Almost finished my jacket...

Will finish it completly in class tomorrow :) Just have a couple of alterations to do...then perfecto :)

Enjoyed class as usual...don't think I'll ever get sick of it!!

I'll finish the jacket within an hour of getitng into class tomorrow so I'm going to design a top tonight and will make up the pattern in class...I bought some nice polyester knit yesterday, so will keep that in mind when designing.

Hubby has taken the boys to their training tonight - I've just finished cooking diner - buttered chicken - Pataks jar...lol. Except I add frozen vege (tonight I have corn lol) and onion...I also add a small pottle of cream...yum.

Oh a gold bangle I bought off TM arrived today (not I have two gold bangles) both of which I had to the old plastic bag over the hand trick and still FORCE to get it onto my wrist - nearly dislocated my thumb in the process LMAO - they are both on now and there is no way in hell they are coming off without being cut off!!

Well, I'm in the mood to do some cleaning *what's wrong with me?? lol* so will do that, I've got so much fabric piled up in the corner of the lounge it's not funny...will have to organise somwhere to put it all!! I'm hoping that I'll have my cutting table set up this weekend!! Then I'll be able to start looking at strage options for my fabric, I'm thinking those wooden cubes about a foot wide/high - so I can see where everything is...would love to have all the fabric laid out in a colour code !!

So yep - happy cleaning to me :)

So I learned something today :)

when people used to say PLUS size clothes cost more cos they use more fabric - I used to say "Bullkaka - they only add about 10cm on the sides..." well welcome to pattern making my dears!!

I wore my purple top I made yesterday, SIL saw it and now she wants one...but in a really deep rich purple fabric that I have...sure no problem. Quoted her $40. Told her I'd sell them on TM for $50...

OK, so today in class I grade the pattern that I made my top with. Due to the style of the top, the one I made me covers a sz 20-24. So the next size UP will cover a sz 26-30. This will fit my SIL well. I graded the patter DOWN too to fit a sz 12-16.

When I am making the top in MY size or smaller, I can get away with 1.5 metres of fabric - sweet...BUT when I went to lay SIL's pattern down, there was no way in hell I could use the same amount of fabric, cos when the pattern was graded up to accommodate the larger size, it threw the neck line and shoulder line up and out, the sleeve and front bodice is one single piece cut on the centre front/centre back fold...anyway in meant that there was no way in hell I could fit the pattern into 1.5mts of fabric and in actual fact it took 3.7metres of fabric to make this style top!! That's more than DOUBLE the fabric used to a smaller size!! *sigh*

So, the fabric cost me $8/m @ 3.7m = $29.60 just for fabric!! So when you take into consideration the thread, overlocking thread, electricity, MY LABOUR *sigh* I'm making a grand $10.40. LOL.

So the lesson I learned...when they say it takes more fabric to make PLUS sizes they actually mean DOUBLE the fabric lol. So...I'm def gonna have to rethink the sell price on TM...for the sz 26+ sizing anyway...upto sz 24 I can get away with 1.5metres...

And to be honest, the fabric I used to SIL's top has a two way stretch and is quite heavy cos of that...and with ALL the pleats in it - it was A LOT of fabric...honestly...it felt like I was sewing a blanket!! It was quite difficult to manoeuvre around - so much bulk!! Will look lovely when it's done though. I know she'll love it.

Am also making miss 14 one in the sz 12-16 pattern. I think it will be huge on her - but we'll see...she's my test doll for the smaller sizes lol. I'll finish them off in class tomorrow.

As for the jacket - thought I might have got that done in class today but no...I totally screws up when cutting it out and forgot to cut one of the front side panels, proceeded to cut the collar and back neck facing...ended up I couldn't fit the front side panel lol...so had to stop at the fabric store and grab another .8mts of fabric to finish my jacket off...I hope to finish that off tomorrow in class :)

Of course when I went to the fabric store this afternoon, I didn't 'just' get the .8mts of denim for my jacket - I ended up putting a whole bloody roll of black lycra blend fabric AND a whole roll of the purple fabric I used today, on hold for me to pick up on Thursday when I get some money LOL!! As I was walking out the lady who served me yells out "Trelise cooper watch out" LOL...yeah well....you just wait lol.

I've actually got a fabric hoarding addiction *sigh* and it can only get worse LOL.

Lovely cottage pie for diner, mince with grated carrots, spinach, onion, light soy sauce, black pepper, salt...topped with mashed potatoes (cream *sigh* salt and pepper) topped with grated cheese...YUMMY - and with all the carrots and spinach I added, it really bulked it out, so ended up with two dishes, we only need one to feed our family, so will put the other one in the freezer for another night :) Looking forward to taking some for lunch tomorrow - nothing like a hot homemade lunch :)

Am feeling a wee bit tired today. Bless hubby's heart...after my tantrum last night I came home to a spotless house - kitchen spotless lol. Poor guy ;) So all is well in the house again - as they say - if mum is happy - everyone is happy *grin*.

I'm going to have a wee lay down, it's just after 6pm, boys are outside riding their bikes...miss 9 has fallen asleep - must've had some late nights at he Nana's over the weekend!! I will get up when the boys get home, in an hour or so and feed them diner, get them ready for bed, then I may or may not do some more work on my quilt...lol, says she who has never done quilting in her life!!

10pm - well I haven't been to bed yet *yay* I've been playing on my sewing machine - fiddling with the patchwork tabel runner I'm making :)

Kids have been kind to me :) Will be going to bed shortly :)

Cool weekend :)

Really enjoyed my night in on Saturday...LOVE MY NEW MACHINE!!

I've started on a patchwork piece - heck I've never done patchwork before - but thought I'd give it a go...give me a break from doing clothes...think I might turn what I'm doing into a table runner - could make some matching placemats...Oooohhhh lol

This morning I took the kids to their grandparents place for church - bless the children lol. While I was there they asked me if I could pick BIL and his wife up from the airport - they arrived back from Thailand at 1pm...they spent 10 days there EVERYTHING paid for - 5 start resorts...airfare - everything!! Everything except spending money lol. Paid for by the paint suppliers to BIL's work. I think I need a new career!!

Oh, hubby got back at 5am this morning, not as drunk as he usually gets - I was sooo impressed lol. He spent the entire day SLEEPING - unbelievable.

After I picked BIL and his wife up, we went straight to the inlaws place for sunday lunch...me and the kids came home at 6pm and hubby was still sleeping - and cos next weekend is easter, it means that his work will be SUPER busy getting all of Friday and mondays' jobs done in 4 days...so he's not going to be home much - or at least when the kids are awake - so I asked him to wake up - enough sleep....but no...he still wouldn't get up - so i started getting quite pissed off to be honest!! Pissed off that I just feel like I'm doing this parenting thing on my own while he sleeps all the bloody time - he spends so much time at work...which I know pays the bills, and I don't find it a problem...I dunno...can't even be bothered blogging about it now that I've written about it lol...but trust me, I never hassle him about him getting his sleep cos I know what shift work does to a person...but just today - I thought 13 hours sleep was more than enough - he wasn't even that drunk! So yeah, I started doing the dished....made a hell of a noise LMAO surprised I didn't smash any dishes in the process. Vacuumed the house, had a long hot shower, got dressed again and went to the supermarket to get things for the kids lunches...

Hubby got up as soon as he heard the dishes bouncing around in the sink LOL - but I ignored him...he tried to tidy up too and he folded all the laundry...too little too late mate lol - he won't be getting ANY nooky nooky tonight!! lol.

I got home from the supermarket and the bugger was back in bed - I've left him there, put the kids to sleep...just relaxing now, bout to go to bed :)

Night night :)

So...bit of a mixed start to my morning...

still pissed off at my lil bro...last night, I curled up on the couch ready to spend the evening watching telly with my boys...get a call from hubby (who is supervisor at lil bro's work) he asked me if I had spoken to lil bro...Nope...why?

Seems lil bro fell asleep at work...and was told to go home.

OK..bit of a long story, but will try and keep it simple. Lil bro is only 21(22 next week - not that it makes a different, cos he still acts like a bloody 16yr old). He's been working at the same place since he was 17. Good on him. BUT...he has in the past had a problem with alcohol, which has meant that in the past few years he's turned up late for work...not consistently...but say once (maybe twice) a year. He's also had a couple of occasions where he's fallen asleep at work - due to a hard night out on the town, not necessarily drinking, but just being out and not sleeping...but it all add up.

So what frustrates me is that he makes awesome money where he is. How many other 21 yr olds make just over $60k a year? And he's been making close to that since he started working there! But he loves to spend!! In the past year I have taken over his account and do all his banking for him and help him with his budget and also to get some sort of savings going...has been going well BUT he still spends money like it's water and doesn't really have anything to show for it...

He doesn't realise how good he's got it at this work place!! Everyone has spoken to him over the years, giving him advice, trying to help him...steer him in the right direction - but he still does what he wants to do...he's a good guy - huge heart (too big sometimes - forever shouting the losers he hangs out with!!) he just can't save his 'going out' for a weekend he has off work. He just has to go out on a thursday night. Depending on what shift he's on, like this week for example!! he'll finish work at 11pm on Thursday night, then Start work at 8am Friday - well...lil bro decided to go out anyway...and that's why he fell asleep at work.

So because, he does have a history of this...he's been demoted big time! Thank god he didn't loose his job! He's ben taken off the crew and is to work on the dock with the part timers...he'll still get his 40hrs. But that's it. A good 1/4 of his wages comes from the overtime and allowances for being on the crew - well he's lost that now. Not sure how long he'll be on the dock for - I imagine he'll have to prove himself...it pisses me off to think about it...couldn't even sleep well last night stressed about it!!

Part of me thinks 'good job - he needs to learn' but another part of me is super stressed that he's gonna loose this job all together - then what?? Grrrr!! he's more than a lil bro to me, I've had him since he was 10yrs old. he's like a son - one that won't bloody listen - or is that just young DUMB men for you??

Anyway, I'm really trying my best not to think about it. He's coming over at 10am today as I am using his van to pick up the sewing machine I bought of Trademe. I'm not looking forward to seeing him to be honest - I want to yell at him...but what use would that be? I want to advise him - but I have been...and what good did that do?? So other option is to bite my tongue...shut up and hope he learns from this himself. Yep - that's what I'll try and do.

*shakes off all the stress!!*

Good news...I get my sewing machine today - and the two doors I won, to make my cutting table out of. I'll prolly wait till my dad comes back and he can make the base for me - he's one of those awesome handy men type who just know how to fix anything and everything - huge contrast to hubby - who thinks he knows, and will try...but sadly - like his dad, is a real cowboy lol. But ask hubby about printing, newspaper printing and he knows everything!!

I'm not going to be buying the overlocker that I won - long story - but I'm ok. Will keep my eye out for another one on TM :) I'll just cut and sew what I can with my flat sewer at home and take it in to school to overlock :)

Oh, have decided it's time to get all my things together - visit my accountant friend this week and start my business. I was going to wait for the business section of the course I'm doing to come up - but why wait for them? I need to get started NOW. So that's on the top of my to-do list this week :)

2pm - thanks for the comment - don't know ya name sorry!! And I totally love what ya say - he needs to sink before he swims alright...*sigh* so we'll see :(

Also, to answer your previous comment...surimi is imitation crab meat lol...I make the best salads with it...lots of Mayo (so not for the faint hearted lol), finely chopped celery, spring onion, grated carrots, capsicum, cucumbers, halfed grapes, bit of pasta to pad it out...pretty much anything else that is in the fridge...everyone asks for my recipe - but I don't reallyhave one...just a secret...NEVER be stingy with mayo when making it lol.

5pm - my industrial sewing machine is set up and RUNNING SMOOTH!! Yay - one good thing about this weekend lol.

have actually had an great day. I went fabric shopping again this morning with miss 14 - bought her some fabric for a dress/tunic she wants me to make for her to wear to the movies next weekend...
bought some brushed cotton fabric to make some PJ pants for the both of us...bought about 3 other fabrics and about 10mts of some plain cotton fabric I scored for $1.50/m to make sample garments in, when i'm making more trickier items...lol.

Have decided to stay home this evening and sew...not sure what yet, just know that I'd rather stay home and sew than go out - gosh I'm getting old LOL. Hubby's still gonna go - his brother is going to pick him up soon. I'm also gonna do some baking tonight with the kids.

Oh this afternoon, I also went to my favourite $2/emporium shop...it's more than a $2 shop - they have every bloody thing you can imagine, I've seen vases, pots and other items with briscoes stickers on them, so they must also sell end of line goods from the major retail stores...it's one of my best kept secrets lol. So I bought some snips, elastic, pins...little sectioned container for my bobbins etc...some water paint for mr 7, bits and bobs for Miss 14...spent $48...god everything soon adds up!!

It's been really warm today - yes there is a very cool breeze, but you can feel the heat of the sun when ya sitting in the car and coming in through the house windows...but as soon as you open the door or a window to let some air through - it's like there is a blizzard outside lol.

10:30pm - well, after hubby and his bro left for the b'day party, the kids and I jumped in the car and went down to pak'n'save, did a little grocery shopping. Came home and made a yummy diner, friend chicken, gravy, mash potato with cheese n fresh cream, steamed kumara...felt like a bloody good sleep after eating that lot lol but managed to fight that feeling off and tidy the kitchen and whip miss 14 up some baggy pj pants...god they turned out great!! I think I'll go and buy the whole roll of the same fabric and make some to sell on TM lol. I'll take her pj pants into class on Monday and overlock them :)

Finished the night by making some uncooked fudge slice - recipe at the back of the cadbury cocoa packet - they have got to be one of the most dangerous foods ever!! You just can't stop at one small piece...and I've been super naughty - I iced it with chocolate icing - it doesn't even NEED any icing!! In fact it's sooo sickly sweet and fattening, it should be sandwiched between thick bread to make it go further LOL.

Anyway, I made it not too long ago, so just gave the kids a small nibble and told them to save it for tomorrow. Mr 7 had a good evening, I got him to do some painting - which he loved. His behaviour has been pretty good - so it was a reward for him.

I don't feel like going to the inlaws for lunch tomorrow - just tired and I've got so much cleaning up to do at home...I need to get that done, cos I'll be too tired during the week, especially now with league training starting up...*sigh*

Well...have had my shower and am now off to bed.

Oh...and as for my overlocker situation...thought I might ask my tutor on monday what she thinks about me just getting my domestic 4 thread overlocker serviced and just use that in the mean time till i can score a good one off TM...I bought mine new for just over $800 about 10 yrs ago...still goes but NEEDS a service as the timing is slightly out when I use it as a 4 thread, so have only been using it as a 3 thread - which isn't good enough at all for what I am looking at making.

Anyway...off to bed now...night night :)

Photos of my latest creations :)

So this is by far my fav, it's super comfy! Love the colour! Everyone who has seen it loves it.







This one...now that it's made up...I dunno lol. I don't know if it's TOO c-thru...or cos it is not as long as the mauve top. Or if the trim should have been dark brown...Hmmm...I don't think I'll wear it tonight to be honest...it's just not me lol.



Will have to get pics of the trousers I have made too...and the jacket I'm in the process of making, will do my best to keep up with the pics :)

Fabric shopping - I LOVE IT!!!

It's been a great week at class this week - but isn't it always??

Yesterday was our student bbq - the bosses supplied the meat and the students brought everything else (each class allocated different things) we were 'salads' so I made my YUMMY surimi n pasta salad :) I finished off my animal print top yesterday...ready to wear out tomorrow night to the b'day if I go *Rrrrewwwooow!!* lol

Yesterday I made my sample jacket - pretty happy with it...I actually decided to tackle the jacket next as I wanted to challenge myself - but it's actually not that much harder to do and jacket - even this one that is fully lined - so pretty chuffed about that!!

So today my lovelies, I had the daunting task of fabric shopping - whatever!! I LOVE FABRIC SHOPPING! Just love it like something crazy!

Thought I'd finally go to Otahuhu and check out a fabric store there, we'll totally disappointed - they had lots of plain fabric, OR LOTS of really Lacy, sequinny fabric for crazy prices like $20, $40 even some for $120 per METER!! Seriously, but be some serious wedding/funeral outfit fabric being sold there!!

Anywhoo...took myself back to my old faithful store - where they know me by name LMAO...god I could camp there and still not find what I'm looking for - in a good way!! They've just got sooo many different fabrics, different textures...was a bit 'brain dead' though when it came to finding fabric for my jacket - I ended up with a medium weight denim fabric...it's a really dark ink blue...and had major trouble finding fabric for the armbands...ended up with a lycra ribbing - they heaviest they had - which wasn't as heavy as I would have liked. Also got the lining fabric, so all up the fabric for my jacket cost $22.00. So not bad - one off...if once it's made up it looks really stupid, I can always unpick the sleeves and make them plain jane style lol...but I Love the sleeves!!

While I was there...I bought HEAPS more fabric!! 15metres of a grey lycra blend, textured fabric which was $1.50m!! 6mts of dark purple lycra blend fabric for $3/m, 6m of mauve which was $4/m, 3m each of 3 other fabrics which were $8/m...a metre of plain black lycra blend for the waistbands for a couple of the other fabrics...can't even remember what else I bought - maybe that was it? lol. Anyway, came to bang on $150. It'll keep me busy huh? Got fingers and toes crossed that my overlocker I'm getting tomorrow is PERFECT and runs smooth - then I'll be in heaven I swear!! Will bang out a couple of tops to list on TM :)

After the fabric shopping - which took me nearly 2 hours lol. Hubby and I went to a Japanese restaurant - Sakai - for lunch Mmmmm....super yummy :) Super full and was super tired afterwards lol...came home and went straight to sleep!! Just woke up now before 2pm.

I am going to see my kids' teachers after school today, as last week was parent interviews and I didn't make it due to Miss 14's polyfest commitments. Not expecting the best feedback about mr7 to be honest...he's like super intelligent, but he's also super cheeky!! The wittiest 7yr old you ever did meet!! He loves to mock other kids is the main problem...*sigh* I think it stems from him being too smart for the class he's in, but they won't move him up a class cos he's too immature and wouldn't fit in socially with the older lot - which is bloody unfair for totally understandable...*sigh* But we'll see...he may surprise me. Miss 9 is just super...she's like teachers helper, top maths class, forever doing homework night and day...everything is school work...she never tired of it. Mr 12 - we'll he's more of a practical learner than a theory kinda guy - but yeah...we'll see :)

Oh yesterday, against everything I had planned for the boys this year, I took them back to Rugby league...we have a new coach - who is awesome, the old coach was there, he's just unable to do the coaching this year due to work commitments...fair enough...but I don't want to manage, feel sorry for the new coach though, cos he's new to the club too and so for his sake I will be there to 'support' until a new manager steps up - which I know now will be NEVER cos the parents we have in the team all LOVE to backstab and shit stir in the back, first to complain about everything but would NEVER step up to the plate and do shit...which really makes me angry - so if I don't get a replacement than I think I'm gonna put my bitch shoes on now - had last year to practice being nice - didn't work all that great - this year I'll put the 'fark you too' shoes on I think lol. Sounds harsh - but when you know what effort goes into being a VOLUNTEER manager for a kids sports team - you'll know there is just no pleasing everyone!

So yeah, tue and thur 5-6 is mr 12's training and 5:30-6:30 is mr 7's trainging. I am excited about one of hubby's nephews being in mr 7's team this year though, they are double trouble at family functions, so god grant the new coach of their team the patience to put up with them lol. I'm excited cos his mum and I get on well...so she'll be good company :)

Hmmm- what else? Kids have to go to inlaws this evening for sunday school...yeah - they have sunday school on a friday night LMAO...so I'll have the evening free to do whatever - and I know what that'll be!! I'm gonna spend this evening clearing out the space next to my bed, which has a double bed bunk set up as storeage - gonna move all that shit out of the way - god knows where I'll put it all...but it's gotta go!! Need to make space for my sewer and overlocker I'm picking up in the morning - and make room for my sewing table that I need to set up...YAY!! a real work space!!

Started on my jacket today...

Got to class and forgot my animal print top at home that I had to overlock :( So got started on my lined jacket...it's a pretty whack design...even got a "hmphhh" and giggle from the tutor when I tested out the PUFF sleeve in fabric LOL. All good - just ya'll wait till it's finished...

Am really looking forward to picking up my machines on saturday, one at 9am and the other after 11am...have a 21st b'day party on saturday night, but if I get my machiens set up...I think I'd rather stay home and sew!!

Dad called today to say hi, and to let me know that my cousin is wanting to have the family over for afternoon tea on Sunday...and that 'Louise and family' are invited - Ummm yeah - we are family aren't we? Anyway - put bluntly - she can go (and a majority of the rest of them - there aren't that many lol) can all go and get fucked. Seriously, none of them live in "south Auckland" they all talk with plums in their mouths...and act like they've got big plums up their asses LMAOoOoo. I know what they think of 'Islanders' I know how my dad's family treated my mum back in the days...so why should I go and 'hang out' with them for the afternoon? What would we have to chat about? They are all sooo much better than me and my little family - at least I know that's what they think...so I'll do them and myself a favour and stay home. They actually really piss me off if I bother to think about them...poor dad that I'm not interested in his family - but oh well...he'll have fun.

Seriously though, there are only about 15 of them all up!! And they are having 'afternoon tea' fgs. This is a once in a blue moon...why don't they just make it a sunday lunch?? Such a HUGE contrast to my Samoan side I tell ya!! Both sides have their pros and cons, but I'd rather be with the Samoan side who at least have a good laugh while we're together - my dads family will all sit around the room looking at each other chatting quietly away about the latest news and benefit bludgers...blah blah blah...so yeah...I'm over it lol.

So dad will be back on Monday sometime.

I made a YUMMY chicken chop suey, creamy mashed potatoes with cheese and a couple of fried pork chops that I cut halves so that everyone could have a small piece of it.

Not a lot of sleep last night

hope it doesn't hit me in class today :(

Hubby didn't finish till midnight las tnight - I had to pick him up - of course I didn't sleep till I got the call to pick him up...and now, 5:50am I wake up, can't get back to sleep!! So here I am...

3:20pm: WOW - had a huge day!! Went into class with some info on a few machines I had on my watchlist. Showed it to the tutor and she picked out two of them and said GO FOR IT - TOP machines, last a lifetime! So I logged on using the receptionists computer, showed my tutor the actual auctions and she was super keen, so I bought them...one over locker and one flat sewer! Totally thrilled with both purchases, got both for just under $500. So not sure how I'm going to get that...but I will lol.

I finished off the sample top I stated yesterday - EVERYONE was super impressed with it!! I also started and finished the 'good' one I made out of animal print...

They both look AWESOME - sooo easy to sew...so I'm going to 'hoard' some of the mauve fabric which is half prince at the moment @ $4m and make a few up to sell on TM...total costing should be no more than $10 per top (not including my labour which is about 2 hours) I should be able to sell it for around $50 a top...but we'll see.

I'm just really proud of myself!! It's a TRUE TALENT that I have...a real passion!! makes life seems sooo good doing something that I LOVE!!

Diner: Took out some tenderised steak that has been marinated, I cut it into long extra thin strips, stir fried them with thinly sliced onions...eaten in fresh bread...easy and super yum. Got some sirloin steak marinating in a teriyaki sauce for hubby if he feels like it and there is none of the other steak left. I'm not feeling terribly adventurous tonight, can't be bothered doing much of anything to be honest - I've suddenly got mixed emotions/feelings - not even sure what they are about!! Can't pin point anything, I think I've got too much in my head...I'm incredibly excited about the progress I am making in class, so natural high from that, then there are little things niggling in the background...the playstation insurance forms need to be filled and sent in, my student loan needs to be signed and sent back in, bills need to be paid, I'm organising for the sewing machine and overlocker to be picked up this weekend...so much going on, I think my brain is gonna burst - don't know quite what to focus on first LOL. It's all too exciting and too much at the same time!! Would love to have a nap right now, but just can't when I know the boys are outside playing - it's like I need to know what they are doing, and I need to be awake incase they need me...which they never do...but you never know!! Time seems to be going incredibly slow...I'm not motivated to clean up...which I should be doing, even in small amounts.

I swapped rooms with the boys on Sunday. At this stage it's just the beds that have been swapped and the rooms vacuumed and cleaned - all the clothes, tv, furniture is still int he wrong rooms...told myself I'd do a bit each day - but I'm so tired I just can't be bothered. Will def need to clear my room out though, we've got the 'garage' which is attached to our lounge, so it's HUGE that means LOTS of room for my sewing machine and overlocker!! YAY.

9:30pm - Well managed to have a wee nap at about 6pm, prolly for half an hour. Got a txt from miss 14 to pick her up from the bus stop...did that, then went straight to pak'n'save, sent her in to get some snack food...*sigh* just felt likepigging out on anything! Ended up with chocloate milk, coke AND chocolate ice cream - can anyone else see a chocolate pattern? lol.

Came home, cooked some teryaki steak for miss 14 and mr 9, I had some too - soooo tender!!

Miss 14 - bless her heart - did a good clean up of the lounge - she's sooo the perfect daughter!

Hubby finishes at 11pm tonight, I'm gonna stay up n wait for him - good wifey that I am :D

I'm excited as usual for class tomorrow. Nighty night :)

Another exciting start to the week :)

Yep - started on the top that I designed...really exciting making the pattern up for it...it's actually a REALLY easy style to make...could be a best seller *huge grin*

I'm making the 'sample' out of a light purple/pink two way stretch lycra blend fabric...was $8m down to $4 so can't loose :) Will make the 'good' one out of a c-thru animal print fabric with a black lycra blend waistband and trim...really excited about that - have a 21st b'day that I am most likely going to this weekend, would be nice to have a really cool top to show off my talent with :)

Might get some orders lol *wink wink*

Dad has gone to his sisters for the week...
Hubby started work at 9am - he finishes tonight at 11pm - he's a bloody work-aholic!! *sigh* he pays the bills though, so can't complain...poor guy - really makes me look forward to our trip to Samoa even more...he NEEDS a break!

Tomorrow I will finish the top I started today - will def get started on the animal print one...and most likely finish it too...easy to sew...twas the making of the pattern that took most of the morning in class.

Not sure what I'll make next...prolly a fitted jacket...that's gonna be a challenge as it will be fully lined...but after the simple pants, skirt and top I have made, I need a challenge...REALLY looking forward to making MORE tops...and selling them!! YAY!! Will get some sold before we go on holiday, so that means INCOME!! Much needed since I quit my job...which to be honest, is a bit of a struggle BUT I am sooo happy with the decision to do my course...I can see LOTS of dollar signs in my future lol...AND hello...I LOVE DOING THIS!!

Well I've been BUSY BUSY BUSY!!

So busy and caught up with my daughters Polyfest preparations that I had totally forgotten about my lil bro moving out today lol. Thursday night was my daughters dress rehersal in from of the parents, and friday night they had their live-in at a near by church. I went over and helped out - ironed nearly half of the 56 uniforms! Came home at midnight - got a bit of sleep then went back at 5am, picked up Miss 14 and 3 other girls, brought them back to my place for a shower, and straight back to the church hall...they got dressed, bus picked them up at 7:30am and off we went. After and AWESOME performance, I stayed and watched a couple of other schools...at the end of the day, Miss 14's school came 2nd overall in the girls school catergory *will edit this another time when I can be bothered*

It's 3:30am. I finally got home from the festival at about 5pm, saturday, organised diner, took hubby to work, then had about an hour sleep, 10pm I was at work. Just got home over an hour ago, had something to eat and have been browsing the internet.

Well I've been BUSY BUSY BUSY!!

A better day :)

Not so stressed although I did get a headache an hour after getting home. I think though it could be due to lack of fluids...

Today in class I still wasn't able to finish the skirt I made as the repair guy still hadn't been into repair the roll hemmer...pretty slack - although he did turn up as we were leaving for the day - so fingers crossed it's been repaired and I can finally finish my skirt tomorrow :)

So I designed a fitted pair of trousers for me...functioning pockets...wide/high waistband, stretch fabric, they fit like a bloody GLOVE!! I'm sooo happy with them!! The sample pair I made today are in a really good fabric, they are a light tan colour, so will be great to wear...tomorrow I will make up the 'good' pair in black stretch fabric. I honestly was sooo proud of myself when I put them on - couldn't believe I had actually made them lol!

I've also been doing a few sketches...tops, dresses...pretty impressed with what I've come up with actually...who knew huh??

My daughter has her dress rehearsal tomorrow night, for the polyfest. I'm dreading it to be honest - why? Cos she goes to school in the Auckland CBD. It starts at 6:30pm. Rush hour traffic - need I say more?? *sigh* So - I either leave home in the thick of it all and endure the rush hour traffic at it's absolute peak hour...OR...I leave ridiculously early (with ALL the kids mind you!!) at like 3pm (which will STILL be busy *sigh*) and take snacks, drinks - maybe even a packed diner to keep the kids happy and content. So yeah...I have until tomorrow afternoon to decide which plan of action to take - the leave early and have snacks/diner at the school is looking good at this stage.

I may have to leave class a little early, say, 2pm? Cos I'd like to buy some DVD disks for my digital video camera...*another bloody cost :(* Which reminds me, the guy who I took the PS3 to, to get repaired called today - it's beyond repair - yep - in other words it's farked. Hubby NEEDS to call the insurance tomorrow...*sigh* thank god we are covered, but I bet the excess is STUPID high, and premiums are gonna jump...ok, maybe I don't know what the hell I'm talking about - I am preparing for the worst!!

So yep...that was my day, not bad...could be worse lol.

Yucky day :(

I'm feeling stressed out about things that I mentioned in yesterdays post...

Couldn't finish my skirt in class today as the 'roll hemmer' is not working, the guy who was supposed to fix it missed his appointment - so spent the afternoon designing the pair of trousers I'm going to make, and also drew up some tops and a jacket...

Today the tutor lightly touched on the upcoming Style Pasefika fashion show later in the year and the Villa Maria one...that was REALLY exciting to hear - the tutor has high expectations of me...lol, it's actually scaring me a little...can I really do it??? OF COURSE I CAN!!!

I didn't have my usual sandwiches for lunch this afternoon so I felt like I needed something, walked upto the inidan retaurant couple of minutes from class (one of many actually - Papatoe seems to be Inidan Capital lol. I didn't have a clue what to order, and the guy gave me a vegetarian rissole to taste - well that pretty much filled me up LMAO - almost wanted to say thank you - and walk out LOL. But I didn't and ended up buying a small container of a vegetarian curry with a roti - got to class, had a couple of spoons and I didn't like it :( Was wayyy to salty and the texture was blurkk!!! Next time will try some MEAT curry - and hope it's not too salty!!

Even hubby didn't eat it all...

I came home a little early, 2pm, cos I just wasn't feeling right - it's the stress...came home, went straight to bed, hubby took care of the kids when they got home from school - bless him - and I woke up at 5pm!! Felt a little better after that, got into cooking diner, roast chicken thighs, gravey, rice, pumpkin and carrots for my dad, hubby and lil bro. Nuggets and hot chips for the kids...

I've set up the Sky in my dads room, so now he can watch his programmes and the kids can watch theirs without drama.

Oh I sent some money to my mum this morning, she called yesterday asking...which she NEVER does...so I am only happy to oblige.

Lil bro moves out this weekend - sad to say - but - YAY. I will spend Sunday moving the boys into the room hubby and I are in now, and then focus on getting the downstairs all sorted out and cleaned up so that I can set out bed and what-not up in there and also make the room for an industrial sewing machine and overlocker for later in the year - exciting stuff!!

Great day at my course...yet again :)

Nearly completed the skirt I am making. Had a bit of stress over the waistband, but nothing I can't handle lol.

Actually today at morning tea, the tutor gave me the best compliment ever!! She said something along the lines that I will do really well when I start my business, that I have the right personality, my machine skills are great, I'm precise with my work, I have high standards...and she totally LOVES the skirt I am making...I'm not really a skirt person, so I'm not terribly excited about it, lol, but everyone else seems to be genuinely impressed with it.

Anyway, I'm feeling really tired today, don't know if it's cos of my period...or if I'm just lacking sleep - I dunno. But Dad came back from his sisters this morning. During the day, hubby mowed the lawns and did some weeding, dad helped him out a little. Looks good :) Thanks. lol.

I'm not only feeling tired, I'm a little stressed out - just feel like I've got a lot going on in my head! I applied for my student loan today, online, while I was at course - that waiting for the application to be approved is nerve racking! Even though I don't anticipate any problems, it's just a little stressful for me...and I don't qualify for any allowances, which stinks big time - but oh well :( Then there is the little problem with the PS3 - hubby needs to call the insurance, cos when I tried they said they couldn't talk to me cos I wasn't approved...so hubby can take of that...tomorrow I hope. Then there is the small matter of our mortgages coming up for renewal...BUT we'd like to add a room or two to our house, IF we can afford to...so we need to go to the bank and have a chat about that...we also need to get a loan to pay off some land we bought overseas...so all that's starting to brew in my head and cause stress *sigh*

Anyway, I've made the kids lunches, tided up a little...that's enough, I need to rest/sleep...nighty night :)

Had a really neat day :)

Took miss 14 to her live in last night and I ended up staying till 3am!! That's what time the girls finally went to sleep...

I spent the time making up the bead necklaces for their costumes. Spent the time chatting with a couple of the teachers and another ex-AGGS girl...awesome night actually - really enjoyed their company :)

I woke up today, hung out all the laundry that I had done, then got ready and went back to my daughters live in, got there just before 12pm, and started painting the bead necklaces that we made up the previous night. Enjoyed the ladies company again - the girls performance is PERFECT - they ahve done sooo well - really IMPRESSED and proud of them!!

Picked up the kids from the inlaws, except for miss9 who was out with her nana. We're just spending a quiet night at home...

Mixed start to the day...

Spent almost an house at Dick Smiths trying to locate the camera I bought last Nov on their system...I can't remember what day I bought it - it was a day or two around the 20th of Nov, I can't remember how I paid for it...but nothing on my bank statement or my brothers bank statement - so I must have paid cash? SHIT. I gave up - felt sorry for the girl working there, she was trying her best...I'm gonna have another good hunt for the receipt this weekend...

Went to Pak'n'Save and did a bit of grocery shopping - bloody food prices have hiked up again!! - what new huh? I buy flour, sugar and rice by 5kg bag - do a lot of baking...anyway, the cheapest brand of sugar which is usually $7.99 is now $9.95!! $2 jump in a week!! Pisses me off!!

Then I went to the fabric store. I can't buy a stretch fabric, and I wanted something REALLY soft, sheer (without being see-thru) ended up with 2mt of $10/m fabric plus 1m of $8/m fabric for the ties...I know I've over bought, Should have measured my pieces before I went - but as usual I don't think - just jump! Bought some brown tapa fabric too for a set of cushions I'm gonna make up - so will dust off the old domestic sewer and get a couple done today :)

So feeling great that I've been out...oh and feeling great cos the lady who works at the Pak'n'Save deli, who always says hi to me...said today that I had lost A LOT of weight...told her how I did it...she was really complimenting me - she's a really lovely lady!! And not just cos she was saying nice things to me LOL. Also got lots of compliments from the staff at the fabric store regarding my weight and haircut...

So feeling really great about that - BUT this camera and PS3 are lingering in the background of my thoughts and really putting a dampener on my mood - damn it!!

So I'm going to enjoy today - and for me, that means having a late morning nap - enjoy the fact that the kids are safe at school...gorgeous hubby laying next to me (he worked night shift the last two nights so I won't disturb him lol). Yep - sleep away the blues is what I'm gonna do...

Oh and I've got my period this morning too so I'm sure that's not helping in the 'happy mood' department!!

3:30pm - so I've had my nap, can't even remember falling asleep - so must have needed that one lol. The kids are all home - except miss 14 of course. I've got some pre-made uncooked sausage rolls in the oven cooking as a treat for their afternoon tea.

Have taken anything out for diner...will mostlikely get a bag of nuggets out of the deep freeze, have that with buttered bread - cheaper alternative to take aways. I've cooked well all week, so it's a treat for me to not have to go to much effort.

Miss 14 has a 'sleep over' at a church in the city - last time it was at a church at the other end of Auckland - so this is way better for me - who's the lcky biarch that has to go and drop her off!! I actually have to drop off one of hubby's nieces too, as they are both in the school Samoan group together. Hubby's niece lives with his mum, so she comes each morning with FIL to pick my daughter up for school each morning. So last night I got daughter to organise for niece to come this morning with her sleeping gear etc...so that she can come home with daughter, shower, get ready and go...and I don't have to back track all the way to manurewa.

Completed my sample skirt...

YAY!! I'm so excited it's almost silly lol. Need to go fabric shopping now :)

After school today, took mr 12 school shoe shopping.

Got the call form the repair guys who have the PS3 - it's not looking good at all :( Can't for the life of me find the fuckin receipt!! Have managed to track down what day we bought the damn thing as it's showing on hubby's bank statement - but of course to add to our bad luck, we bought it from Hill'n'Stewart who have gone belly-up and only have the one store in St Lukes!! So good fuckin' luck to me when I call them tomorrow to see if they can possibly print out another receipt for me...SHIT!!

And to add to my 'technical items' fuck up roll that I am on...the Fuji digi cam that I bought for my brother last year is also playing up - powers up then swithces off immediately...*sigh* double SHIT! And of course, i can't find the receipt for that - I found the box it came in with aPak'n'Save receipt - if that helps!! Unbelievable!! But again, i did find the purchase on my bank statement...so that should be ok...but again we'll see.

So not a good day as far as getting shit fixed and sorted...BUT I did have a fantastic day in class. Have finished the sample, really happy with the pockets. Am going fabric shopping tomorrow.

Feel like I deserve something nice - on a budget though lol, not sure what...maybe even a nap while the kids are at school - that's sounds like bliss right now! Yeah, that's prolly what I'll do...seeing as Friday is my day off from course eachweek and I have said it was going to be MY day to what I like...then tomorrow I'll do what I have to get done out of the house early in the morning...then have nap for as long as I bloody well feel like it - not going to give all the camera or PS3 a second thought...will get what needs sorted early - then it's out of my hands...

So I'm excited about the fabric shopping - *yay* happy thoughts to end my blogging :)

Started on my skirt...

the one I designed yesterday, well I've made the block for the body of the skirt, have also cut out and the two main pieces and sewn the pleats...

So i had a fantastic day in class today - really learning HEAPS!! Just LOVING it!!

Bought a couple of sketch books after class to document my designs, record the specs for each design...that's what I've been doing today with my skirt - it's a whole new learning process for me. It's taking some getting used to, cos I just think I'll remember whatever it is, but I know I won't!! So it's gonna be great for referring back to in the future :)

We had mullet (fish) for diner, just coated in flour and shallow fried...kids are having theirs with homemade hot chips, I had mine on it's own. I'm going to cook lil bro a pork chop, gravy and rice for him, he doesn't eat fish, unless of course it's 'fish'n'chips' form the shop. :/

Hubby's on night shift today - and tomorrow I think. So he'll start at 11pm. I'm going to re-write my pics my notes for the skirt I'm making into one of the books I bought today, so that I can keep it altogether.

10:30pm - hubby's gone to work. He was such a honey and hung the washing out before he left (we are so lucky - have the whole side of our house enclosed so not only private but it gets really hot, really warm during winter, so we never had to worry about laundry getting rained on...) anyway, most of the laundry is hanging up - the kids uniforms which I try and wash on a wednesday is in the dryer.

I've got a batch of date scones in the oven, will give a few to FIL when he picks miss 14 up in the morning, and I will take a couple to my course for morning tea. I've made them with twice as much dates...LOVE date scones!

Haven't made the kids lunches - will def do it in the morning though - and mine. They ordered lunches today, so that's their treat for the week. I've got some ham and lettuce. I'll have the regular ham, lettuce. cheese and beetroot - LOVE that combination at the moment!! lol.

Bought a watermelon too this morning on the way to course...LOVE watermelon!! I've also been taking a small container with some diced watermelon - what a luxury - tell you what, I've been making some bloody NICE packed lunches!! Better than anything any shop sells that's for darn sure lol.

So I'm just waiting for the scones to cook, then I'm off to bed. Will read for a while - till I fall asleep anyway. Reading Jeffery Archer's "Not a penny more" - I think that's what it's called - it's an ancient book, and I am thoroughly enjoying it!!

I can't believe it's thursday tomorrow - last day of my course for the week!! I'm so disappointed by that!! Week seems to have gone really quick and it's just NOT fair :(

Today when I started on my skirt, I struggled a little with the pleat placement - I thought it HAD to be perfect - after an hour of struggling the tutor told me "Louise - you can adjust it a little to make it work...doesn't have to be perfect..." Phew...really?? lol. All these little things I'm learning!!

So 5 mins later, it all came together...and what a relief...honestly - as stupid as this sounds, I felt really HAPPY!! More than happy - I felt teary eyed...so happy that WOW I'm actually designing something and now I'm going to make it - properly!! lol. I thought to myself...

WOW - this must be what it feels like when people REALLY love what they do!! Cos that is exactly how I felt - I LOVE THIS!! This is ME!!! Never in my life have I felt like this. It's all RIGHT - nothing can be wrong!! SO yeah, I feel disappointed that tomorrow is thursday, it means 3 days of no course :( But it means that Friday I can sleep all day LMAO...which I prolly won't do, more than anything I think I'll appreciate it as a day where I can have some genuine ME time - no kids around, they'll be at school. So yeah, something to look forward to I suppose :)

Well, in the time it's taken me to blog, my scones are cooked and lil bro has just finished work for the day...he will be happy with his dinner.

Good night :)

Had good nights sleep *yay*!

and what a difference it made!

Boy did I need it too...after I completed the gents tailored jacket sleeve - the tutor told me I had to do the lining...*huh??* So good student I was ...start doing the lining...stuck...didn't have a clue...got her to help me...then I got stuck...didn't have a clue...totally lost! Just couldn't get 'it'. Then after 3 hours of trying!!

She quietly says to me *while giggling I might add!!* "Well...this is wayyyy beyond level three...there are easier ways of doing lining, but this is the most difficult, I just wanted you to learn it and you'd learn so much from it...but yeah, give it a miss, have a break, and just go onto designing a skirt - then we'll make up the block for that..."

WTH!! ya kidding me LMAO...after three hours I was ready to pull my minge out for crying out loud!! And what for?? I am FLYING through all the pattern blocks (found out at lunch time when talking with the other girls that I have completed MORE than anyone else in the class - WHAT?? Sheesh...so I guess the tutor thought I could handle more?? I dunno...but man, thank goodness she said I didn't have to do the lining!!

So design a skirt I did!! And now I am working on butting out a pattern block for the skirt I designed - I'M SO EXCITED this is exactly what I want to be doing!!

So hubby started at 12pm today, as did lil bro...so I came home 10mins early so I was home in time for the kids...

Have got chicken thighs out for dinner, will make a stirfry with carrots and cabbage.

Going at 7pm to get Miss 14's hair cut at our old next door neighbours house, she lives about 10mins away now.

Oh got a txt today from one of Hubby's cousins' wife...the ones that lil bro is moving in with on the 20th...anywhoo...she's done a huge clean out and reckons she has lots of clothes to get rid of...so she's gonna throw them MY way...pretty excited cos the clothes will be MY size - and she's way younger than me...actually she's 19, but I do have the same style as her...lol...young thang that I am LMAO. But it's just coming at the right time too, with classes I will have all sorts of goodies to wear now...I actually have high expectations cos she's been going on and on about all the clothes that she has that she needs to get rid of...I'll be thankful for whatever anyway :)

Weight wise, I'm not even looking at the scales - I've been eating 'ok' but I feel like I've been eating WRONG :( I don't need to be depressed by reading the scales...I'm really happy with my course, and I AM trying to eat well...so we'll just leave it at that for now...I'll weigh-in in a couple of weeks. I'd like to get down to 95 before I go back to Samoa in 9 weeks...totally doable...but I'm not gonna stress myself about it.

So tired!

Excited about classes today!! Am just flying through my pattern blocks, once I have done the one I am working on now (2pc jacket sleeve, male) then I must start designing my own skirt, trousers and shirt then I will be taught how to make a pattern for them...I AM SOOOO EXCITED ABOUT THAT!!

Hubby and lil bro started work at 11am, so I've been home all day, just the kids and I.

OMG diner was YUMMY - bought some mince, thought I was going to make burgers, but then though nah, and googled chinese pancakes. Ended up doubling the recipe...spent an hour at least making them up, turned the mince into a sweet, spicey flavour with finely shredded cabbage and carrots. Ate them with the pancakes - OMg what a success!!

Was tired all day - ate a lot but was good food...just really tired, but I have soldiered and done the nights dishes, hung out the laundry, tidied the lounge, did the kids homework...ready now for a hot shower and relax in bed reading my book.

So I'll be finished the sleeve block tomorrow in class...then it gets to the fun part - design my own skirt :)

Well, that's all I can think of right now to blog about...yawning as I type this.

Nighty night :)

Lovely sunday...

9am thoday, went for a drive with Miss 14 to pick up a mattress I bought off Tm to take to Samoa. Then took the kids to MIL's house, we usually go there EVERY sunday without fail for a huge sunday lunch, but this week we, hubby and I, are not.

Dad and lil bro are going out to visit older brother, to have lunch with him, then dad said he's going to his sisters place to spend a week...sweet.

When they left at around 12pm, hubby and I went to the mall and bought some lunch, and a couple of dvds. We had lunch in our backyard on the picnic table - that was really nice. Then watched our dvds then had a nap.

Hubby can go and pick the kids up this evening.

The reason why we didn't go to the inlaws for lunch today was that since starting my course last monday, I get home just after 3pm, my dadis here now, so I feel like I have to get diner started on time, hang out with him, keep the kids relatively calm and quiet. Hubby goes to work at 6pm, I just feel like hubby and I haven't had any quality time together...so it's been really nice.

Oh and the cake hubby took to work went down well with the guys :) Hubby's feeling better now about what happened...all i know is that HE of all people deserves the trip to Samoa in 2 months...I'm going to make sure he has a good time - both of us - I am really IN LOVE with him and it feels really good!! I'm one lucky girl!!

9pm - hubby's been gone a while, he went to pick the kids up from his mum's house, I've just made some melting moments up for the kids lunches. Will make some with passionfruit icing MY fav!! Maybe 'boring' chocolate icing for the other half...*fussy kids*

I've eaten like there is no tomorrow...will make a REAL effort this week to eat well. I'm excited about my course again...my first week trial is over, and so tomorrow I am offically a STUDENT lol.

Oh, last night at work I caught up with people about last weeks work that I used to do) apparently there was HUGE fark up - a large number of labels weren't printed out AND some boxes NOT put into the cages for the courier to pick up - so MAJOR stuff up...ahhh well.

I'll make the kids lunches up (and mine lol) before I go to bed tonight. Got a HUGE pile of laundry to fold which I am happy to do tonight :)

Well, better get started on the folding and wait for hubby and the kids to come home - enjoy the peace and quiet in the mean time!!

Cruisy saturday

Have made four chocolate cakes!! Two I iced together for hubby to take to work for the boys, one for us, and one for next door.

Had a lovely nap this afternoon.

This morning I did the laundry, washed our comforter set, kids uniforms and bed sheets...

Blimmin next door (who rent) spent the morning hacking the row of feijoas between our houses (on their side so can't stop them) but I LOVE feijoas - they don't *sigh* and it's almost feijoa season...damn their stupid!! Anyway, there are two trees left, and it's only the branches that hang on my side of the fence LOL - so fingers crossed they don't hack those down. I've been meaning to plant my own and WILL DO this year.

I'm working tonight, start at 10pm. Made a yummy chow mien for diner, just gonna hang out and relax till I start work :)

9:30pm - just killing time before I leave for work. I've got some watermellon for my 'break' snack...and a couple of crackers from the asian store, I always have a savory tooth - tis my downfall. The watermellon will be nice as I get quite thirsty during the night. Will have my bottle of pump though...filled with Raro..lol, better than not drinking :)

SO yep...nighty night :)

So my dad has arrived...

Like 4 days ago!!

With my course and having dad here, I have been totally buggered, have been good and taken myself to bed at arount 10pm...but it's meant I haven't had time to be on the computer as much - which is a good thing :)

So on Tuesday 5:45 PM (lol) I picked dad up from the airport - *sigh* no albacore - he reckons with the tsunami warmnings from the eathquake the hit chille early in the week that there wasn't as much fish in the market -sure...to be honest, dad wouldn't have tried very hard, he's a bit stink like that, if it's not something for him...yeah, you get the drift.

Everytime he comes over he knows I ALWAYS ask for a carton of smokes for hubby, which I reimburse him for and he usually IF I'm lucky, he'll shout me a bottle of alchol, but I didn't get around to asking this time around and of course he didn't buy anything - other than HIS Rum. *sigh* Then he went on to say "Yeah I thought about buying some smokes..." I can't remember what he said after that cos I just think the voice in my head screaming "selfish TIGHTARSE" was drowning everything else out LOL.

So anyway, he DID come with 'umu' (earth oven) baked ocotopus - MY FAVOURITE - actually, it's only been 'plain' baked in the umu cos he's bringing it over to NZ, I will buy some coconut cream and finish off the cooking process on the stove top - but yeah, it's one of my favourite dishes!! He also came with some 'luau' which is taro leave (very similar to spinich) baked in coconut cream...*sigh* all this coconut cream...yummy lol. So hubby and I had one luau between us, gave about 6 next door (they're Samoan) and the rest, including the ocotopus went into the freezer for maybe this weekend...will buy some Taro to eat with the luau and it's really rich and needs something strong to handle all the fat lol.

I've completed my weeks trial of the course, and so officially I start the 19weeks next week :)

I actually went into another class this afternoon to assess y sewing skills. After quickly familiarising myself with the beast that is the automatic INDUSTRIAL machine, I was soon confident and quickly and neatly made up the vest that I had to sew up. The Tutor Janette, is LOVELY - very patient and kind, so that helped. Anyway, they were impressed with my sewing skills and said I didn't have to do the seperate sewing class (extra $4000 fee!!) as you can't do the pattern making course if you can't sew...so, all good, I officially start my course on Monday :)

I made garlic bread, sausages and a thin gravy, and the best ever potato bake I have ever made so fat, for diner tonight...everyone loved it :) I have taken out two chickens for diner tomorrow which I will do in the slowcooker with lots of stuffing :)

Lil bro went with the couple hel'l be boarding with, to look at their new place, he's happy with the place. Oh!! On wednesday night I picked up 4 single beds (tubular) that I won off TM. 2 beds in seperate auctions. Also bought a HUGE GORGEOUS kitchen sink and bench and a seperate bench, both matching...$30 for that and $100 all up for the 4 beds. Bargain in my books.
All to be shipped over to samoa - don't even want to think how much that's gonna cost - prolly $500...I'll have a heartattack if it's more! Anyway, will be nice once it's all set up over there...which is what hubby and I will get done while we are over there in May.

I got the call to work on Saturday night, so that's good :) Mama needs shoes LOL.

NOT the best day since FOREVER :(

Long story...will try to be clear...firstly...it seems EVERYONE in hubbys family (both mum and dad's side work at the same place) Even my li bro works there.

So last night, my bro, FIL, FIL's brother (who is the Shift leader) and hubby (Night shift supervisor) were all at work. lil brother told hubby he wasn't feeling well, hubby told him to "stick it out"...later that night lil brother told FIL that he wasn't well, FIL told him to go home if was sick, so he did, but he didn't tell anyone he was leaving, and FIL didn't tell ANYONE he had given lil brother permission to go home...

Turns out that FIL and Uncle had a HUGE arguement, which was a result of built up 'stuff' mostly that Uncle feels like the guys on the crew listen to FIL and not him as he is Crew leader...when they went at eachother last night, hubby had to keepthem apart and make on of them leave...this morning Hubby is on the phone to his father trying to make him realised things from Uncles point of view, but FIL thinks it's uncles problem if he feels that way...*sigh*

Uncle had returned to work this morning to talk to the big boss...hubby is completely stressed and upset...as he is sick and tired of family problems crossing over into work...hubby is a complete workaholic...completely dedicated to work and bar me or the kids being on our deathbeds, he would choose work lol...but now he's saying he just doesn't want to work there...never heard him talk like this before.

Hubby came home and told lil brother off...which was fair enough, cos hubby had told lil bro to stay at work and stick it out...yet he went to the FIL and asked to go home (Hubby has final say as he is the supervior) BUT the thing is...lil brother didn't come straight home!! He finished work and went to go and pick a couple of mates up from the night clubs...he didn't get home till nearly 7am...so he can't have been sick at all...or sick enough to warrent going home especially if hubby told him to stay at work.

The beef though is between FIL and Uncle...built up shit between them...I've never seen hubby sooo upset, angry, frustrated....

Then if things couldn't get worse - they sure as hell did. I decided I'd put the Sky Decoder that's in the boys room into the room my dad is in...well the furntature was moved - no problem...then I put the tv into the room - no problem...then the wire for the sky to the room...pulled, tugged and didn't see that the wire was caught up around the boys' PS3...and DOWN it went - HARD. Powers up but can't put a disk in. Bought it at Xmas from hill'n'Stewart - who have since gone bust and only have a store in St Lukes, which aren't even interested in my problem.

I called the place that ALL the stores seem to take their PS3 repairs to and they were RUDE and charged $350 for repair, wouldn't give me their details till I supplied mine, and they are all the way out in Albany - so about 50-60min drive on a good day :(

I found a place about 25min away in New Windsor...so have taken it there. They charge $35 for inspection, IF it's worthwhile fixing then it will cost about $100 for labour, the $35 is absorbed into that fee. So fingers, toes and everything that can be crossed is crossed...hubby is sleeping, I dare not tell him about that at the moment as he has enough stress and shit on his mind, but he will find out as I'll have to tell the kids when they come home.

I feel SICK at the thought of it costing more than $150 to repair...a new costs $700, a secondhand one around $400-500...I just feel sick :(

What a horrible day :( I've lost all motivation to do anything...just gonna go and have a nap and sulk to myself...will just plain roast the chicken I was gonna put in the slow cooker...hell we'll prolly end up having toast and baked beans with how I'm feeling now :(

Time to get serious and LIST SOME things on tm I think :(

9pm - well it's been a horrible day. Hubby has gone to work, he's still pretty upset about having to sort all the 'family/work' shit out but he's ok...

lil bro has just come home to get changed for his night out (he'd already taken the day off before all this shit happened) - I thought he'd done a lot of growing up in the past few months, but after tonights antics, I'm not impressed. he's also come again and asked if he can "borrow one of my bottles..." How the fark does one 'borrow' one of my bottles? (alchol). See...I have a few bottles of hot stuff, I like to know it's there if I decide to drink...and it's a good stand by if I need to have a b'day gift for someone...he seems to think that cos it's there it must be drunk. So I told him, you can't 'borrow' one, but you can buy one. So I have sold him a bottle of Appleton's Run for $60. It actually pisses me off. he pisses me off - tonight he has anyway. I was starting to feel a bit better actually when I started this wee update - then he came home *sigh*

Well...tomorrow I don't have anything planned, would like to do some baking for lunches, and frozen meals, get the laundry done. But yeah...we'll see :)

Oh, last saturday I planted seeds, lettuce, beetroot, corriander, parsley, and carrots. Well the carrots, beetroot and lettuce have all sprouted an inch!! Awesome!!

I'm so tired.

Yep - after staying up so late last night, and getting up at 6am this morning (thanks to FIL's wake up call he give miss 14!) I am buggered :(

Course went well...flying through making up the pattern blocks and grading...once I'm done making up the blocks I will be able to start making up garments I think...but yeah, we'll get to do more of the designing side of things, which I am REALLY looking forward to!!

I haven't been drinking enough...need to get a bottle to take to course and sip sip on it all day :) Food wise I've been doing well, they have tea and coffee facilities there, so I've been having a coffee, been making my lunch when I make the kids ones up, so haven't had to buy anything, which is great!! Might treat myself to some bought lunch next week...we'll see :)

So dad arrives tonight at 5:20pm. Was planning to have corned silverside for diner, but it wouldn't have been ready in time for an early diner, so will have that tomorrow as I bought some kumara, carrots and potato on my way home. Tonight though, might be naughty and buy fish'n'chips, dad loves fish'n'chips, so we'll see what he feels like on the way home...and I'm really tired, so really can't be bothered cooking up a storm.

Oh, n just remembered that I had asked dad to bring me some albacore tuna (I HOPE HE DID!!) then I'll just have some of that sashimi style YUMMY!!

Start of a new journey...

First day at my course.

Woke up at 6:30am...did what I had to do (all my little chores...kids lunches etc..) kids were out of the house at 8:30am, I left at the same time, hubby needed the car so he dropped me off.

The tutor is lovely...there were 5 other ladies there today, they only accept 10 on the course and apparently there are 8 ladies enrolled...so don't know where the other 2 were?

Basically it's one-on-one tutoring, so there are ladies at various stages...a couple of the girls already had their designs made in Calico fabric...*I'm no inspired!*
Another couple are still working on the basic pattern blocks, which I flew threw the first couple today - totally impressed the tutor..she asked if I had done this before, I told her "No, but I do have some sewing background..." Actually i get on really well with the tutor...she's an older lady, really nice, easy going. I enjoy her style of teaching and enjoy conversation with her.

I finished at 2:30pm, got hubby to pick me up that bit earlier so we could call into the stationery store and buy a folder that I'll need for my classes.

Called into the Mad Butcher on the way home to get some meat for diner, also bought some Corned Silverside for diner tomorrow night, I know my dad will enjoy that (he arrives tomorrow morning). Bought some lambs kidneys for his/our breakfast to have on toast...Mmmm. $9.99kg fgs!! Can remember back in the old days (lol - and I'm 34) when the butcher used to practically give them away and we'd feed them to the cats lol. But I do love them!!

So I have had to drop hubby off to work at 6pm in case he isn't home in time for dad's flight, that arrives just before 6am.

I cooked a beef stew (with carrots and potato) for diner, had it with rice, kids LOVED it. I have cleaned Miss 9's bedroom out for dad, will organise getting the Sky decoder that's downstairs moved into his room later this week, maybe on Friday when I have the day off, so he can watch what he likes with out the kids disturbing him.

Kids have been well behaved. Showered and in bed on time *yay*

I was supposed to make a chocolate cake this evening, but I'm really tired and if I didn't have to wake up at 5am, then I would make one...never mind, always tomorrow.

Ok well...it's nearly 10pm, gonna make the kids lunches now, then off to bed :)

What a BLOODY IDIOT I am LOL!!

I couldn't sleep...decided what the heck - I'll make the cake...so 10:30pm, the chocolate cake goes in, an hour later I'm thinking, I'll check the internet for flight arrivals...well good bloody thing I did!!

Cos my dad doesn't arrive till 5:45 PM - PM NOT AM LMAOoOoo.

So YAY, lunches are made, house is clean, lunches are made AND I get to sleep in till 7am. YAY.

An on that note - good night :)

FULL on weekend weekend!! & a FULL ON DAY!

SATURDAY:
Started with Saturday morning!! Hubby had worked from Friday evening 6pm, and didn't finish work till 8am Saturday - he was tired...fair enough. I cooked him an awesome hot breaky, he ate, showered and went to bed.



I got Mr 7 into the car and we went down to Bunnings and bought an extendable broom that attaches to the hose, lots of vege seedlings...2 bags of potting mix...then went to Dunkin Donuts and bought the kids a treat...how good is this...after bunnings we get in the car and I asked Mr 7, "Shall we get go to Dunkin Donuts and have a treat?" His reply... "what's Dunkin Donuts?"



Yes that's right folks...just goes to prove, I don't buy my kids fast food crap. NONE of my kids were family with the 'golden arches' till they were over 5yrs old (I'm my world that's pretty good lol) I knew kids that cried for MacD's from the age of 2!! We could drive past a MacD's and my kids didn't even look twice...even when adults would try and bribe them with "I'll buy you MacD's" They weren't fazed lol. Different story now of course...cos they do enough MacD's (but again we don't eat much of it - maybe MacD's or Burger King every 2-3 months)



Anyway...after we got some donuts, we came home, and just got stuck into washing the house with my boys. And what an awesome job we did!! Took about two hours I reckon and seriously, the house looks like it's had a paint job!! I'm happy as hell about the result - and that fact that I did it myself after nagging hubby to do it for the good part of the last 5 years!!



He got up just as we had finished (might have bed the fact that the side where our bedroom is was done last and the hard knocking from the broom?? LOL) He was SUPER impressed!!



Then we reorganised a couple of my pot plants, I now have two tubs with herbs at the back door...will edit and elaborate more about them this evening). Mr 12 did a fantastic job shifting a pile of old grassclippings to get down to the gorgeous compost!! I planted Pak Choy, Spinich and Celery (which I have discovered you can wash, cut & freeze successfully!!).



Anyway...later that evening, we had SIL's 30th B'day, we all met up at MIL's house, then drove into town together as we were having it as Fortuna restaurant at the Sky City. That went well, cost Hubby $120 for both of us, and the four kids...which isn't too bad I suppose considering it's a once in a blue moon that we actually go out for diner...the kids weren't fazed by the cost, so I told them, "well...put it this way, I could feed us all lunch and diner for a week on $120" and they were like "Oooooh...."



Anyway, actual diner was nice...I wasn't impressed that they didn't put the tabels together so we could ALL sit together, granted there were about 30 of us, but still there was room to rearrange the tables...and there was another group of the same numbers who had their tabels pushed together...anyway, food was nice. I actually think that Valentines ahve WAY MORE selection...same atmosphere too...so next time, if it's our choice, we'll just go to Valentines, same the drive in...which can I just add almost drove me NUTS!!



It just happened to be the chinese Lantern Festival and I swear to god, once we got off the motorway it should have taken 2 mins to drive into the sky city car park...we'll my lovlies, it did not....it took 25 mins just to get 300 or so meters!! Then we found out the car park was full up and closed...then drive around...we'll what I mean it we TURNED to drive around the block...but the traffic was at a standstill!! I'll be honest...I like to think I have a high tollerance for other cultures...but this particular evening, it just seemed like there were chinese people everywhere!! The roads were blocked the footpaths were blocked!! It was CRAZY!!



Anyway....40 mins later we 'scored' a carpark 5 min walk from Sky City (next door to St Matthews In the city church) Got up to the retaurant, everyone else had eaten already, but that was ok, cos it's buffet and we're all Samoans, so you know they're gonna eat again...and again LMAOoOoo.



After diner we had two cars take the kids back home (this includes the teenagers) who can't go into the casino...my kids were supposed to go to MIL's but they wanted to stay home, so that was fine, miss 14 is 'leagal'. Got home at at 10:30pm...dropped them off...then hubby and I went back to meet up with the adults...



We got back and the boys were drinking, hubby joined them and off I went to 'play' lol. Hubby and I don't 'gamble' the last time we were at the casino would have been about 5 year ago...maybe more than that!! Thank god we don't do the pokies, cos we just couldn't afford it.

Anyway, hubby was nice and gave me $160 to play with...I managed to loose all but $20 of that within 30mins - I KID YOU NOT! I put a $20 note into one machine and when I pushed the 'spin' button - I realised it was a $1 machine!! LMAO...BUT I won $53 with that one spin...so quickly 'collected' my money from the machine and instead of coins it gave me a ticket to cash-in at the cashier...I put it in my back pocket. SO I walked around with the last $20 in my pocket...I spotted a machine called 'polynesian Pearl' (I love black pearls lol) put my $20 bucks in and won 15 free spins...by then end of that it went upto about $70, so I took it all out, and put the money into my coin container...I put the $2 coins in one by one - made the time go by slower lol...anyway, I was quite lucky and every time the credits got upto about $30-$40 I kept 'collecting' - then...I won another set of free spins...while it was giving my free spins it gave me MORE free spins...when it had finished al lthe free spins I was UP $500!! I 'collected' and the guy came around and wrote me a ticket to collect...that went into my back pocket...

Then I kept playing, was on a wining streak cos at one stage my coin container was FULL - that would have been about $300...then at about 3pm, hubby 'found' me...*sigh* I didn't tell him that I had won anything, of course he started talking to me and getting excited and totally putting me off my game LMAO....within 30mins my container was EMPTY!! We both decided it was time to have a smoke and go home...while he went to the bathroom I cashed in...put the cash into my back pocket. We had a smoke, said good bye to his family who were still there!! On our way to the car I told him to put his hand into my back pocket...he found the money...and was really happy. Asked me why I didn't keep playing, told him I was tempted to which is why I didn't want to tell him about the winnings untill we were well OUT of the casino...better to come home WITH something than nothing huh!!

On the way home we called in to the kebab takeaways, bought a yokum burger combo and chicken doner kebab combo - which was just as well cos when we got home lil Bro was still awake...we shared the food with him. Didn't tell anyone else about our winnings. I gave hubby $200 which he wasn't expecting but thankful for. Bought the take aways on the way home, and did some shopping with the kids lunches on sunday evening...the rest is will go on paying for some goodies that I have bought off trademe :)

So all in all - that was an awesome night :)

SUNDAY:
Went with Miss 14 to get our eyebrows done.

Then we all went back to MIL's place for sunday lunch...and to blow out a cake for SIL's bday (we werent' allowed to take a cake to the restaurant)

Before blowing out the cake and lunch, FIL, MIL, hubby had words to share for SIL's b'day, then SIL's said a few words before blowing out her candles...had me in tears...

*sigh* Anyway, we came home at about 6pm. Got the kids feed again and into bed...I finallyhit the sack at about 9pm.