writing and trying to do fun creative learning to tide you over.<br />
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At Kindy you had a special celebration led by Kaiako Duncan. They sang you the whale song (a humongous whale, spouting out the water...)(aaaa... great white shark, great white shark...), happy birthday, presented you with your cake and card and Kindy book and talked about your time at Kindy. You were so excited to be up there, you spoke clearly and loudly for everyone to hear (which I was very proud of), and loved your time up the front under the cloak.<br />
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As a gift to Kindy on your birthday we presented them with a book we made together called "he iti kahuku". It's a story about a little butterfly who finds its mum at the park and dances under a rainbow. Kindy loved the book, and you were so creative to have made it! </div>
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When I thought about it later, I realised it's about you! You are our little Monarch.</div>
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He iti kahuku tā māua, kei raro ki te kahukura</div>
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{Our little butterfly, under the rainbow}<br />
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<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-2976179062429837632016-08-16T11:24:00.002+12:002016-08-16T11:28:01.312+12:00Graemes Mexican Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hola! Way back in May we celebrated Graeme's 30th Birthday at Mexico with friends and whānau.</div>
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Graemes birthday has been <i>the</i> event of the year for us. We love celebrating things, we love our people, and we love birthdays. So, we've been planning for these celebrations for a year, putting aside money each week for the last year so when the time came, we could do what our hearts desired.</div>
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After much humming and haa'ing, we decided on having our party out and about, and catered for. It was more expensive than doing ourselves, but it took all of the stress out and meant we could invite who ever and didn't need to be worried for a "wet weather option". I also hired a friend to make the cake! Best decision of the year. It was amazing!</div>
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It took months to find a venue, after a whole lot of emails, and venue visits at various locations around the city and still not finding any where suitable. I mused to myself "it would be amazing to have a party with mexican fried chicken handed around", and so I email Mexico and we were in! They ticked all of the boxes and were fantastic hosts! </div>
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We ended up having 65 friends and whānau. Even though we don't see many of these people very often they all hold dear places in our hearts and it was so great to have them.</div>
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I have only included a few photos in the post, but we are making up a photo book so we have picture of everyone! Lighting was hard, and most were taken with polaroids, so our photos aren't the greatest!</div>
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Our kids came for the first hour, then Nannie took them back to her house where a family friend babysat them while they slept. They were so excited to be at their Daddies party! And it was great having them there!! Also, Aunty Izy came from Australia to join in the celebrations!</div>
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The birthday boy! I surprise him by secretly handing out little badges with his face on them with a golden sparkly crown. See if you can spot them in the photos. He turned around and realised everyone was wearing them! So great. There were also some larger faces stuck on the walls. Graeme is our Party King, so it seemed fitting to have his face everywhere.</div>
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I strung up a few banners and decorations when we arrived but Mexico in Christchurch is so bright and fun, it really didn't need much. The decor is ace, as is the music. The atmosphere was perfect!</div>
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We also played pinata, which was a bit of a fail! Graeme ended up whacking his friend Joe over the head (not surprising, since Joe was standing next to it saying "hit me!") but the string holding it up didn't hold so we ended up ripping it open with our hands! Still good though.</div>
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I said a speech for Graeme, and then it was backed up with a Māori waiata (song), as is custom when honoring someone.</div>
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During the week we had secret practises for Purea Nei, a beautiful waiata. Jared was on guitar leading it, and started after my speech. </div>
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Graeme said he was looking around taking in the song and then started to realise that everyone was singing, even people who didn't know Māori waitata, and then he started to realise how special it was and that everyone must have learnt it for him! </div>
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Well, they did! 65 people, singing a song most of them didn't know for their friend who they were honoring. It doesn't get much more special than that! </div>
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You can watch and pretend you were there with the video below::</div>
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Most of all, Graeme had a great night! He felt loved, celebrated and honored! </div>
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Friends and Whānau, thank you for partying with us and being in our lives! </div>
xxx<br />
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(ps, Blog post on our<a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2016/07/queenstown-adventures-graemes-30th.html"> birthday holiday here</a> (yes, the celebrations seemed to continue for a whole month!)Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-90380702232008768892016-07-22T14:15:00.002+12:002016-07-22T14:15:56.868+12:00Queenstown Adventures - Graemes 30th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In May we were lucky enough to spend 4 nights in Queenstown, without the kids! Just us!! The kids were happy as can be with their grandparents, and we were living it up large with Hilton Hotel Life.<br /><br />So, I never realised that hotel people do all your dishes. That was such a surprise to me. I need to get out more! haha! / become so wealthy I never need to do dishes again. It was like living in a dream! </div>
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Anyway, 5 nights away, what a dream come true. We had been squirreling away money for the last year for this trip, as a big Happy 30th Birthday to the man of our house, so we could have some time away from our house! Graeme was also blessed by a lot of his friends for his birthday, with cash towards adventures in Queenstown. </div>
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We planned to live up large, eat out and buy desserts, drink coffee and wander the streets and do as many adventurey things as we could. It turns out, we ticked all of those boxes.</div>
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The highlight for me was definitely Milford Sound. It's about 3.5 hours drive from Queenstown, so it really does take up a whole day; leaving in the morning, going on a cruise around lunch time, then returning home after dinner. It was a big day and we were shattered by the end of it. I think that was the one night we got takeaways and crashed in bed. </div>
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But Milford sound, what a beautiful, stunning part of the world. Breathtaking. Even the drive there, I wish we had spent more time stopping off to take in the views. So much beauty and goodness that is so refreshing for the soul.</div>
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We went on a <a href="http://www.jucycruize.co.nz/?gclid=CNPHyaD8hc4CFVcmvQodpagORw">Jucy Cruise</a> which was, I assume, just as good as all of the other cruises on offer. All up about 2 hours on the boat. </div>
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I was lucky enough to end up at the front of the boat and was doused in water from a waterfall. It was a happy accident, and from then on we stayed at the front of the boat and loved our cruise. Much better to be out in the fresh air, although it was FREEZING cold. Wind chill felt like it was in the minus'! Still, I sipped my red wine, bathed in the sunlight and thanked God for all of these moments. </div>
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Those last 2 photos above were from a video we took. We tried to get a photo of us and the waterfall, except the wind was all up in thurrr. You can see the video on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BF5z1dRRzBj/?taken-by=sophiemoo2">Instagram here</a>.</div>
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Following that we spent our time in Queenstown on the shot over river (above). I had been on it as a kid, in which I had thought for sure we were certain for death, but it wasn't nearly as scary as I had remembered. Still, thrilling none the less. Graeme "woohoo"'d his way down the river, and it was a joy for me to see him having fun (while I held on for dear life).</div>
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We ate Fergburger, Winnies Pizza, drank lunch time beers and wines, sat by fire sides, talked about silly things from my "conversation starters" (which were a great idea to take, when you're wanting to talk about things other than kids, but your life only consists of kids). </div>
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Speaking of kids, we <i>almost forgot</i> they existed. And when we phoned them they said "we need to make you a card, can we hurry up and say goodbye now?" So never mind them.</div>
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On our departing eve, we found the local c3 Church and treated ourselves to a couple massage which was <i>divine. </i>We finished off the day by eating a ridiculously expensive meal which was a ridiculously huge hunk of steak, and drank from a ridiculously large wine glass. Ridiculous. All of it. </div>
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What is this life?</div>
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*Sigh* Last day and time to go home. 6 hours later in the car and we were ready for our own beds. But I definitely could have stayed in that dream bubble for a little longer.</div>
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Thank you to Nannie & Poppa, Grandad Jimmy & Colly for all of the Baby Sitting hours you racked up! And to all of our friends who put in for our adventures!</div>
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Lots of memories made. Thank you. </div>
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Happy Birthday Graeme! xx</div>
<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-702482730380608312016-06-30T10:19:00.003+12:002016-06-30T10:19:59.273+12:00Katie Turns Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNcxnBbIj4PniQ1gnH_k6HnuQ7rWayu14zVEiZ_AUt2DxHYKK_cIaELGCppuJwh2ft2FM3nJw1js3cze-ucNMtA2OHjYArXVad3Eff2gufMH0-K661YfCu825Viqbn3gIAha2HiaZKVrP/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-06-30+at+9.53.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNcxnBbIj4PniQ1gnH_k6HnuQ7rWayu14zVEiZ_AUt2DxHYKK_cIaELGCppuJwh2ft2FM3nJw1js3cze-ucNMtA2OHjYArXVad3Eff2gufMH0-K661YfCu825Viqbn3gIAha2HiaZKVrP/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-06-30+at+9.53.03+AM.png" width="638" /></a></div>
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Sweet little Katie. Cheeky, mischievous, giggly, snugly, loud Katie. </div>
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She turned 3 last week. Our little BIG girl! Who also started Kindy on the same day. There's too much growing up happening around here. </div>
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Look at these Kindy girls!</div>
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We celebrated Katie's birthday with Kindy in the morning, a very little picnic in the botanic gardens with a few of her little friends, and a trip to the discovery room in the Museum next to the gardens. Followed by lots and lots of cake and candles. Katie blowing out candles is hilarious - she's too busy trying to sing "happy birthday" to herself at the same time!</div>
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Her Daddy surprised us at the gardens by turning up unexpectedly. He had tracked my phone to sneakily find out where we were and had taken the afternoon off work. What a (creepy) sweet thing to do! Hehe. </div>
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<b>At three years old Katie loves:: </b>Snuggling with soft blankets and fluffy toys. Animals. Anything "cute". Cheesy Dibbles (Twisties - the chip). Reading books with Dad. Ice cream. Minions. Her Big Sister. Bath time. My new scarf. Sleeping. Lots of Sleeping. </div>
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Party hard Katie! xxxSophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-64529026894496837982016-05-12T12:36:00.002+12:002016-05-12T16:54:40.264+12:00Motherhood 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">My FB memories just reminded me that 2 years ago I wrote about what stage of motherhood I was in 2 years ago (<a href="http://www.sophieslim.co.nz/2014/05/motherhood-2014.html">Motherhood 2014</a>). I enjoyed looking back and revisiting that season, so thought I will record an update for future trips down memory lane...</span></div>
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<b>What my season of motherhood looks like right now:</b></div>
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Morning "Ata Marie" greetings, with kisses and cuddles in bed.</div>
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The distant sound of phone games being played with in the dark while I doze.</div>
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Breakfast requests; cornies, weetbix, muesli or honey poppas.</div>
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Spilt milk and coconut scattered throughout the house.</div>
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Outfits chosen, constant reminders, and screaming in the car.</div>
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Scratched hands, sincere apologies and hurt feelings.</div>
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Mat time joy. </div>
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"Mum can I come in", a little girl itching to start kindy.</div>
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Coffee and cake with friends, my life savers and support system.</div>
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Little friends for little children, who play happily throughout the day, only stopping for food and drinks.</div>
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Despicable me, Penguins, Cinderella, Cars & Planes, Dinosaurs & Bible stories on rotation.</div>
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Camilla the cupcake fairy, over and over and over again.</div>
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Endless art works, inspiration and ideas.</div>
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Tears over ruined art, rampaging sisters and hurt feelings.</div>
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Constant lessons on kindness, integrity, responsibility and joy. Raising up women who believe in themselves.</div>
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Leading our family in prayer and passing on my faith to my children. Unending lessons on faith, the miraculous, and a Father who loves and creates. </div>
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Taylor Swift dance parties.</div>
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Dinners gobbled, or left uneaten. Pleas for ice cream and treats.</div>
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Surprising Daddy after work.<br />
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Insufferably long whispered conversations.</div>
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Fluffy PJs and warm beds with snuggly toys.</div>
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Big girl beds side by side, with the cot packed up and stowed underneath. Mixed feelings, but mostly relief at a new stage.</div>
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Goodnight kisses, "Pō Marie" and songs.</div>
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Hushed whispers and giggles of joy.</div>
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Long nights for dishes, vacuuming and straightening our home for another day.</div>
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TV programmes, chips or toast, and The Mans hand to hold.</div>
<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-51716938742473593802016-04-27T11:57:00.002+12:002016-04-27T11:57:36.575+12:00Camilla Makes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Give camilla a cellotape dispenser, some paper and some felts and she'll be busy for hours.</div>
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When we are out and about, she muses out loud in the car as to what she can "create" when she gets home. She spends hours at her desk, every single day. </div>
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She is determined, quiet, focussed and productive when she is creating. Not a lot can pull her out of her zone.</div>
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Fridge::</div>
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A fridge, with opening flap at the top and shelves to hold different flavoured milks; Carrot milk, strawberry milk, banana milk, coffee milk and a cup.</div>
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Watering can::</div>
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Watch::</div>
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Backpack::</div>
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The creating continues...</div>
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Camilla: Aged 4.5</div>
<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-86066403347735947862016-04-22T15:53:00.001+12:002016-04-22T15:53:55.295+12:00Big Girl Bedroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Katie got her very own big girl bed this week! </div>
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The first night was a write off, both of us actually forgot that getting kids to sleep in a bed takes some prep work. We just sort of put her in bed, said good night and turned off the light. Well, obviously that didn't work! </div>
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The following nights we have been going through the routine, making it exciting, and letting her have ownership over her new bed (choosing her duvet etc). The next (and last) two nights she has slept soundly and I'm hoping that will continue for years to come! </div>
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We really do have great sleepers! We have been blessed! </div>
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Its so nice to creep into their room and watch them sleep side by side. Two sisters, it's so precious!</div>
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We have been saving credit card points and spent them on matching bed frames for the kids! Its so nice to be able to buy new things for our children. I get a lot of joy out of it! Life must be getting easier, because a few years ago there is no way that would have been possible.</div>
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Our third bedroom was being used as a spare room / craft / computer office / storage space in our home. It had no carpet and the floor boards had gaps and were freezing. You could actually feel the draft coming up through the spaces in the boards. Anyways. Two years later, we finally thought to ask the landlord to carpet it. And he did! The carpet was done this week and we moved the two girls in that night. They love sharing a room, and I love having a spare room, so it works well for everyone. This room has slightly more space than their previous one so we can squeeze two beds in. Although there is little room for anything else! </div>
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In the mean time, the contents of our spare / everything room was dumped on the lounge floor. Luckily our kids don't get "into" things and I am able to chip away at finding a home for it. I'm eyeing up a wardrobe so that all of this<i> stuff</i> can be behind closed doors! Ack. This is what real life looks like! </div>
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I really do hate moving! Bring on the day where we can live in a house for 10 years and not worry about tenancy agreements and landlord inspections! </div>
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I'm off to tidy! Have a great weekend! x</div>
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<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-571352623106670212016-04-15T21:31:00.002+12:002016-04-15T21:31:56.053+12:00What Life Was Like (A Little Red Scooter)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="text-align: start;">I didn't write about it much at the time, but I need to recall it now. What life was like back then... 2011-2014</span></div>
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When the children were smaller we were (and still are) a one car family.<br />
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My husband Graeme needed the car every day to get to work, and for the most part we (myself and the kids) didn't need one. Most things, our friends, church, shops, were within a reasonable walking distance. So most days we loaded up the pram and spent our days walking to and from.<br />
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When the kids were born I had some fantastic friends who would offer to come and pick me up for particular social occasions that were across town, which I deeply appreciated (you know who you are), but for most of it I did enjoy getting out into the fresh air. At the time I don't think I thought that, but looking back I can see that pounding the pavement was good for me.<br />
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We lived in a low income part of town. Kids loitered, men sat on porches smoking and staring, houses were burnt down and threatening dogs left to roam. I often felt scared for our safety and couldn't wait to move out.<br />
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It was normal for me to leave the house in the morning with the pram, and not return until dinner time.<br />
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Normal to buy only what groceries would fit on the handles of the pram.<br />
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Once after my first child was born, I walked 4.8km (I just google mapped it) to a friends home. She text when I was a few blocks away to say our coffee date wouldn't work anymore, and so I turned around and walked 4.8km home. I had had a baby only a few weeks earlier, and the 9.6km journey took days for my post-partum body to recover.<br />
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In my next pregnancy I walked to church for a play group, to the grocery store, to a friends house, and home, a 10km journey. When I got home, I had pains in my pregnant belly, my muscles ached and I feared I might go in to labour.<br />
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Some days I would wake up at 6am to breastfeed the baby, load the kids into the car and take my husband to work at 7am if I wanted the car for the day. He was more than happy to do this, but it put strain on our whole day. The kids had to eat dinner at 4.30pm, be in their PJs for pick up at 5pm and would often fall asleep on our way home, meaning they were up until 10pm as is the way with Kids and late naps or we would transfer them to bed as soon as we got home and Graeme would miss out on Dad Time. Often it wasn't worth the effort.<br />
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Later we moved homes, out of the rough neighbourhood and into a quiet suburban tree lined street where people washed their cars at the weekend. Suddenly, nothing was close by and our oldest had started Kindy and so everyday became a "drop daddy off at work" day. It was exhausting.<br />
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These were all normal events in our lives. We thought nothing of it, because that was how it had to be. But we dreamed of having another option. A scooter, we thought, seemed the cheapest. We watched Trade Me auctions for well on a year, some times bidding and praying that one would go cheap enough for us.<br />
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Until one day, Graeme bid on one, to hell with what it costed.<br />
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I remember pulling into the persons drive way to pick up the scooter. Transferring $1200 that we didn't really have at the time, that had taken what felt like forever to gather in our savings account. I felt anxious. Scared, almost, like we were wasting money. The rain washed over the windows, the children cried in the back seat from hunger and tiredness as we waited for Graeme to get back from his test drive.<br />
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"Are you sure??" I asked him.<br /><br />"I think its good" He replied.<br />
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We drove home and the rain relented. He pulled up at the lights next to us, a big smile filling his whole face beneath that helmet. I snapped a photo to record the event on Instagram.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, life was happy back then, the photos recorded and shared tell me so anyway. We were content. But now from a new perspective I can see how much of a grind it was. Everyday, like scraping chalk on the concrete, it wore us down, although I never would have admitted that at the time. In hindsight, I don't know how we did it.<br />
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It was only one and half years ago that a little red scooter came into our lives but it changed everything from that moment on. The children are allowed to sleep until they are ready to wake, we drive (and still walk on fine days), we explore, visit friends homes and make spontaneous plans, and we spend our afternoons at home, playing without a deadline, dinner is cooked in its own time and our family enjoys a meal together. Graeme can help with the night time chores - readying the children for bed, reading books to them. There was time for none of that before.<br />
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As a woman, it has empowered me to be the woman I want to be; one who is free, who is not <i>trapped</i>.<br />
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In the morning I wake to the sound of the scooter roaring into life and speeding off down the driveway, often while it is still dark outside.<br />
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Half asleep, I smile to myself. My husband, ever loyal, off to work another day.<br />
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I feel beyond blessed.Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-69697886455467056842016-04-15T16:46:00.002+12:002016-04-15T16:46:52.738+12:00FriendsThey walk through my back door, one by one. Some early, some late, it does not matter to us.<br />
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As they walk in, without knocking, food is placed on my bench and the children run down the hallway to find their friends.<br />
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Women stand in my kitchen, joining conversation that is already thriving, talking above the boiling jug.<br />
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Laughter fills the space, as my heart connects with others. I take a breath and feel peace, placing the mugs out one by one in a row.Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-71915183616867784092016-04-14T16:02:00.003+12:002016-04-22T15:26:14.324+12:00Autumn Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aH3ba0B-OO5QHBarO1gZaV7TlpM1EzQuQi4WgX745NOoNJ74h6OjsvECumFn6QqZrJE7fk0Qf2RtShH9DG26GGpVdZi6CGpT5ixJUq7xzsELoHtX9fHNLjFPP-4jWquLdp9aeyAbj8gk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-22+at+3.25.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aH3ba0B-OO5QHBarO1gZaV7TlpM1EzQuQi4WgX745NOoNJ74h6OjsvECumFn6QqZrJE7fk0Qf2RtShH9DG26GGpVdZi6CGpT5ixJUq7xzsELoHtX9fHNLjFPP-4jWquLdp9aeyAbj8gk/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-04-22+at+3.25.44+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The warm autumn sun, reddening my cheeks and warming my forehead.<br />
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Wool wrapped around my body, but the sun warms my bones.<br />
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The sky so clear, so blue and fresh.<br />
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The leaves a deep green, turning to yellow and red.<br />
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These are the moments that fill my heart. That bring peace and life. These are the moments I want to remember.Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-8265304705024457902016-04-08T22:45:00.000+12:002016-04-08T22:55:50.521+12:00Noho Marae 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAMIh5xHfu18Cq3Mc6TGvGGsjDTzITPcucp8ELRU_HC-hmplQTtRmZGp7PGPdGlTPbkCuyhbPdwdr8prx8CwRCpsLxjpX8Sw0BkO44q5encIpdpqiiiWPAhOaJqBiGHrjBznroLiDHgkD/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-08+at+10.32.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAMIh5xHfu18Cq3Mc6TGvGGsjDTzITPcucp8ELRU_HC-hmplQTtRmZGp7PGPdGlTPbkCuyhbPdwdr8prx8CwRCpsLxjpX8Sw0BkO44q5encIpdpqiiiWPAhOaJqBiGHrjBznroLiDHgkD/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-04-08+at+10.32.49+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last weekend we took the 2 kids to our classroom where we are learning Te Reo Māori this year on Monday nights for a sleep over and learning time.<br />
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They had a ball, although drove me slightly crazy on the Saturday afternoon when we had just arrived. We went straight into learning, into a 2 hour class on comprehension where we actually had to listen and pay attention. Meanwhile, two girls were fighting over felt colours, banging each other on the head with pool noodles and sporadically screaming. Do you ever just think "why did I even bother?"<br />
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I'm glad we pushed through because we all ended up have a great time. The kids found their grove, they loved being around Te Reo (Camilla is a keen learner, and Katie has her own confident unknown (but to her its Māori) language she likes to sing in) and on day two we remembered to plug in the tablet during learning times!<br />
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It was great to get to know our class mates better, share kai and stories d<span style="font-family: inherit;">uring the <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pō Whakangāhau (Evening entertainment). We found the "Māori only" immersion morning really beneficial. Graeme swam through it like a champ - and it made me realise how much harder I need to work than him. We have since thought it would be great to do a Māori only night once a week when Graeme gets home from work. Its just so easy to default into English. We will see how this goes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Its a journey that we are all on.</span></span><br />
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Camilla: "Your Māori Kaiako said "Kei te pehea koe?" to me." ("How are you?")<br />Me: "And what did you say back to him?"<br />Camilla: "Kei te wera au" ("I am hot")<br />Me: "Awesome Milla! Were you feeling hot?"<br />Camilla: "No, but it was all I could think of saying"Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-62430742868457303482016-03-25T21:21:00.001+13:002016-03-25T21:21:45.530+13:00Easter 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDpw9iKrfvFjwCHDsnFy5h2miNYoh-5bzTTZJp7Lp1lshov4r7Fl681UpnpV-luswHcjgahDYS8EmfrkU-oooX3jOZMNU5AZcY-EaZb9sLFLQrVwg2Qm-c61qyK9SMfahmnbWmmGs3Qr4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-25+at+9.08.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDpw9iKrfvFjwCHDsnFy5h2miNYoh-5bzTTZJp7Lp1lshov4r7Fl681UpnpV-luswHcjgahDYS8EmfrkU-oooX3jOZMNU5AZcY-EaZb9sLFLQrVwg2Qm-c61qyK9SMfahmnbWmmGs3Qr4/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-03-25+at+9.08.41+PM.png" width="636" /></a></div>
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2016, another Easter.<br />
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This one feels more like Autumn, after a cold windy few weeks yellow leaves are on the ground.<br />
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Milla was contagiously excited about Easter. From all the talks at Kindy she knew it was a holiday weekend with chocolate. Whats not exciting about that!?<br />
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So we started our Easter celebrations early on Thursday night with some surprise winter PJs. Now a tradition (of 2 years! haha) the kids were very excited to receive them. Milla preferred Katies (she had sunshines and clouds), but the next day after realising Milla had bunnies on hers AND it was easter weekend (easter bunnies) she firmly told me that hers were now her favourites.<br />
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We put on our new PJs, tucked up with Daddy and read from our bibles.<br />
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Milla has started praying this week, which is something she has been apprehensive about in the past so we haven't pushed it but have tried to lead by example. Something clicked in her this week and she has been praying on her own accord to God. And man, when she prays... It feels like Heaven is in the room. Although she insists that the only way to pray is with her hands together, funny considering we never do this.<br />
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This coincides nicely with a weekend that is all about our families faith. We are enjoying learning together!<br />
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Today we made a stuffed bunny with flower fabric. Milla did most of the work on the bunny and I enjoyed sitting with her and sharing in special time together. All of this whilst Katie ran wild and tipped the cocoa container on the floor and spread it around the kitchen and down the hallway with little chocolate footprints. It's not all pretty Instagram moments, real life happens here too!<br />
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Peace to you this weekend,<br />
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xSophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-36352993360802118502016-02-19T20:38:00.000+13:002016-02-19T20:38:08.617+13:00Dinners Ready - A moment in time."Dinners ready" I announce. Or breakfast, lunch, snacks, or anything really.<br />
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Two little humans drop what they are doing and run past me, under my legs, they sprint to the kitchen shouting in celebration down the hallway where I am standing.<br />
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I follow as they navigate their way past me.<br />
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The big one is faster.<br />
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The little one runs with her hands in the air. There's side stepping and confusion as she passes. She's not sure how to get around my legs, but she pushes through anyway. Her feet making a gentle, but firm stomp on the ground with each running step.<br />
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My view is like a computer game. I can see it all from above, looking down on my little character running towards the dining table.<br />
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This may be one of my favourite parts of motherhood, and stay at home mum life; the view from above, the excited side stepping in the hall way, the running in front of me, hands in the air and the patter of feet. <b>Yes, it's one of my favourites.</b><br />
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<b>Ages 4.5 & 2.5</b>Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-22083518726706099402016-02-14T20:05:00.000+13:002016-02-14T20:05:06.472+13:00Waitangi at Onuku Marae<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFrgUz3V2VTGbk6zFJ19QLL1N-ZjKXD8lYwvgivQO7LaGDLeMVVYQX5OTuxj94uBg6BoMtPd07jv6nfLcv51hVK0l7Um34IFrvyS7MLavkJPqyhkXMwOvtLq51QdtfkiGldWMCjRlcSNQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-14+at+8.00.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFrgUz3V2VTGbk6zFJ19QLL1N-ZjKXD8lYwvgivQO7LaGDLeMVVYQX5OTuxj94uBg6BoMtPd07jv6nfLcv51hVK0l7Um34IFrvyS7MLavkJPqyhkXMwOvtLq51QdtfkiGldWMCjRlcSNQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-02-14+at+8.00.51+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Milla, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This weekend our whānau went to Onuku Marae to commemorate Waitangi Day. Mum and Dad, Nannie and Poppa and Aunty Izy and Uncle Phil all came! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR0s6W0D8mxtfLccQD-60LypPsvqr8oNcWIJyPTN-O7I0jHriB4WZhjKrbL6zSOcsT_Ah0Baa9_R4eZc0HHGbqJF-Vzr6QH-JuTveI9DwX3-HWaMRuBtC-p1fLDgiKr4ywk2FIVzx2jDD/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-14+at+8.00.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR0s6W0D8mxtfLccQD-60LypPsvqr8oNcWIJyPTN-O7I0jHriB4WZhjKrbL6zSOcsT_Ah0Baa9_R4eZc0HHGbqJF-Vzr6QH-JuTveI9DwX3-HWaMRuBtC-p1fLDgiKr4ywk2FIVzx2jDD/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-02-14+at+8.00.32+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;">Onuku is just past Akaroa, and it's where your Dad and his family spent a lot of time when they were kids living in Duvachelle. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;">Dad has lots of memories here and it's a very special place for him. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The marae has just completed a whole lot of renovations with a brand new wharekai so they had the opening on Waitangi to celebrate! </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was a big pōwhiri welcoming everyone on, but we were on the tangata whenua side watching the guests come in. Milla, you were so interested in what was going on, you loved the waiata and listening to Te Reo. You even plucked up the courage to share your mihi with your Koro and Kuia (although we call them Nannie and Poppa!) </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Ko Camilla tōku ingoa, no Ōtautahi au" you said! Ka pai Milla! So proud! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We love sharing Māori customs and language with you. You have a great sense of Mana Ake, you know it's a special part of who you and your whānau are. We will continue to teach you as best we can throughout your life about your culture, language, ancestors and this beautiful land we live on. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.696px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love, Mum & Dad x</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8c5MBKoFkArMXFP4_ypdavYG-lyJjtPmbOe6bTlNujph3ASb4aXQqSP1S1K4iu1Kip0hKob0tQJtJapJPZyxNMKU6BexJPAANCTWW9SMX-gRZFPTk0w8tuxxgrLJioBDYc9Mq1w13get8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-14+at+8.00.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8c5MBKoFkArMXFP4_ypdavYG-lyJjtPmbOe6bTlNujph3ASb4aXQqSP1S1K4iu1Kip0hKob0tQJtJapJPZyxNMKU6BexJPAANCTWW9SMX-gRZFPTk0w8tuxxgrLJioBDYc9Mq1w13get8/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-02-14+at+8.00.41+PM.png" width="482" /></a></div>
<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-71919169931032839072016-01-29T20:30:00.000+13:002016-01-29T20:30:47.254+13:00i Chart You - Our Genealogy Print<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXU5Y2QGRokOaKRzvXaNl65sPpKvd57gtuECX4SXizL55IvZLz6-dvF_ZFDquTWnQqtqwindq68v2tKIFeyqk8Lldf9IZSssbv-IbN2DRLgoSKRdstaycWqm7sr-Qd6ZUnZzbiijIKGGE/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXU5Y2QGRokOaKRzvXaNl65sPpKvd57gtuECX4SXizL55IvZLz6-dvF_ZFDquTWnQqtqwindq68v2tKIFeyqk8Lldf9IZSssbv-IbN2DRLgoSKRdstaycWqm7sr-Qd6ZUnZzbiijIKGGE/s640/IMG_2119.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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For Christmas I organised and framed this <a href="http://www.i-chart-you.com/" target="_blank">i Chart You print</a> and hung it on the wall for Christmas morning for Graeme to unwrap.</div>
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As we have been studying te reo Māori this year, Graeme has been very interested in his whakapapa and has been investigating his own family trees.</div>
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I noticed he had a few gaps to fill in, so I took it upon myself to send out a lot of emails to fill in the blanks for him! I was able to find everyones middle names too, but unfortunately many of them couldn't fit in the fields available!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg354iFEHiSTKb-NdsYl59nRrFEkBezgPY_tB1BAnQGq7sNOrQeVty9RgvAXALuaPDnoCcbLdfMjhfyAFbzZ5KUoh4yanay3jvOpconXNB9AInuCeThHDw4MMoVciQ2M1LhNfEm6ZNb_xwG/s1600/IMG_2117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg354iFEHiSTKb-NdsYl59nRrFEkBezgPY_tB1BAnQGq7sNOrQeVty9RgvAXALuaPDnoCcbLdfMjhfyAFbzZ5KUoh4yanay3jvOpconXNB9AInuCeThHDw4MMoVciQ2M1LhNfEm6ZNb_xwG/s640/IMG_2117.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since Christmas all of our visitors have been drawn to look at it in our lounge. Usually the first thing they note is that Graeme's name is a hypenation of his parents (most people presume its from me), and also that Graemes grandparents changed their surname. </div>
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It sparks a whole lot of conversation and is a great art piece and also information piece for our whānau to have! I almost have every person memorised.</div>
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<a href="http://www.i-chart-you.com/" target="_blank">I chart you</a> designed this print and they have lots of other colour combos available. You simply fill in the form they have with all of your relations and they design it up and send it to you as a PDF. Take it to the printers and get it printed and framed! I bought a large design in a frame from The Warehouse and took out their "art", and replaced it with my print to be able to get a square frame this big! </div>
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My advice is to choose your frame first, and to have all your info ready to go! It makes the process much faster, and they can design your print to fit your frame.</div>
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This isn't a sponsored post, I'm simply telling you this because I love our print and I see real value in displaying (and learning) your genealogy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfnqPWjedtJWZOcA-YyqiQTk_7e6znVjnpVpXTtn9KztauZoMbp0nSlOsaSQK183vwizU7sn8bJCDNfqiAKXvTObd2JFCjINeNFGCGLfI3cWGR4UIEfI1eMPylYzcgxF9PTZr988xg6W8/s1600/IMG_2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfnqPWjedtJWZOcA-YyqiQTk_7e6znVjnpVpXTtn9KztauZoMbp0nSlOsaSQK183vwizU7sn8bJCDNfqiAKXvTObd2JFCjINeNFGCGLfI3cWGR4UIEfI1eMPylYzcgxF9PTZr988xg6W8/s640/IMG_2120.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Also today while dinner was cooking I pulled off the old fabric from my footstool and replaced it with these pretty feathers! <a href="http://onacraftyadventure.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Amy</a> originally gave me this footstool about 4 or 5 years ago. It's had a cow print on it all this time but was SO grubby from all the use over the years; I'm glad it's got another life covered in blue feathers! Thanks<a href="http://deb-robertson.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank"> Deb </a>for all the fabric!</div>
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Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you ever get an i Chart! I'd love to see it! </div>
<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-28791631920985988452016-01-26T12:48:00.000+13:002016-01-26T12:48:18.937+13:00Summer Road Trips 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The summer of 2016 - The greatest one yet!</div>
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This summer has been filled with family, friends, barbecues, treats, lots of kilometres on the speedo, togs, sandy bottoms and sunscreen.</div>
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Can it get any better?</div>
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We actually weren't planning on going any where this summer but made a little plan a few days out from New Years to go visiting around the South Island. </div>
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We went to Westport, Mapua, and Akaroa (over 1000km) within 9 days, only spending a few days at each destination. Just enough time to settle in and see everything we wanted to see and spend time with each of the kids grandparents.</div>
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For some of our trip we were out of data or out of range, and truly this was the best part. We read books, played games (learnt backgammon!) and did cross words. It was so nice to see my husband relaxing while we were out of touch with the world.</div>
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The girls have three sets of wonderful Grandparents that they are truly blessed by. It was great to holiday with them at each destination and have some fun together.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">So, those nine days really did feel like a whole summers worth of time. And now we're back to reality; Kindy drop offs and lunches made, meal plans and washing and all the fun stuff that comes with running a home and family.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Blessed!</span></div>
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Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-46058320972565481772015-11-22T20:31:00.000+13:002015-11-22T20:31:00.388+13:00Plane Watching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Extra days off work, simple delights.</div>
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<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-1116842984729340342015-11-18T14:23:00.000+13:002015-11-18T14:23:24.887+13:0027 Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This years birthday is perhaps my best ever!</div>
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It started a week out, with what I like to call "birthday week". Usually this is only a ceremonial title, but this year was marked by aiming to do three things each day that built me up body and soul. I'd had a rough few weeks with sickness and stress, so I wanted to take care of my self.</div>
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<b>The three things I aimed to do each day were:</b></div>
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<li>Read my bible</li>
<li>Exercise (walking to Kindy, or the 30 day shred workout video)</li>
<li>Sew</li>
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These are three things that I usually want to do daily, but some how they get bumped off the priority list fairly easily and end up being a rare occurrence. </div>
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Prioritising them in to my daily activities changed my whole week! I had less time for other things, but they gave me fresh starts and energy to get through each day with strength! Each I found were just as important as the others, and I thoroughly enjoyed the change of pace in my life.</div>
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Imagine life if I continued in this fashion...</div>
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<b>Throughout my birthday week I also:</b><br /><ul>
<li>Celebrated with friends. They put on a lovely lunch for me and I was treated to gifts, flowers and cake.</li>
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<li>Received breakfast in bed and a surprise present from the hubby.</li>
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<li>Danced for an hour to Taylor Swift with my 4 year old who has developed some awesome new dance moves!</li>
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<li>Had a backyard full of friends come over for a BBQ </li>
<li>Celebrated with a day off from work with the rest of Canterbury for our Anniversary and Show Day!</li>
<li>Worshiped in Church</li>
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<ul>
<li>Visited the beach: Played in play grounds, drank coffee, ate ice-creams and built sandcastles.</li>
<li>Visited my Sister who is here from London, and also had other family come to stay.</li>
<li>Celebrated with an <i>extra </i>day off (4 day weekend!) with the husband and went on adventures (a post on that soon)</li>
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It was a great, fulfilling week. And now that we are back to "regular life" I have lessons to be learnt to include my body and soul into my daily priorities also. </div>
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<b>Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday! It certainly was a very happy one :)</b></div>
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<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9130199831019729017.post-45193309483748330782015-11-03T16:24:00.000+13:002015-11-03T16:24:27.953+13:00Weekend with the Girls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRagC6fvueBRk_SlV-9NTsvqYEkGPHcNeZCUGOZevFrK4ag39vdt2r8bs5u6-fZMpkn08lnSpMX_M2Fvt75yZQVTewP-zRwECUDuQHU98uTEbPrZvSqMLvTi9l5V9npKjmoKPxcWPRX3bo/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRagC6fvueBRk_SlV-9NTsvqYEkGPHcNeZCUGOZevFrK4ag39vdt2r8bs5u6-fZMpkn08lnSpMX_M2Fvt75yZQVTewP-zRwECUDuQHU98uTEbPrZvSqMLvTi9l5V9npKjmoKPxcWPRX3bo/s640/IMG_0049.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>LABOUR WEEKEND 2015</b></div>
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Graeme was away for a few days with his friends celebrating a 30th birthday, and the girls and I embraced the weekend and had a lot of simple fun together.</div>
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Usually I try and skip through the day as fast as possible. I get much more excited about life's big events than the every day. In fact, I find very little joy in the everyday, this has been a real challenge for me in my parenting and raising my children. So often my eyes are above the day, dreaming about some big thing happening soon, willing away the hours. Only to realise the hours have gone and another month has passed, and I wonder where that time went.</div>
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Lately I've been trying to lower my gaze, get my head out of the clouds and see a little joy in front of me. I've been trying to see my children through their eyes, this is their childhood they are living. These ARE the big moments for them.</div>
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So anyway, at the weekend we slowed down. We went to the park and rode bikes with a friend. We had another friend come to stay for the afternoon and evening. We played with water, made daisy chains, watched movies, played in the bath, rode the bus to church, had a food court lunch, bused home and counted kowhai trees on our way (zero).</div>
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The weekend was simply: Wonderful.</div>
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I enjoyed my girls, and I think they enjoyed me being fully present in their (little) BIG moments. Now if only I could carry on this way of living everyday...</div>
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<br />Sophie Slimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14860687646054015216noreply@blogger.com5