Silent Sunday

Tuesday

it's been a funny old day here in the nest...it started off with a head massage* followed by a long natter with Mum -who had an appointment straight after me - and another stonking headache (result of the massage).

*due to years of abuse of my neck and shoulders...bad posture people, bad posture...I'm in a painful, stiff and creaky way at the moment. A month long headache (and muchly interupted sleep) led me to book a neck & shoulder massage with my friend Sue, which I then spoke about to another friend, Anna, who happens to a truly excellent osteopath. Cue appointment with Anna, an assessment and some 'deep tissue' manipulation and I have much improved movement...I can probably turn out of a junction in my motor now, without moving bodily to see in both directions. Today's massage was to keep on top of the situation and not let my muscles stiffen up too much...I will get this sorted!

Basically, I'm (you too perhaps?) terrible at looking after myself in that way. I'll happily fork out for good, healthy food, with happy chickens and organic produce here and there...I'll make sure my walk to school and back is a good old stomp to get my heart going...I'll have regular hair appointments etc but when it comes to something as simple as bad posture...tut tut tut. I sit at a keyboard and screen two days a week when in Management Accountant mode, and at a desk hunched over a drawing/some sewing etc when in Ditsy Bird mode, a slob on the sofa at the end of the night, or lounge against pillows when reading in bed = I rarely sit up straight = sooooo not good for me. I mean, Anna had to massage my front neck muscles - I didn't even know that was possible! I thought I'd got sore glands but no, sore (oh so sore) neck muscles. I know. Or rather, I didn't know.

For years I've been joking about how I could do with a full body MOT but had never actually thought about how I could go about that. You see, I've always seen massages as a bit of a luxury...more of a treat than a treatment. I now know better of course and will be having regular, preventative, ones going forward.

Hmm this wasn't intended to be a 'look after yourselves people, sit up straight, stretch and give those muscles a rub once in a while' post. But hey diddly ho ;)

Anyhoo...headache under control and finances addressed, I realised that the funds I'd hoped I'd be able to buy myself a beautiful, shiny, brand new DSLR no longer existed. Hmph.

But last night, whilst twitting on Twitter, I remembered some amazing photos a pal had posted using a special lense for his iPhone, no less! A quick chat later, and a bit of web browsing this aft on Photojojo's store, and I have ordered these and this in the hope, that they + the camera on my iPhone 4s will suffice for some fairly decent product shots...

I was sorely tempted by this but will have to see how the lenses go and perhaps invest at a later date. There are so many very cool things on the site, but I had to resist my 'by them all!!!!' urge - I will report back on how I fair with my lenses and tripod attacher doobery wotsit. Hurry post people...hurry!

That's it then really, we're right up to date and now I have to go get my delicious wee chap from Dodge Ball club.

here's a piccie of a card I made for a friends birthday...the Indian Leaf is a magnet :)

TTFN
x

streamlining

good Monday morning folks! what have you got planned today?
I'm trying to get a little more streamlined in my business, as well as everyday, life.
So today is all about getting address labels, thank you notes, return address labels and gift cards etc. ready to go...all in folders on my packaging shelf

leafy heart address label

As mundane a task as it is, I am taking my time about it...and putting my own slant on it - this way, posting out orders (hopefully) won't seem like the chore it currently is (where did I put the tissue paper?), aaand they will reflect me and my design style.


I've drawn some basic designs/shapes and have then scanned, resized and printed these onto various papers...plain white for thank you's, self adhesive for packaging labels and textured card for gift tags.

busy bee doodled address label/gift tag

I'm hoping to get a but more stream-lined in everyday life too - getting birthday cards & gifts bought well in advance...I've had one of those card holder dooberries for yonks. I think this year I may finally use it & stick the cards in the relevant month and away we go. I just have to remember to look in the card holder dooberry ;)


There are so many other streamlinery things I could do I suppose. I did make a start last year by creating:
• a gift wrap drawer
• a present drawer
• a card drawer (it was never very organised though...plenty for 'cousin' when in desperate need for 'Auntie')
• a letter writing, cheque writing don't-forget-school-dinner-money type drawer
I can honestly say that they did genuinely help!


I'm still in the midst of the coat/studio/man's room sort...so when that's done and we have organised book & filing shelves, there will be no stopping me! Honest guvnor.

twiggy circle tag/label

Anyone else trying to get a bit more streamlined for this shiny new year?
x


PS sorry for the yukky grey photos - it is so very damp and dingy up North today & I haven't managed to get my daylight lamps all plugged in since the change around

it's a brand new year

well hello there and how is 2012 treating you thus far?


it's alright isn't it? a bit on the damp side but hey, we'll be glad of it when the sun shines on our green and pleasant land again, no? why, yes we will.


sooo what's been occurring in the Ditsy Bird nest...it's been a busy old Christmas, and one full of ~
family & friends; epic hide n seek fests (ace, just ace!); delicious meals; 3 curries in a week (never again tho); a trip to the iMax; lots of lovely gifts made, given & received; pyjama days; twinkly lights; fun and love. Lots of love.


but now I seem have developed itchy, move-furniture-around-and-rearrange-my-nest fingers! ha
tis ace!


I've nearly finished rearranging my studio/workroom/thespareroom & it now has a work table and a laptop/photographing table. two tables. oh yeah..chickity check me out and my fancy ways ;)
this then lead on to my rearranging the study downstairs prompted by a couple of comments by crimbo visitors, saying that it was Paul's room
so I thought...why not?


it has a bureau avec desktop, a huge bookcase so that's a good start
sadly the g't wonky coat rack will have to go, as will the sweaty pongy shoes (the boys', not mine...I'm a laaaady)


so that has knocked on to my shifting (just now in fact) the bookcase on the bottom stairs, up to the very top landing...in order to make room for some space saving, sort your ruddy coats out (my name is Paul and I am a coat addict - is a there a Coats Anonymous??? hmmm) coat hooks down there - thus ridding the Man's room of outdoor attire
I stole the extra table from the study*, clearing room for a comfy armchair for said Man to sit in and be manly and aloooown and read his book (who am I kidding) iPad


sooooo, all we need now are the afore-mentioned coat hooks and a shoe cupboardy rack thing
oh, and an armchair
but there were whisperings by his pa of their getting shot of their super snug and snazzy chair
hmmm


there's much hmmm-ing afoot tonight


as my lovely friend Karen put it...I think you may have dropped in on one of my meandering thoughts - I like that, it makes me happy to meander some more :) 
x


*this may not go down too well
but...it did have my work laptop & mega screen (which I'm looking at now in my own dandy little room) so that's a good thing that that's gone isn't it?!?! oh yes I think so
hmmm


ooh this post is entirely devoid of pictures...

dada! a little example of handmade tags for pressies