do what makes you happy, he says...

I never thought the time would come where I would lose my passion for everything I love doing. 

Never in my wildest dreams.

But ever so suddenly, that time came.

Over the last two months I have faced the prospect of losing a person I have loved and looked up to every single day of my life. Each day has been filled with quiet sadness, an overwhelming feeling of disbelief and indescribable numbness. So numb that everything that once brought me joy began to feel meaningless.

But while sitting with him the other night, a tear in my eye, he whispered quietly:

"Life is too short my beautiful girl. Even at my age, after so many years alive, it feels like there just isn't enough time in life. So do what makes you happy... every day, something that makes you feel happy. Because for now, happiness is here on earth..."

He then held my hand and asked me to share another memory from my recent trip to Bali.

 That's just the man he is.

Even through his pain he has always been so beautifully motivated to enjoy every humble moment in life. And to enjoy every humble moment in the life of his family who he cherishes with every ounce of his being. 

He always has and always will.

So with that sentiment, how could I not dip my lil' feet back into what once brought me happiness?

 The inspiration may have been lost but never truly forgotten.

And although I don't quite have the motivation or time to embark on a new project just yet, I can start by sharing another of my creative endeavours.

Photography.

So these Bali photos are for the most inspirational man I know.

This is me doing what makes me happy.

This is me remembering to cherish everyday and everything.

 

 

 

  

Michelle xx

handmade mother's day cards

My ma absolutely adores flowers and plants but buy her a bunch of fresh cut flowers and you wont hear the end of it! 
They're expensive. They wilt and won't last. They're a waste of money.

So over the years we have learned to buy potted plants instead.
But have you seen her garden lately? She has more plants than the Botanical Gardens!
And if you're lucky enough to find a spare inch of dirt in her one acre flower garden, remember that moment because it will be fleeting. By next week she would have planted yet another beautiful cutting and that inch of dirt will be nothing but a memory!

So since I can't buy her fresh cut flowers and I refuse to buy her potted plants, I came up with this idea for her Mother's Day card instead. 

Flowers that will never wilt!

    Again, a handmade card has saved the day! (well... sort of, indirectly, almost!)

And these cards are so quick and easy that I had the time to make one for my ma, a few special orders and another batch to sell later on! 

So why not try something similar yourself?

Michelle xx

'photo a day challenge' - better late than never!

Ok, so I've missed the first four months of Photo A Day Challenge but better late than never right?

But before I begin this challenge, I wanted to share a lil' something about me and photography...

So here goes it.

I've always loved photography.

Loved flicking through people's photos, both amateur and professional. 

Loved snapping up a storm with my lil' old point and shoot.

Loved capturing life.

Loved looking back on life. 

Then a year or so ago I decided to invest in my very first DSLR - a lovely new Nikon D90.

She is my pride and joy.

   

Now I probably should have prefaced this post by saying I know very little about photography.

And by little, I mean nothing!

I've had one brief lesson.

I don't know the terms.

I have zero time to edit my photos.

I doubt I'm even using the right settings. 

To be honest... I'm totally winging it!

But I still love photography.

And I'm still willing to give this challenge a try.

So the moral of today's story?

It's not just about sharing Fat Mum Slim's blog based photography challenge.

The moral of today's story is to give it a go!

Try something new.

Something you are passionate about but have no clue where or how to begin.

Make mistakes.

Make even more mistakes.

Then try again.

 So what if my photos are raw and unedited?

Unrefined and taken in haste.

 That doesn't stop me.

So don't let it stop you!

 Try something new today!

Michelle xx

the cake's a winner!

The only thing harder than buying a gift for a man, is buying a gift for my Dad!

At 58, he has everything he could possibly need (and more) and anything else he wants is bought the moment it flashes into his mind.

So as you could imagine, I've racked my brain thinking of an original gift that he'll love and not toss aside the minute he sees his birthday cake. But nothing. Not an iota of an idea! So off to Bunnings I go for yet another gift card... ho hum.

So to distract from the lack luster gift, maybe I could create something special?

First the card...

I started with a brilliant idea but turns out I didn't have any of the materials I needed. So this is what I ended up with:

Hmmm... not off to a great start! Boring present, dud card...

But then I stumbled on a brilliant idea on Pinterest. It was so easy to make and I think it's a winner!

What do you think? Dad LOVES Kit Kat's, Mum LOVES cake and who doesn't love Smarties?
It's the perfect cake for my Dad's birthday and I have to admit, I think it looks brilliant!

Let's just hope it is so glaringly brilliant that it distracts Dad from the rest of his present!

Happy birthday Dad!

Michelle xx

home is where the heart is

When I purchased my first house, I was so eager to give my close family and friends a tour! 

Even with the embossed wallpaper, shag pile carpets, silk tassel light shades and a jungle for a backyard, I still loved it. 
I worked hard to get it and it was mine!

So of course I was elated and humbled when invited to a friends housewarming today. I just couldn't wait to see how she had transformed her own house into a home... A home where she and her partner will make a life together. 
 Home, where their heart will be. 

And here's what I made to add to their housewarming gifts:

Michelle xx

eating my way through easter!

The Greek Easter weekend ended three nights ago, so why does it feel like I've only just taken my last bite of the Easter feast? And why am I so full I can't even bare thinking about cracking open my first choccie bunny? 

Well, I'll let you in on an ancient Greek secret... After we rejoice in Jesus' resurrection, we eat. Then we eat some more! And some more! And just a lil' more! And... think you've had enough? Well obviously you haven't... so have some MORE!

Still don't get the message? Well it all comes down to this...

If you don't:

a. Indulge in the Saturday midnight feast

(usually consisting of the greasiest food possible to make up for 40 days of fasting!)

b. Eat chocolate for breakfast

(or like me, tsoureki and milk in bed)

c. Sample the scolding hot meat straight from the spit

(yes please!)

d. Sample the scolding hot pita straight from the oven

(sample? try being careful not to demolish the whole tray!)

e. Taste everything to make sure it's been seasoned right 

f. Stack your plate high with a bit of everything on the buffet 

(including all five tzatziki's made by five different women!)

g. Try every woman's kourabiethes, melomakarona's, koulourakia, etc.

(and secretly whisper theirs was the best!)

h. Try every woman's tsoureki

(because you wont see another crumb until next Easter!)

i. Join the folly of the egg cracking... then eat the egg!

(you have no choice in the matter!)

j. Leave and do it all again with the other side of the family

k. Return on Monday to help finish the left overs...

Then you can't call yourself a Greek!

But with all humor aside, our Easter will always be about our faith. It's also about our family and the traditions that have held fast generation after generation.

And although I'm not about to make public the special family photos taken over the last fortnight, I am happy to share a few of the photos that represent a small handful of our wonderful Easter traditions:

I hope you all spent the Easter weekend(s) doing what is meaningful to you and your loved ones. For me, even with the indigestion and weight gain, I feel blessed sharing yet another weekend with all of the people I love and cherish most.

Michelle xx

 

handmade easter cards and gift wrapping

With little time and still so much to do in preparation for this weekends Greek Orthodox Easter, I will have to make today's post super brief. So with a little help from my two new friends, here it is - a sneak peek at what I'm creating for this weekend:

I've made a start on the seventeen Easter gifts (no, not the rabbits... the gifts are in the bags!)...

And the cards are all done...

Now, to psych myself up for a baking marathon! 

And if I survive the weekend I will post some more photos and maybe even pass on some goodies to a special few!

Michelle xx