My KonMari Journey: KOMONO: KITCHEN - EATING


Welcome to 'My KonMari Journey' series. Over the next few months I will be sharing my progress, as I make my way through the KonMari Method, based on the best-seller book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up' by Japanese organising enthusiast, Marie Kondo.

Today I am sharing - KOMONO: Kitchen - Eating 
13

Taking Stock - March 2016 (Week 13)


Welcome to my third 'Taking Stock' for 2016. In case you missed it, here's January & February
Full credit to Pip from Meet Me At Mike, who is the mastermind behind it all. This is something I have done since I started blogging and will continue this year. You can read my previous Taking Stock posts HERE. In a nutshell, it's simply taking a step back and 'taking stock' of what's currently happening in our lives. I am going to dedicate the last Sunday of every month to a Taking Stock post, instead of a 'Currently' post.

Here's what's been happening in the month of MARCH...


Making: an Easter Craft Box for the kids. They are having so much fun getting their 'craft on' this weekend.

Cooking: Baking: Hot Cross Buns! 

Drinking: Hot Chocolate from McCafe - a lovely Mother/Daughter date before we had to pick up Master M.



Reading: SPARK JOY! Marie Kondo's second book, following her bestseller 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up'. 'Spark Joy' goes into more detail and shows illustrations of how to fold clothes and organise your items. I am loving it so far. Have you read it? You can read all my previous KonMari posts HERE.





Wanting: to take my kids back 'home' to my Nan & Papa's farm, now it belongs to my Uncle. They had such an awesome time and my son was definitely in his element being out in the open spaces and Miss B loved the creek (just like I did when I was her age). We have made plans with my cousin to return in the School Holidays! Can't wait! 




Looking: forward to the School Holidays! 

Playing: around with SnapChat! I've caught the SnapChat bug...are you on it? You can follow me @Charlene_TTMN 

Wishing: I didn't wait so long to see my extended family. I've missed them so much. It was nice to re-connect.

Celebrating: Miss B's 11th Birthday and Master M's 2nd Birthday with friends and family. Party photos coming soon. 

Enjoying: family time, oh and eating chocolate! 

Liking: the 5-day Easter weekend! It's all about whānau! (family) 

Wondering: if my Nan and Papa are proud of me and the person I have become. 

Loving: the sound of Te Reo Māori (Maori language) being spoken. It's such a beautiful language.

Master M had his second hair cut last week. So handsome. 

Considering: getting photos printed and updating our family photo frame in the lounge. Watch this space.

Buying: A couple of ponchos and a puffer jacket - ready for the cold, Winter months. 

Watching: Hop today with my kids - An Easter favourite! 


Hoping: to finish my KonMari Journey soon. Saving the best (and hardest) until last...teacher resources & Sentimental items. I can see the light. Once I have finished purging my stuff. I will be starting on the kids items...following the same method. Watch this space for more KonMari goodness.

Needing: to upload Master M's birthday photos on to my computer so I can share them with you!

Questioning: Who voted to change our New Zealand flag? 

Following: Janine's YouTube channel at A Young Mum

Noticing: how much my girl has grown! This is the Miss B a lot of my family and friends remember - She was about 2 1/2 - 3 years old in this photo.



Knowing: I am a very lucky person to have such amazing people in my life! Thank you all!

Thinking: of my Nan & Papa! I miss them both so much.

Admiring: one of my high school friends, who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her positive attitude blows me away! I am so proud of her.  

Sorting: photos on my laptop! It's a massive job, especially when you have A LOT like me.

Getting: our home ready for Easter with some KMart goodies. My photo was featured on @get_inspired IG! Totally made my day!




Bookmarking: blogging tips! I am always wanting to learn new things and ways I can improve my blog. I love blogging, and if I want to continue I need to take pride of the space I have in the web! Is there anything that YOU would like to see more of/less of on Teacher by trade, Mother by nature?
Get in touch

Coveting: a new car! We are currently on the look out for a new family car...oh the decisions!

Giggling: at some of the features on SnapChat! It's so much fun! I have definitely been missing out! 

Feeling: emotional after yesterday.

Snacking: on Easter Eggs!

Helping: the kids open their Easter treats...They each got a winter pjs and a boxed egg from us and some Easter Eggs/Bunnies from Nana & Papa. No doubt they will get more when we visit my partners' family for Easter Monday Lunch.

I hope your Easter has been a good one.


********

Now it's YOUR turn...
Tell me, what's happening in YOUR world? How was MARCH for you? 
Choose three words from the list and 'take stock' in the comments below. 

Until next time, have a wonderful week/month ahead!

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Friday Favourites: Sharing the Blog Love 8


Happy Friday & Happy Easter!
Welcome to our eighth 'Friday Favourites' - a weekly link up party. Linky parties are a great opportunity for bloggers to get together and have a 'party', sharing their favourite, best or most recent posts from their blogs. Whether you are a blogger or a reader, it's the perfect place where you can make new friends, read some new blogs, and share the blog love. I am excited to be collaborating with some of my favourite bloggers - Lisa (Lisasaurus), Jodine (Misses Mac), and Maria (Happy Mum, Happy Child) - each blogger bringing something new and fun to the party!
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Happy Easter 2016


HAPPY EASTER! I wanted to pop by and wish you all a Happy Easter and I hope you have an amazing weekend with friends and loved ones. Let me know what your plans are? or if you have any family traditions? You can leave a comment below or join me on Facebook.

Originally, I was planning on taking a break this week from Friday Favourites, however I didn't want to miss out on the blog sharing love (total FOMO moment), so my post will go LIVE at 8pm tonight (Friday 25th March, NZ time). The link up is open until Sunday 8pm (NZ time), so be sure to casually pop in over the weekend and share the blog love.

Have a fabulous weekend & Happy Easter to you and your family.
x
Charlene

Here's a couple of my favourite Easter related posts...Enjoy!







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My KonMari Journey: KOMONO - Household Supplies


Welcome to 'My KonMari Journey' series. Over the next few months I will be sharing my progress, as I make my way through the KonMari Method, based on the best-seller book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up' by Japanese organising enthusiast, Marie Kondo.

Today I am sharing - Household Supplies
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Sunday Share: Currently - Week 12


******
Sunday Share is where I get to share extra tidbits of my Life, Home & Family with you, and let you know what I'm currently doing on and off the blog. It's also a great way to get to know me, Charlene, the blogger behind Teacher by trade, Mother by nature. If there is anything you would like to see or read more of on Sunday Share, let me know.

If you are new to my blog, WELCOME! You can read more about me and my blog HERE and read previous Sunday Share* posts HERE. And if you like what you see and read - Don't Miss A Post & Subscribe Today!

Here's what I've been Currently up to...

Reading: my fave parenting magazine, OHbaby, with my son. He likes pointing to all the babies.



Admiring: the view from the school I work at. We live in such a beautiful place. Truly blessed. Aoteraoa - The Land of the Long White Cloud.

Making: up an Easter Craft Box for my kids. They are going to love getting their 'craft on'!


Eating: Hot Cross Buns! What is your favourite? Traditional? Fruitless? Chocolate? and I even heard there was a Mocha one!


Organising: our Playcentre photos! This is going to make things so much easier when we go to print our photos. I wish my own photos were this organised, at the moment they are organised by Year and by Month.


Loving: the backdrop of this Playcentre I visited earlier in the week. It is absolutely stunning! I am really enjoying visiting a different Playcentre each week to get some inspiration for our own centre. Speaking of which, we had five new families visit this week - which is amazing! We are slowly but surely growing our little community.
 

Now it's YOUR turn! 
Tell me what you have been up too - what have I missed? 

What are you currently reading? 
Do you do any Easter crafts with your children? 
Are you a fan of Hot Cross Buns? What is your favourite? 
How do you organise your photos? 
Are you a PlayCentre parent? or have you ever attended PlayCentre? 

Until next time, have a wonderful week!
Charlene


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Friday Favourites: Sharing the Blog Love 7



Happy Friday!
Welcome to our seventh 'Friday Favourites' - a weekly link up party. Linky parties are a great opportunity for bloggers to get together and have a 'party', sharing their favourite, best or most recent posts from their blogs. Whether you are a blogger or a reader, it's the perfect place where you can make new friends, read some new blogs, and share the blog love. I am excited to be collaborating with some of my favourite bloggers - Lisa (Lisasaurus), Jodine (Misses Mac), and Maria (Happy Mum, Happy Child) - each blogger bringing something new and fun to the party!
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Fun for Kids: An Easter Craft Box


Last year I created  'A Christmas Craft Box' for my kids and it was a hit - keeping them busy during the Christmas holidays. Everything they needed was in this little box. So I have decided to do the same for Easter and make An Easter Craft Box. 
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My KonMari Journey: KOMONO - Household Equipment: Craft Supplies


Welcome to 'My KonMari Journey' series. Over the next few months I will be sharing my progress, as I make my way through the KonMari Method, based on the best-seller book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up' by Japanese organising enthusiast, Marie Kondo.

Today I am sharing - Household Equipment: Craft Supplies
16

Sunday Share: Currently - Week 11


Hi all, I am BACK! Woohoo! Slowly getting back into my blogging routine - I have so much to share with you all. I wish I could share it all at once...but there isn't enough time in the day and I have other commitments I need to think about, so watch this space or simply Subscribe to my blog (Each post or Weekly Newsletter) - sign up forms are below, and don't miss a post.

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Friday Favourites: Sharing the Blog Love 6



Happy Friday!
Welcome to our sixth 'Friday Favourites' - a weekly link up party. Linky parties are a great opportunity for bloggers to get together and have a 'party', sharing their favourite, best or most recent posts from their blogs. Whether you are a blogger or a reader, it's the perfect place where you can make new friends, read some new blogs, and share the blog love. I am excited to be collaborating with some of my favourite bloggers - Lisa (Lisasaurus), Jodine (Misses Mac), and Maria (Happy Mum, Happy Child) - each blogger bringing something new and fun to the party!
1

Sunday Share: Currently - Week 10



Hi there!
First of all, I have to apologise for the lateness of my 'Sunday Share' post. With all the birthday planning, organising and celebrating this past week/weekend, I didn't get a chance to click PUBLISH on my Sunday Share post, until now - because I wanted to include a few birthday photos (of Master M). So, today I am sharing a 'Mid-Week' Currently post, however I am only sharing photos up until Sunday 6th March...and on Sunday (13th March), I will share photos from this 'current' week (hope that makes sense).

I hope you are all well, and have had a fabulous week/weekend with loved ones...and that you are having an amazing day today!

Chat soon,
Charlene
*******

Sunday Share is where I get to share extra tidbits of my Life, Home & Family with you, and let you know what I'm currently doing on and off the blog. It's also a great way to get to know me, Charlene, the blogger behind Teacher by trade, Mother by nature. If there is anything you would like to see or read more of on Sunday Share, let me know.

If you are new to my blog, WELCOME! You can read more about me and my blog HERE and read previous Sunday Share* posts HERE. And if you like what you see and read - Don't Miss A Post & Subscribe Today!

Here's what I've been Currently up to...

Cleaning: my kitchen (in fact, I spent my only child-free day cleaning my WHOLE house - from top to bottom!


Making: a photo display, showing monthly photos of Master M (from 13 months - 24 months). I did the same for his first birthday too.

Sorting: through this CHAOS!! I KonMari'd my Stationery. See the full details and more photos HERE.

& Coming Soon to the blog - CRAFT SUPPLIES (Watch this space)

Enjoying: a bit of gardening with Master M - getting a house & yard all nice and ready for our visitors.

Building: a play kitchen for Master M's birthday. It took me two hours - feeling pretty proud of myself actually!

Receiving: a 'Birthday' Certificate from Playcentre was pretty cool! - A great way to kick-start the birthday weekend!

And finally...
CELEBRATING: Master M's 2nd Birthday! (I will be sharing photos of his 'Construction' Party soon - so watch this space.). Happy Birthday Master M!



- His presents were all wrapped up in some of the 'construction' themed decorations I bought a few weeks back! He LOVED waking up to this! And then there were a few little pressies in the cupboards of the play kitchen.

- Fast asleep...the last photo of him as a '1 year old' (tear)

- gave my followers a sneak peek of the party favours I made.


- THE CAKE -  This was a HUGE hit! Master M absolutely LOVED it! Like I said above, I will be sharing more photos of his 'Construction' Party soon on the blog. 

Now it's YOUR turn! 
Tell me what you have been up too - what have I missed? 

Have you celebrated any birthdays this week? 
Do you bake birthday cakes or buy them (and then decorate them?)
What do you enjoy doing the most? 

Until next time, have a wonderful week!
Charlene


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11

Friday Favourites: Sharing the Blog Love 5



Happy Friday!
Welcome to our fifth 'Friday Favourites' - a weekly link up party. Linky parties are a great opportunity for bloggers to get together and have a 'party', sharing their favourite, best or most recent posts from their blogs. Whether you are a blogger or a reader, it's the perfect place where you can make new friends, read some new blogs, and share the blog love. I am excited to be collaborating with some of my favourite bloggers - Lisa (Lisasaurus), Jodine (Misses Mac), and Maria (Happy Mum, Happy Child) - each blogger bringing something new and fun to the party!

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who has linked up with us so far - You are all amazing.  And if you are new to our link up party - WELCOME - If you like what you see and read, please share the blog love by: commenting, subscribing, following bloggers on Social Media, and sharing your favourites on Facebook, Twitter, and/or pinning to Pinterest. Be sure to come back each week and link up with us every Friday night 8pm (NZ time)...we would love to 'party' with you.

It's Friday so... "Let's get the party started!"

To kick things off, here are some of my favourite reads from the week...Enjoy!

1.  Claire from Girl On A Mission had me laughing out loud with her post, Yes I am Pregnant, and No I don't care for your dumb questions. It was also one of our most-clicked posts! Definitely worth a read!




2. Another popular post was Kylie Haack's Advice from Real Mothers. - If you are a new Mum, pregnant or planning to be soon...this is a great post with some awesome advice, from Mums who have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of Motherhood!

3. Snippet: "People say you need to talk or reach out for help. But unless you have had PND or any form of Depression, you don’t want help. You don’t want people in your space or in your face. You just want to get on with life and learn to smile again." A powerful and inspiring post about Post Natal Depression by Izzy and Pea. *A Must Read*

4.  I have bookmarked Grillo Design's post -  Ikea Pax Drawer Under the Bed Toy Storage, have you?  It's such a great idea! While you are there, be sure to check out her AMAZING kitchen. I was lucky to have Medina as a guest on my blog last year and her post DIY Tool Bench is still popular today. 

and recently on Teacher by trade, Mother by nature...I have been a bit quiet on the blog this week, only sharing my Taking Stock - February I have been busy planning and organising my kids birthdays. We are having a party on Sunday morning with friends, then a BBQ dinner in the afternoon with our family. Be sure to follow me on Social Media to see snapshots of the celebrations as they occur over the weekend. One more sleep until my son is TWO and four more sleeps 'til Miss B is 11! Eek

Now it's your turn...
Link up your Favourite, Best or Most Recent post from the past week or of all time, it's totally up to you. And if you get a chance, pop around and share the blog love with the other awesome linkers. The 'Friday Favourites' party kicks off every Friday night at 8pm (NZ time) and the link up will close on Sunday night at 8pm. 

You can link up here or over on Lisa's blog (Lisasaurus), Jodine's blog (Misses Mac), or Maria's blog (Happy Mum, Happy Child). Where ever you link up, it will show in all 4 places, how cool is that? A link back to us on your post is appreciated. You can grab our button below.

Please note: 
  • Any Giveaways will be removed
  • Link up a blog post, not your blog URL.
  • Share the blog love: Comment on at least 1-2 other blogs.  

Did you get asked 'dumb' questions when you were pregnant? 
What advice would you give first time Mums? 
What do you do if you are feeling low?
How was February for you? 

Have a fabulous weekend, and I hope you enjoy reading some amazing blogs, I know I will!
Charlene








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