Today marks the end of May.

The last day of Sunday's blog challenge!

And what better way to end the month than with GRATITUDE.

In all things, give thanks.

Gratitude really does give the soul a positive buzz.

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So without any further ado, I am starting this day with what I am grateful for...

I am grateful for my faith.

I am grateful for my family.

I am grateful for forever friends.

I am grateful for a loving, devoted, loyal, steadfast, awesome husband who is an amazing Dad to our kids.

I am grateful for two healthy, unique, beautiful daughters who light up my life.

I am grateful for sunshine.

I am grateful for coffee!

I am grateful for living in a great community.

I am grateful for this lovely home we live in.

I am grateful for living out some dreams.
I am grateful for the chance to go away this weekend and meet a new little family member.
I am grateful for beds. They really are the greatest invention especially when you're tired ;-)
I am grateful for generous hearts.
I am grateful for having my own craft space.
I am grateful for this country of Australia. It really is a beautiful place.
I am grateful for giggly moments.
I am grateful for jokes that make you belly laugh - like REALLY big!
I am grateful for life.

I am also grateful for the fact that I have just completed this challenge. I have blogged EVERYDAY for this month of May - some days, even TWICE! Howzat!?!
I am super stoked!

In keeping with this day of gratitude, I am opting to document my day via Instagram of everything I am grateful for. Feel free to join in if you like - using #gratefultoday as the tag. Would love to see what is making you grateful today.
I am @annamayde over on Instagram.

Bring on June and MORE blogging!!
I really want to be able to blog more regularly and since I KNOW I can do it - I will be aiming to make it more often. Might not be every day but would definitely like it to be every second day at least. My blog has a Facebook page HERE that you can be updated on posts and any other such inspo I feel led to share :-)

I hope to see you all around.
I am truly grateful for you all too :-)

Best advice you've received lately.

There is so many bits of advice and quotes that are ingrained in my mind and heart.

This quote resonated with me today...

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It just stuck out to me for some reason.

Felt I should share it.

But if I am going to focus on the one bit of advice that has actually pretty much become my mantra this year  it would have to be this...

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Three simple words.

But words that I keep in mind when making any decisions or just going about my everyday life.

Sometimes it requires being rather brave to just be you. So many times we do things because other people are doing it, or it's what we feel is expected of us. But is it truly being you?

It's been - and still is - a challenge to me every day to become the person I am meant to be and be happy with just being me.

Because I am special. I am important. I am worthy. I am enough.

And so are you. 

So just be YOU.

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Jeepers!

A week goes by so darn quickly!

I am here again with my new regular post of

1. Love these kits! Raquel always puts together such gorgeous and perfectly co-ordinated scrapbooking kits. And her flairs are just totes awesome aswell :-)

2. Have still been thoroughly enjoying the #hsloveyourselfie movement happening lately. Kim Jeffress (a fellow Jot Team Member) posted on Heidi's blog this last week. Her post was beautiful and had a video on it that I just loved. Check it all out!

3. Miss J has been asking me what shows I watched as a kid. Been searching YouTube to show her some of them. Some of you may remember this and this and what about this?

4. I'm loving this post - those 6 points are everything I am aiming for in my journey towards a more simplistic life.

5. Can't wait for this to hit the online stands THIS SUNDAY - June 1st!

Happy Friday everyone!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

What have I said 'Yes' to today?

Well, today was town day.
For some reason, I dressed a little more snazzily saying YES to heeled boots and a necklace.
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with wearing necklaces. I always have the best intentions to put some jewellery on but I just never get around to it - I was actually really proud of myself for remembering to put it on :-)
But the heels...
debating the whole 'good idea' thought ;-)
Mind you, they sounded rather classy clopping around the place. I don't know why, but the cloonk cloonk sound the heels make when you walk around just makes me feel so empowered! LOL!
I was strutting my stuff...for the first hour or so anyway! haha ;-)

Hmmmm - so what else have I said Yes to today...

Ooh - I said yes to chicken parmi for lunch, uh - - and chocolate cake with salted caramel sauce and icecream.
Yeah, I basically said YES to naughty eating today ;-) hehe

We are going away this weekend (long weekend here in Western Australia) which means long drives and spaces of time where the kids may need some extra entertainment so...
I said Yes to some new books, a puzzle, a couple of DVD's for the car, aaaannnnnd - -
A loom band kit!!!
Yes, I have succumbed!
I think I've done pretty well to hold out this long - don't you think!?! ;-)
The bracelets will only be for Miss J to make when Little K is napping or otherwise occupied cos that one will just mess it all over the place!! But I think Miss J will be totally stoked with it!

I was doing the whole YES! fist pump in the air that I got home before 5pm today. Town days can be late but it was quite an easy, efficient day today! Was glad to get home at a decent hour - YES!!!

Oh! And I almost forgot!
The weather here is turning pretty cold lately - heading into winter for sure now I think.
Anyway, I could NOT help myself when I saw these in the cheap shop today - -

FAMILY.

Well, this word just feels warm and inviting for me.

A place of love and acceptance.

People you can laugh and cry with. Have fun with. Lean on in hard times.

Being with family is a comfortable place. 

People you can fart around and they won't raise an eyebrow...well...most of the time anyway ;-) hehe

I know this is not the case for everyone.

Family does not evoke these positive, snuggly feelings in all other people as it does to me. 

And if you are one of these people, I sincerely hope that you know that you are loved and feel welcome and appreciated in some circle of people. I believe that family does not always mean 'blood-related' - the sense of family may be found in certain friends, work mates etc. People that love you unconditionally and always have your back. That's family :-)

I have TWO photos to share that I can call my favourite family shots at the moment!

The first is of me with my parents and sisters - the original five!

It's a tad blurry but I don't care. It's special to me.

This was taken the night before my little sister's wedding (the blonde) back in February - it had been quite a while since we'd had a shot like this all together again. Makes my heart well up (and sometimes my eyes - hehe) everytime I look at it!

The next one is a fave of myself, hubby and our two girls. Our little family unit.

This was taken over a year ago now but it's still one of my fave shots of my little family. It's such a happy shot :-)

LOVE MY FAMILY!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Share a project I have been working on.

I decided to share a layout that I actually started back on my holiday in Tassie - cos I could :-)

I finished it the other week and I shared it on Instagram but I thought that I would share it here for today's post.

It is a page featuring my man!

I have really wanted to document more of him - as much as I can anyway as he is not one to readily get in front of the camera! I usually have to snap without him knowing or suddenly say "Smile" and snap :-)

But anyway, this particular occasion was just a moment I HAD to capture. Check it out...

My husband is quite a funny man. He makes me laugh. I especially like these moments when he is just that little bit silly and he gives me the giggles. He was so excited about getting his new bicycle that he had to wear his helmet in celebration.

 I used a colour theme that suits my awesome man - he likes orange :-)

I have also included a tag which is inserted behind the photo which houses some extra journalling.

SUPPLIES:

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill 12x12 cardstock - grey and orange PATTERNED PAPER: navy with white stars (from my stash) ALPHABET: black stickers - multi pack EMBELLISHMENTS: washi tape, Skipping5 puffy hearts, StudioFourteen40 flair, kraft hexagon card, vellum, journal pen, shipping tag, twine, Studio Calico 3x4" journal card, black paint

Hope you enjoyed :-)

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Invite someone to guest post for you.

Well, I didn't do much forward planning in this department - YIKES!!

I quickly popped a request for people to contribute to a themed post of 'What's on your desk' on Facebook yesterday - and I got TWO takers!

So here goes...

First up we have the lovely Kate Mason! AKA Messy Miss Kate :-)
 I just luuuuurve all of Kate's artwork and doodly designs. She's thoroughly awesome AND I've had the pleasure of meeting her IN REAL LIFE! And see her work her magic - Woohoo!

And on her desk at the moment...



Kate says...

"Well naturally I have a million things on the go at the moment! "

Can completely relate there Kate ;-)

"First one is some sketching I'm doing for a new digital illustration. I'm going to add a little watercolour to test out a few colour schemes before I make it all digitally."



The second pic shows prints of her adorable creations, whether it's sweet girls, birds, collage prettiness, houses, cute creatures, whatever she feels like drawing/painting at the time - she sells most of these in her groovy little shop as originals, prints or cute little notecards!
Even her blog signature showcases her cute artwork and design.

Here's where you can find more about Kate...

BLOG
ETSY SHOP
INSTAGRAM

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Secondly, I have the beautiful Jodie of Polka Dot Creative sharing what's on her desk...

A list for the week ahead...

Well, I'm all for planning ahead so here is what I would like to get done this week...

1. Get some creative (and organising/clean up) time in my craft room.

2. Go through my wardrobe - sort and tidy.

3. Get stuck into some crochet projects.

4. Have a waxing appointment.

5. Change all the bed sheets.

6. Project Life Catch-up

7. Early nights to bed.

8. Bake a cake.

9. GROW.

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10. Just be me.

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

If I could have three people to dinner - who would they be!

Jeepers Creepers - only three! I can only pick three!?! Tricky!

Ok. Well...

On any given night, I would just want my family here for tea - all the way from Tassie and Queensland.

On another night, I'd love my bestie and her hubby and daughter to come - dislike that I live so far away. Would love to just be able to hang out whenever we like. Miss that!

But hey! If I could get all 'fantasy world' here, I would want...

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Drew Barrymore

(I think she is so funny and people have always said that I have many similar mannerisms and facial expressions like hers so it would be rather interesting to see how close those claims are!)

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Hugh Jackman

I absolutely loved Hugh in Paperback Hero way back when alongside Claudia Karvan! And he really does just get better with age hey!?!

My husband reckons I'd end up eating him right up for dinner! LOL!

But, seriously, I like how down-to-earth and genuine he is.

Top bloke - but then again, he's Aussie - so of course he is ;-)

And, to finish off the trio, it would have to be...

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Katy Perry

I can't help but have a singer amongst it all! I really like Katy and her unique-ness. 

She has some kick-butt awesome songs!

And I know that my eldest daughter would love singing ROAR with her!!

So there you have it!

A very mixed presence around our dinner table but oh how fun would that dream be if it came true!

Fantasies are fun :-D

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With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

So!

As mentioned last week, when I was linking up 5 blogs I like as part of Sunday's blogging challenge prompt, I am back again this fine Friday with my weekly...

ONE.

You may have remembered me describing my dream job back on Monday, or what it would be if I could define it. Well -- if I was to have a 9-5 job, this chick is living my dream job.

TWO.
It's all about embracing the selfie and celebrating our own beauty right here this week. There is some awesome projects being revealed every day this week too. I'm loving it!!

THREE.
Having the decluttering and simple living bug myself, I always love reading about other people and their journey towards being minimalist and living simply.

FOUR.
Loving the video link that Sunday posted on her blog yesterday - let's bring back the art of letter writing hey!!
I actually have a little idea brewing that incorporates putting pen to paper, stamp to envelope and passing on the letter love. Let's hope I can get it all together and make it happen. Stay tuned...

FIVE.
What a brilliant idea this is!! It's quick, easy and loads of fun. Great gift idea!

Got any blogs or links you love - be sure to share in the comments.
Would love to check them out!

Today's prompt for Sunday's blog challenge is to write about a particularly good or controversial comment someone left me.

Well, this is actually a hard one to answer as I have so many lovely comments on my blog and on other social media outlets. I don't really like to dwell on the negative, controversial things people say - thankfully I haven't had to deal too much with that yet. Don't get me wrong - I think about these type of comments and nut out my reaction, deal with it and move on. No point going mad over it hey!?!
People are entitled to their own opinion - although it would be nice if opinions could be voiced in a nicer, more effective way sometimes. Words are a powerful weapon. There are gazillions of words at our disposal for us to use. We can choose them wisely or...not!

We would do well to remember this...

Use words that are constructive NOT destructive.
The world would be a whole better place if we could just choose our words more wisely. To not shoot people in the foot with cruel and negative talk that leaves them crippled BUT aim right for the heart with positive, encouraging and uplifting words that breathe life and nurture the soul.

Ok.
So it may look like I've just climbed atop my soapbox and rah rah rah'd at you but, in all honesty, I'm talking to myself too. I am always trying to think of better ways to say something. Breathing and choosing my words more wisely before I speak in a situation where I feel myself reaching boiling point.
Sometimes it's not about the words but the way we say them.
We need to be kinder; to others and ourselves (yep, positive self-talk is essential too - something I definitely need to get better at myself!)

Keep asking...
"Is what I'm about to say beneficial to the other person?"
"Is there a better way to say what I need to say?"
"Do I really need to say it?"

I have had recurring comments about my blog name; how it makes people smile and happy just reading it.
Hearing this just makes my heart swell. It affirms the choice I made for my blog name cos that is exactly what I wanted it to do - evoke positive feelings and reactions in those who popped by to read!

So a huge THANK YOU for dropping in here.
And for leaving such lovely comments.
I really do appreciate them!

Hi friends!

As part of Sunday's blog challenge - today's prompt is to share a video of some sort that we like.

I have so many favourite vids that I come back to and watch cos they are so awesome, inspirational or just so darn funny!

This one is definitely the latter - I am entertained EVERY time I watch this!

Hope you enjoy too :-)

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

What's on my plate?

Ok. Well I interpreted this as what food is on my plate that I am eating today.

Well - for lunch...

Rice cakes with ham and cheese - the white 'ham' is chicken loaf and the pink ham is 'normal' ham. LOL ;-)

And on my plate for dinner...

Pub meal: Chicken Parmi, chips and salad. Oh, and a scotch and coke :-)

We had to do a delivery after work today so we all went and called into the pub on the way home for tea! 

The kids love it here cos they get ice cream for dessert as part of their meal!

I hope you have had a great day.

See ya tomorrow :-)

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Who inspires me?

This question is always a hard one to answer as I am constantly inspired by many people.

I find inspiration from many creative people.

I find inspiration in people who put themselves out there and make a go of something they are passionate about.

I am inspired by people who beat the odds.

I am inspired by the world around me and just living the everyday. 

My kids inspire me.

So does my man.

There are many things that I admire and am inspired by in my parents and my upbringing.

Sometimes I'm inspired by something on TV or in a magazine.

Inspiration is everywhere.

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So what or who inspired you today?

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

My dream job?

Hmmmmm...

This could be many and varied.

I am a rather ambitious person - passionate and wanting to try my hand at lots of things!

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As a little kid, I wanted to be a shop keeper.

I also wanted to work in a bank.

Then an office chick.

As I got older, in my early teens, I wanted to be a mechanic. Yeah, pretty random, I know! Evidently, my ambitions did change again as high school went on.

In year 10, I was still unsure what I wanted to do but knew that I enjoyed office work. Timing would have it, that my parents had just opened their computer & communications business and they could hire me as an office trainee.

I trained and worked there for 2 years - acquired my certificate in business admin BUT...

it became clear this was NOT, in fact, my dream job.

I was happy enough in the job but my heart didn't sing, if you know what I mean.

SO...

I made an enquiry towards returning to pre-tertiary study and completing Year 11/12 as a mature age student. 

The answer was YES and that was that. I was enrolled into college studying subjects towards the medical field. At first I wanted to become a doctor, well actually a surgeon - and not just any surgeon...a paediatric surgeon! In picking my subjects, I baulked at the subject list for medicine - lack of confidence in my abilities probably, well most definitely for back then.

So I changed to nursing. I realised that this was more me and fitted my 'people helping' desires.

Turns out, I was not good enough to my assessor in the last unit of my 3 year university studies and she would not pass me. The actual nurses I had worked with were livid. They couldn't believe she wouldn't tick off all my competencies!

Yeah, some bad blood there. But I am not as hostile or hurt about this situation now as I was then. I can see it as part of the plan for my life and actually a good thing now. Time can do that hey!?!

I didn't return to nursing studies the next year. I got married.

I had been working as a Nursing Care Assistant in the Aged Care sector of our local hospital since my second year at uni. I continued working here after the whole uni/nursing fiasco.

It had become apparent I excelled in general nursing care. I always got top marks for that and had very high praise and recommendations from patients who would comment about my 'kind manner', 'happy face', 'positive aura', and, the one that spoke to me the most and affirmed my aspirations, 'a true nurse'.

These were all very encouraging things to hear and spurred me on to stay in the health industry - I just had to find my niche. I think I found it in aged care.

I left my position in 2008 when I was pregnant with my first child.

And I haven't been back to the workforce.

I've dabbled in volunteer work where able - in actual fact I have signed up as a volunteer ambo just recently. See! I seem to keep coming back to the medical field and helping people. I do feel strongly about it. And I have a feeling I could be onto a winner here, my calling maybe?

Also it's no secret that I am a crafter. Being creative is not just a hobby to me but a way of life. It's part of me; my outlet. I guess it would be a dream to be able to work and get paid for what I love to do. I do have goals and aspirations in this creative field - one day my dreams may come to fruition. Right now though, I'm living the dream with being part of a couple of creative teams. I'm having a blast and feel very fulfilled doing this.

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But since 2008, my main 'job' - if you can call it that - has been parenthood.

I've been a Mummy.

Motherhood really is a mixed bag. There are ups and downs. Like anything in life, there are positives and negatives.

But I will never regret having my two girls.

And you know what?

When I get old and grey and look back on my life,

I reckon I will realise that I was already living my dream job all along.

How about you?

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Ten things making me happy today...

* Fantastic chat with my bestie this morning made me feel super happy!

* Sunshine makes me happy! Saw THIS PIC on Pinterest today and couldn't help but relax and smile :-)

* This blog post posted by Mel on her blog One Crafty Mumma made me happy. I had been admiring this crochet project she was doing on her Instagram feed and today she blogged about it and included the pattern! I have it printed out ready to try at the first chance I get!

* My husband does THIS everyday ;-) - he makes me happy! He works so hard to provide for us, his family, and I love him to bits!

* Pizza for tea made me happy. It was a joint effort, as it is every time we make pizza. I whip up the dough in the thermomix - then when it's risen Mr Awesome makes it up into super yummy stuff crust pizzas!
* A Skype chat with my Mum and Dad made me happy.

* Watching THIS on TV tonight. Love this show!

*I was very happy to get a small amount of time in my studio today and finish off a layout. Creating really is a happy place for me :-)

* The only songs you'll hear around our place at the moment is THIS and THIS (absolutely love this lip-synced video of this song! Funny!) aaaand THIS.
Love hearing my kids sing songy voices filling our home xx

* My girls just make me happy :-)

So today's post is a photo journal of my day today!

I wouldn't describe today as being very awe-inspiring but I guess it has been relatively productive. Just a typical, easy-going Saturday really.
I have used my iPhone to take all my photos using an app called Picfx - just cos I felt like mixing it up abit!

But anyway, here goes...

9:20am - After a nice sleep in, I woke to sun streaming through my window.


9:30am - I had an apple plonked on me by Miss J. She sweetly asks 'Mum can you wash my apple so I can eat it please.' (Please excuse the mess on my dresser - I'm still sorting some things out!)


9:32am - My feet hit the floor.


9:50am - Dressed. Now hair.


10am - A little sprinkle and dash of make-up


10:10am - All ready for the day. HELLO!


10:20am - Breakfast. Gluten Free Rice Bubbles. And I also had gf toast and a coffee :-)


11am - A little online browsing. Catch up on some blog reading.


11:30am - Unfortunately, the dishes don't do themselves ;-)
Miss J wanted to help too.


12 noon - And laundry needs hanging out.



12:30pm - Drove to pick up take-out for lunch to take around to hubby at the depot.


12:45pm - Picnic style lunch at the depot.
Miss J sits there and says
"This is a nice family lunch. All of us together!"
Little sweetheart - love that she notices these special little moments and appreciates them :-)


1:20pm - Kids are set up with a DVD while Mummy and Daddy get some work done


1:30pm - Pre-count for stocktake begins.


4pm - Back home. Clothes all dry and folded.


4:35pm - Relax time while hubby takes the kids with him for the drive to deliver some supplies to a farmer.


5:10pm - Tea preparation. Thank goodness for some leftovers!


6:10pm - Tea has been eaten. Chillin' on the couch with Mr Awesome while he catches up on today's V8 race.


6:30pm - Kids shower time


7pm - With the kids all squeaky clean and ready for bed, SPA time for me!
And I stayed in there for an hour!! Got a fair bit of my book read too ;-)

The rest of the evening has been spent getting this blog post done cos my internet is DODGY AS out here! Takes forever to load anything BUT...I'm patient and persistant!

 Hubby and I have also been watching X-men First Class on telly.

And that is a day in my life!