Today the prompt is - 'A favourite photo of you'.

Now... it's very rare that anyone actually likes photos of themselves so I thought this would be hard - and it was...but in a different way than I thought!

I couldn't decide which one to use! Ha! Not that I am in love with myself or anything - most photos of me are fairly ordinary but, hey! that's me! I found that I did, in fact, have quite a few photos of me or with me in it! Which is something I am pleased about! I just didn't know which one was my 'favourite'. Every photo is linked to a particular memory and it's hard to choose a favourite!

Anyway I did decide on one.

I chose one that connects to a fond memory - just chillin and being silly with my kids.

They are memories that I hold dear and I love travelling back in time to fun moments like this!

And it makes me laugh!

And that is always a good thing ;-)

Do you like getting into photos? Or would you rather be the one taking photos?

I encourage you to try and get into some shots - your kids will appreciate seeing you present in the memories of life. And I like seeing myself - not necessary the way I look in the photo - but I like the fact that I am in some photos. It shows me that I am actually there and living life and making memories not just snapping away behind the camera!

Enjoy the rest of your day!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Hi lovelies!

I wanted to pop in and show you the latest mood board challenge released a few days ago created by the wonderful Mardi...

Such retro earthy goodness!

I was able to get this layout started at the Escape to Create retreat - by the way if you want to see a write up about my weekend away in March you can see it HERE on the Polka Dot Creative blog where I shared about my retreat experience!

When I was back home in Tassie earlier on in the year - I found a swatch of fabric PERFECT for this mood board and I have incorporated it into my background.

Let me show you my completed layout so you get the idea...

Since I used a fairly busy patterned paper, I used some gesso and swiped it onto the page on the area I would be placing my photo. It just lightens the background up a bit to let the photo area stand out more. I have also used paint swatches, washi tape, wood tape, stickers, flair, and other embellishments to tie in with the layout. I thought the black Amy Tangerine letters from the 'Plus One' range were a nice finish!

We have a very old ride-on lawn mower and every time Mr Awesome pulled it out, the kids - especially little one - wanted to ride on it with him. They thought it was a motorbike, hence renaming it the 'mower' bike ;-)

So, if you like this mood board and want to give it a go - head on over HERE to the Jot blog to find out more details and upload your work. You will see all the other team sample pages there too. Loads of inspiration as always :-)

Take care!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

A compliment.

It really is a lovely ray of verbal sunshine!

I was given a compliment by a stranger one day that really made my day and I don't think I will ever forget. They were words every mother just wants to hear.

Let me explain...

Every week, I have a town day. I drop my eldest off to school, organise myself abit more, and then get my little one in the car and head off for the trip to town - a little over an hour it takes us.

It usually starts off pretty well. Little K does grizzle a little bit for the first part of my errands but on a rare occasion she'll be rather amenable which makes it all a whole lot easier. However, I can safely say that EVERY time the part of the town trip that involves the supermarket, there is mayhem. Say the words 'time to do the groceries'...and a switch is flipped!!!!!

We enter the complex, and she wants to get on the car rides or whatever thing they have that moves ONLY if you put $2 in it! The answer is very regularly NO which does not go down well and we haven't even made it INTO the supermarket yet!

There is always an issue with the trolley - she wants to ride in it but not in the kids chair or she only wants to stand on the side so she can get off whenever she likes. 

Once in the shop, she generally wants to run around and grab everything. My answer to everything is NEVER right and I am rewarded with screeches.

My reaction to this now, is to simply ignore it. She isn't making herself clear exactly wants she wants and a tanty does not make me understand her any more. So I just get on with the job at hand - it is a whole lot harder to concentrate but she will eventually wear down and the cries need a little more effort to get out cos she just can't be bothered with it anymore! But for half the amount of aisles, the WHOLE shop is filled with the full volume (cos my little one does not know any other way than full throttle, bless her - grrumph) of my disgruntled child.

On this one particular occasion, I was in an aisle scanning the shelves for what I wanted...infinity decibels ringing in my ears pretending I couldn't actually hear them and probably looking completely calm when, in actual fact, inside a storm was a'ragin, I can tell you!!

A lady walked past and said to me above the racket - "You are doing an exceptional job! There is no way I could keep my head like you are right now!" And smiled a sweet, genuine smile.

They were the BEST words she could have said to me!

And it's not the only time it's happened. Many a time where she's screaming the place down, people have smiled, patted my shoulder, encouraged me, or have tried to pacify the child.

Where many could have scowled (where they would have only received a bigger scowl back cos I don't like it any more than the next person! pfft) or shook their heads, they chose to build up the haggard looking mother that in all honesty is just trying to do the best she can under the circumstances! 

It's these moments and type of compliments that will stick with me always.

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Write a Less/More list.

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Ok, so I have just written things off the top of my head; things I want less or more of personally in my own life and for my family, things I want less or more of in the world, and just more or less of things in general really.

Here's my list...

LESS stress/worry MORE freedom/fun

LESS talk MORE action

LESS tv time MORE imaginative play (indoors OR outdoors)

LESS debt MORE savings

LESS clutter MORE space

LESS disarray MORE organisation

LESS war MORE peace

LESS unfairness MORE justice

LESS sickness MORE health

LESS junk food MORE nutritious/healthy food

LESS doubting MORE believing

LESS fear MORE brave

LESS hate MORE love

LESS evil MORE good

LESS quantity MORE quality

LESS insecurity MORE faith

LESS doubting MORE believing

LESS planning MORE spontaneity

LESS ignorance MORE knowledge

LESS sad MORE happy

What do you want MORE or LESS of?

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

What's in my cup?

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I am predominantly a coffee drinker so more often than not, you'll find a coffee - STRONG, 1.5 sugars with soy milk - in my cup.

However...

I am trying to drink more tea - and a variety of it at that!

I find that I achieve this endeavour [of drinking more tea] in the colder months when I want to drink more hot drinks. I occasionally brew up a pot of green tea and sip away at cups of that throughout the day. 

For a supper drink, I often had a 'Madame Flavour' Chai Tea with soy milk sweetened with agave nectar. Since coming across the 'T2' brand of chai teas, I must say I have found my new fave. So you will find that in my cup of late, whether from a teabag or pot-brewed.

It is such a comforting drink!

I must note, though, that these cups of tea are optional and never replace my two cups of coffee a day - one in the morning and one at lunch. These are my staple hot drinks each day. That will never change ;-)

Other than that, I drink water!
Oh - and the occasional coke...for a treat ;-)

What's in your cup??

So here we go - 

the first day of the challenge from the blog, Love Happy Daily!

Today the prompt was about goals. And so I am going to talk about just that :-)

Why not start with a definition of goals - I love finding a description to put to a word :-)

goals

the aim or object towards which an endeavour is directed

synonyms - target; purpose; object; objective; intent; intention

OR

Thank you Pinterest for summing that up ;-)

So why do we set goals?

Well...

1. To figure out what we actually want.

I want ALOT of things in life, so narrowing them down on paper as a list - or however - is helpful!

2. To get motivated & take ACTION.

I think that by writing things down and seeing my goals listed on paper compels me to get moving and get things done!!

3. Keeps us focused.

A goals list is a great reminder of what you want to achieve. There is always a point of reference that can help you stay focused.

4. Promotes forward thinking and stops 'rut-dwelling'.

Sometimes you can fall into a bit of a life slump, basically ya get stuck-in-a-rut as they say...

and setting goals allows you to start thinking ahead and facilitates the moving forward.

5. To monitor progress & celebrate achievements.

Crossing something off a list is SUPER exciting and rewarding - POP the cork on that bubbly!! ;-)

Setting goals does not guarantee a smooth ride, there is bound to be hurdles and challenges to face but remember this...

Thanks Pinterest - again ;-)

So there is goal setting in a little nutshell for you, the way I like to describe and see it anyway.

So now I get a little more personal and share with you my top five goals that I am working towards for this year. 

You may have recalled a post earlier on in the year about me participating in One Little Word created by Ali Edwards. I love the concept of living under the banner of one chosen word for the year and it determines your yearly goals and aspirations and sets the course of your journey through the year. 

This year, you may remember, that my word is GROW!

And as part of that journey, I do still have goals that I want to reach.

Here they are:

1. Organise, De-Clutter & Simplify my home. (My life too, really)

2. Get more sleep. Set a daily routine that allows me to get to bed at a decent hour!

3. Live a more full and active life. Optimum health. Regular exercise. More fun family activities. 

4. Use TIME better. Prioritise. I need to find balance in my days, set routines, have daily goals (that are realistic - not bombarding myself with tasks and expectations that are too high). Know my limitations and don't exceed them (really do need to learn that one!!)

5. Be the best ME I can be! Always be REAL. Be confident. Be brave. Just be me.

A little slogan that keeps coming up for me this year is...

enjoy the journey

And that can be really hard to do. Especially when I am aching with pain and fatigue and feel completely devoid of energy. I feel unproductive and useless. 

Fibromyalgia sucks. And it makes me life more difficult BUT... 

I am a goer. I have ambition and goals I want to achieve - so I will NOT give up easily. These attacks are all just setbacks. It does not stop me from setting goals and wanting more from life. And it doesn't mean I can't still enjoy the journey. 

Even when I am feeling poorly and pain is present, I can look upon other things that are present in my life and be thankful for them -

My kids. My husband. This lovely house I live in. The fact the sun is shining.

I divert my thoughts to other, more positive things.

And, I pray. Being a woman of faith, I find prayer to be a powerful weapon. It helps me. Plain and simple.

So that's me and my goals.

Do you have a list of goals? How are they going for you?

I shall be back tomorrow so until then,

Take care! Enjoy the journey!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Hi there friends! 

I hope you are all happy and healthy and living life well.

I must confess that things have been a little 'off'' around here lately, health-wise and other wise just trying to settle in and get organised in our new place and town. Plus starting a new venture as agents for a business is something new therefore adding to our 'settling in' phase. 

But...

It's all good. We are enjoying our new house and are fitting in ok around this new little community.

Anyway, I have dropped in to let you all know about a special challenge I came across yesterday via Facebook. I saw a link to THIS blog post about blogging everyday in May - and felt I just had to join in.

Now, I know my blog is rather neglected - there has only been a speckling of posts done each month but it has always been my aim to blog more regularly SO I'm thinking this challenge is just what I need to give me that kick in the butt!

Ok, so even though I endeavour to get a post up everyday, I will be realistic and say right up front that there is a very high chance I might miss some here and there but I'm going to give it a red hot go!!

I figure that even if I get 3-5 done a week, that's more than what I'm doing now so it's an improvement and that's what I want to see :-)

The blog post includes prompts - I am liking the sound of most of these but I'm not sure I will follow it for every post...we'll see :-) 

If there is anything that YOU, as a reader of my blog here, would like to see me write about - PLEASE let me know by leaving a comment on this post or following One Big Sunshine Spritzer on Facebook and leaving a comment there. I would love to hear from you and know what you like reading about!

So, if you're a blogger, feel free to join in on this challenge. Or starting from tomorrow, please feel welcome to pop back here and see what I post everyday! I would LOVE your company!

See ya tomorrow!

Take care!

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna