Perspective.

With the new year well and truly here now, most people have got their inspirational and motivational post for the year out. You know the one where they go on about all the wonderful things that they hope to accomplish and all that they hope to be the whole year through and all that blah blah blah?

Of course we all know by now that I am not like most people. In fact I wonder if most people really are like most people? You know on account of all the differences that we all have, but already I am getting off track.

Come the first of January I tried to be like most people and sat down to write a post about the wonders of the new year and all that it would hold. Really all I did was welcome 2014 and whinge about not having enough money or being able to get a dream job. Go me.

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty." Perspective defines how you see the world, and the decisions you make in response to situations which may arise.
Image found here

I know at the end of the post I hinted about maybe having the word perspective as my word of the year. An idea that I have toyed with for nearly a week now. So much so that I have even named this post (well at least tentatively while I try and get it written) with the notion of it being about perspective.

Yet something doesn't quite feel right about it. And by something I mean, actually I have no idea exactly what I mean. Which quite frankly is driving me bonkers because for the most part I am certain I am on to something (provided of course I work out what that something is)

Screen shot taken from here

Now I know that there are few sureties in this crazy old world of ours but one thing that is relatively common is the fact that we all have varying perspectives. That is not to say similar perspectives aren't shared amongst people, because they are, but to me it is the differences that need greater consideration, acknowledgement and acceptance. Which I think for me is what I want to focus on this year.

The way other people look at the world at large. Their perspective. The way they see things differently from myself. While it might just be some fleeting half brained idea, the notion that there is much to be learned from our differences keeps bouncing around my pretty little head.

My list of faults is long and tedious. I am a work in progress. As much as I am full of awesome (particularly in my own lunch box) there are some fundamental changes to my being that need to be made I want make. Things like my lack of motivation or laziness, the line between the two is thin and blurred. I need to find new ways to look at things to encourage myself to just get them done. And by things in this instance I mean boring household tasks that often feel like they suck the life force out of me.

Post by Kate Says Stuff.

To me this is the essence of perspective and why being able to see the perspective of others has it's advantages.

In this case I can see both perspectives. Yes I too show my family I love them with cuddles and time spent together rather than doing the laundry. However there is no denying that the laundry will always need doing. In fact at the end of each and every day there will be laundry patiently waiting to be seen to.

So when I have no choice but to get on with tackling Mount Washmore or Mount Foldmenow, I gently remind myself that I will do so with a happy heart and not begrudgingly because I love my family and they love clean clothes. Well I assume they do, I know I do.

Chores, whether we like it or not must be done. We expect our children to just get on with them without constant complaining and I am starting to realise that I must as well. Especially if I am going to assign myself to the whole be who you want your children to be ideology. At the end of the day it all boils down to how you look at things and your perspective.

Originally this post was called Perspective - Don't only think of yours. I had intended (hoped?) that it would be a post about the beauty of putting yourself in someone else's shoes, looking through their eyes and trying to see things from their perspective. By doing so I believe that you will open yourself up to a world of new possibilities that you may not have been able to see before. Some of which will give you a better understanding of those around you. Obviously though that is not quite how it turned out.

Mind you I am just glad this is now out, it was kinda blocking me in many ways. I am sure though that there will be another post or two about the importance of perspective for me this year.

Joining in with IBOT with Essentially Jess

Keep Calm and Carry on Ironing

the irony of the crinkles in the poster
has me giggling like you wouldn't believe!

Or just chill with an awesome bunch of ladies and some great food and drink as the case may have been.

Thanks to Philips I gathered some of my buddies and held a bit of a British themed ironing party on the weekend.

Firstly let me just say that I feel incredibly privileged to be able to even say I had some buddies to gather. The fact that they actually turned up is even more of a blessing. Now I know generally speaking I don't tend to worry too much about things but when it comes to throwing a party and having peeps turn up I tend to worry like there is no tomorrow.

Thankfully though this was an occasion where I had just the right amount of guests. Given that it was all being held in the shoebox it was lucky the guest list was not too long. Mind you I may have got a tad carried away with the food preparation and prepared enough for a small army.

Apologies in advance for the lack of light in these photos, hint hint if there is a camera company out there, I need a new one...

Just some of the fan fare.
Under the white thing are some scones my mum made. Yes they were awesome

Choc Orange Swirl cupcakes with cute little toppers.
Complete with some chocolate frosting carefully piped on by Lovely

A close up of some of the British food I was sent.
I had a few British guests who assured me authenticity of it all.

These were beyond devine.
Cream cheese, sour cream, smoked salmon and a shallots,all whipped together.
I say whipped because I used my electric egg beater. 

In keeping with the British feel, despite there being watermelon on the table, which is clearly not British just incredibly refreshing, there was also Pimms. Oh and tea, but nobody drank that because, well there was Pimms. Which according to my brief research is the beverage of choice at Wimbledon. Followed closely by champagne (which I also had on hand if you were wondering).

Once everyone had arrived and settled we got straight into the game playing. Because what is a party without games?

The games all revolved around the rather magnificent PerfectCare Aqua Pressurised Steam Generator.

Honestly this iron is the iron of all irons. Even without being a dedicated ironer (and by that I mean someone who may have difficulty remembering where the iron can be found) I can recognise that this little baby is all kinds of awesome and then some.

In fact the look on Suzy's face is testament to just how awesome this little baby is.

Suzy is a regular ironer on account of her husband having an important job and needing clothes that are wrinkle free. Sadly though until the weekend she was oblivious to the fact that not all irons are created equal. A fact she quickly discovered after a few quick swipes of the ironing board with PerfectCare Aqua.

Turns out that all Suzy's years of ironing practise paid off because that lady can get a shirt wrinkle free quicker than you can say Bob's your uncle, not that I ever say that because Bob was my dad and therefore could never be my uncle regardless of how fast you said it but that is probably a story for another day. Anyway Philips had kindly given me an extra iron to pass on to one lucky guest and Suzy's ironing speed and ability made her that lucky guest.

Suz left with one of the biggest smiles and making jokes about the steamy night she was in for as she got to know her new love a little better. Suzy was not the only guest in love with all things iron related and nor was she the only one that left grinning from ear to ear.

Our IBOT hostess with the mostess, Essentially Jess who is a self proclaimed ironing nerd got the pleasure of running away with the rather impressive ironing board

You can check out more photos of the day via Instagram and the hashtag #rhiannasarvotea and if you haven't already check out the YouTube clip of my original review of the iron

For those that like fine print, I was gifted a PerfectCare Aqua for my original review. 
I was also given heaps of cool stuff (too much to mention) to host an iron party. 
All thoughts and words are totally my own

Keep Calm and Iron On

Remember how a little while ago I got all housewifey and did a little vlog about the latest and greatest iron on offer from Philips?

No? 

Well best you hurry off and check it out, especially if your day is in need of a little chuckle.

Anyway because that was full of all the awesomeness that it was, the lovely PR people for Philips asked if I was interested in hosting a bit of British themed ironing party. Complete with fun and games to use the iron with. Naturally I said yes because who doesn't like to party?

What I didn't think of though, was the actual organising aspect, because that part is perhaps not so fun but thankfully most of the work has been taken care of in the little party pack I was sent. Phew on that front I tell you.

So who's in? Wanna come round and drink tea (quite possibly of the long island and iced variety) and play with my iron?

For those interested I was gifted a Philips PerferctCare Aqua for my original review, I have also been sent a heap of goodies and prizes to make the party as fun as possible. All thoughts, words and opinions are completely my own.

Still Trying to Improve

Last week I posted about there always being room for improvement.  It was the first in a weekly link up with the wonderful Karlee over at The Mother Experiment called Me and YOU Monday.  

The idea is that we all take one area of our life that we would like to improve.  For the entire week we focus on improving said area.  For me it was the housework, for Karlee it was stressing, Daisy elected to focus on reducing her yelling, Kristy was hoping for the return of predictability to life and Courtney wanted to work on cutting herself some slack.

Now before I go on to tell you how I went I must say that I feel a bit out of place.  These other courageous women really put themselves on the line with what they wanted to change.  They put themselves down for some serious internal change and personal growth.  They committed to actively creating positive change within their lives.  Sort of makes my housework goal rather pale by comparison.  Mind you if you have ever stepped foot in my house, you would understand the actual importance of the need for change.

Housework is not one of my priorities.  In fact I don't think it even comes close to scraping by as a priority.  SomeMost days I doubt if housework even makes it on to the to do list let alone an actioned priority list.  So saying I was going to commit to daily washing, folding and putting away of a load of washing (excluding nappies) as well as maintain a sink free from dirty dishes was a pretty big step.  One that if I managed to pull off would have been nothing short of a minor miracle.

So... ... ...

           ... ... ... Just how did I go?  Here is a bit of a run down for you.

Tuesday - Brilliant day!  Managed to get two loads of washing done and put away.  Not only that but cleared the sink of dirty dishes and even made some progress on the decluttering that hubs kindly forced me into a few weeks ago.

Wednesday - Not quite so brilliant but not all bad either.  Didn't get quite as much done but did manage to get some washing out and possibly put some dishes away.  Photographed washing for rather cool Wordless Wednesday post

Thursday - A right off.  Nothing achieved or accomplished.  Nothing at all.  Not even close.  Washing still hanging on the line and dirty dishes tower growing nicely.  Could use the death of the dog as and excuse but excuses are for the weak aren't they?

Friday - Washing still on line.  Possibly washed a few dishes.  Had an awesome time at the wave pool with the girls and really enjoyed the time on the computer in the morning.

Saturday - Washing finally off line.  Basket still sitting in lounge room waiting to be folded.  Extra child the night before creates more dishes than expected and dirty dishes tower nearly at a new all time high.  Manage to downsize a little.

Sunday - Day of rest? Not likely! Complete opposite.  Washing is folded and waiting to be put away however, two new loads washed, dried and put away all in the one day!  (Hard to believe I know but true none the less)  Dirty dishes tower finally completely deconstructed and cleaned and even put away.  Most of the dinner dishes are even washed (though not put away and nor will they till morning)

So it looks as if I will be holding on to the housework for this week as well.  Clearly there is still room for improvement!  Make sure you check back next Monday to see how this week went.  Head to The Mother Experiment to link up and find out more

Wordless Wednesday

Playing along with the ever so lovely Trish over at My Little Drummer Boys

The washing which I have been diligently working through as per here

Because the washing is boring and yucky here is some beauty to balance it out :)

An Endless Battle

That is what the washing feels like to me.  

It is a constant cycle of wearing, washing, hanging and folding.  Oh did I mention the putting away?  Probably not because that stage rarely occurs in my house.  As it is my nature to leave everything for as long as possible rather than see to it immediately the washing pile is generally on the side of humungous by the time I get around to doing it.  Which means it takes me forever to get through.  As such by the time I have finished washing it I have little to no interest in folding it or putting it away.  This in turn means the washing will sit on the couch, table, or wherever for the following week.

Today I have nearly won the battle!

Aside from the socks and knickers, (oh and the half full clothes line) there is no washing to be folded or put away.  This my dear reader is like a giant leap forward for me.  With any luck I will be able to use this excitement to create some more momentum so as to ensure I keep on top of there dread battle for the rest of the week.

Fingers crossed and wish me luck

Photo credits here