2017 Is Here

Facebook has been overflowing with people wishing 2016 would fuck off and now it has.... thanks to a wonderful thing called time.

2016 had a lot of highs and lows for everyone.

In 2016 we celebrated Audrey's 1st birthday. Something I still haven't blogged about because I'm super slack. Audrey's birthday gave me an excuse to get creative. I worked on my baking skills and did things I've never done before with icing. I had a lot of fun (though it was stressful at times) planning and preparing for her fiesta.

Audrey also had lots of development milestones including walking, first words and first shit in the bath. I turned 30 which I don't think is all that exciting but other people seem to think so.

Both BJ and I had a lot of work stress that weighed us down and took it toll. BJ also had a car accident and we ALL got gastro... fun times!!

But I decided the first week into 2017 that 2017 of the year for me!

This year I'm making time for me, doing things for me, and putting myself first a bit more.

As of February Audrey will be going to child care 3 days a week. I'm separating work days and 'mum' days. As 2016 went on and Audrey grew I found it harder and harder to juggle everything and my mental state at times were pretty bad. I didn't have a way to escape. The decision to send her to childcare for three days a week was not easy for me. It involved a pro's and con's list and a lot of tears.

At first, I felt like I was being selfish, I was a bad mum. But then I realised that it will make me a better mum. Because on the days that she is home I will actually take off my work hat and just be a mum, which is something I've not been able to do since she was born. I've always had to just wear all the hats and hope they don't fall.

In my days without Audrey, I am going to make some time for me. Not just for appointments or food shopping but to do things that make me happy like bake and craft.

I generally don't bother setting goals for a year because I find they never get achieved but this year I've decided to do a few monthly challenges starting this month we a 30-day challenge to learn the techniques needed to be able to do calligraphy. I'm on day two (because I started late) and I love that I have something that requires me to shut my brain off, put down my phone, look away from screens, grab a pen and just go for it.

I've also decided that I'm going to look after myself physically, not just mentally. I'm going to spend more time strengthing my core to reduce my constant back problems which will again help me to become a better mum.

Some other things I would like to achieve this year are more family adventures and a little family holiday somewhere. I'm also going to push BJ a little more to look after himself and take some time to spend with his mates and write more often.

I would love to say that Fork This is going to get back to its regular weekly postings but honestly, it's just one of those things that got a little too hard. The episodes will hopefully continue to be uploaded as often as we can.

I'm also looking forward to blogging more frequently. I enjoy doing this. I do it for me. I honestly don't think anyone really reads it or cares but it makes me feel good so I'm going to keep doing it until I don't enjoy it anymore.

xx
Smorgy

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Goodbye 2012...

Well here we are again... Another year about to come to an end.

2012 has been a HUGE year for me and even though there have been some down moments mostly it's been a great year.

The year started off perfectly with BJ and I moving into our house. We've spent the year doing little home improvements and really making it our own.

And we ended this year getting engaged. After 7 wonderful years together we are both very excited to be getting married... in 2013!!!

I've finally let go off stressing about my work as our office is doing the best it's ever done and that is all thanks to our amazing team. I don't mind that i've had to go in and do what a few times over my Christmas holidays as it just means that things aren't going to slow down for us - Which is great news.

I havent blogged as much as i'd hoped to, or stuck to a lot of my goals this year but i am going to make up for all that in 2013. I'm motivated more then every to get healthy, get crafty and get bloggin'.

And now in no particular order here are some awesome things that i've seen and hear this year...


Awesome movies I've seen this year:
The Avengers
Take Shelter
The Muppets
Moonrise Kingdom
The Perks of Being a Wallflower


Awesome albums I've heard this year:
Jack White - Blunderbuss
Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
The Black Keys - El Camino
Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeroes - Here
Bon Iver - Bon Iver


Awesome TV I've watched:
Breaking Bad
AMC's The Walking Dead
Game Of Thrones
Mad Men
Treme
(And honorable mention to Boardwalk Empire... I could keep listing because there has been some AWESOME TV this year)


Favourite Fork This episode for 2012:

2013 is going to be a great year for us and I cant wait to share it all on here. 

xx

Smorgy

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Fork This 62 - A Flashback To The Dinosaur Age

This weekend BJ and i went away to Rosebud to celebrate our 7th Anniversary (Wow!).

We spent all day Saturday at the Peninsula Hot Springs and had a lovely relaxing day, followed by a beautiful Thai dinner. Sunday we did some wondering around some vintage and op shops and grabbed lunch before heading back to pick up the boy. We had planned to film some stuff this weekend but decided instead to just enjoy our weekend.

So we put together this video instead... A classic!

xx

Smorgy

PS: This was the moon Saturday night... It was HUGE!!

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2012 So Far

I've had a very busy year so far and right now i am officially on holidays for a WHOLE week.

On top of maintaining (and recently re-designing) this blog, my partner and I have bought a house, moved out of our family homes and started living on our own for the first time. I also work a full time job. My title (recently self-promoted) is Office Administrator. I do SOO much in my office, most offices would hire two or three to do the work I do. This puts a lot of pressure and strain on me daily and to finally have a small break to collect myself and focus on some other things is something I'm so excited about. 

This post is to just re-visit some of the things i've created and worked on this year so far. I'm really happy with how things are going. I feel like I'm improving in my blogging skills and I plan to spend some time this week in my craft room, getting inspired and creative.

xx

Smorgy

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Fork This 52 - ONE YEAR!

Today marks one year of us doing our video podcast 'Fork This'.
We have had so much fun doing it and hope that you've all enjoyed watching it.

To celebrate this milestone we weren't quiet sure what to do for the episode so we went hunting through our old videos to see what we could find.

Enjoy

xx
Smorgy

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Fork This - Episode 32

Cheesy clip show to wrap up 2011

Fork This 32 - 2011: Some Extras from BJ Carter on Vimeo.

xx
Smorgy Pin It

Cleaning out my closet

Wow! Christmas is almost hear which means New Years is just around the corner and then... We get OUR HOUSE!

It's all coming around super fast and with how this year has gone for me I'm planning to do everything i can to make sure 2012 starts off great and continues to be a fantastic year without any worries.

So between Christmas and New Years, while i have some time off I'm going to be Eminem'ing it and Cleaning out the closet that is my life.

 I DO actually need to clean out my physical closet to because it's sooo full of crap and i need to sort through it all and pack for the move. But I'll also be cleaning out anything else i can think of.

My Facebook is going to get another cull/clean up. Get rid of all those people that were accepted as friends but have not once spoken to since that day and have no desire to speak to them in the future.
The people from my past... from school... who i haven't seen since then and maybe once in a blue moon they'll send me a message or invite me to a group event (which is usually just to tell people that they've got a new phone number).

I'm getting rid of them all. Why be a 'Facebook friend' with someone you aren't actually friends with?!
Would you invite them out for your birthday? Have you planned to hang out with them in any way since accepting them as a friend? Would you invite them to your housewarming?... No.... Then why are they 'friends'?

I'm getting rid of all the negative. All the stuff that gets in my way, and brings me down. All the stuff that makes me feel unhappy or worthless.

I'm getting rid of old clothes that i put aside because 'one day they might fit me again' or 'even though i split something on that top and it stained it was still super cute and i just cant throw it away'.

2012 is a HUGE year for me. Moving out of home, Taking on a mortgage, Being responsible for soo much more. I need to go into 2012 feeling positive and in control.

If you can see past all that hair... That's BJ... The man i love. The man I've bought a house with and have every intention to spend the rest of my life with. I'm doing this all for us. So that we can both have the best 2012.

Some of you may know... I'm one of those people that needs to have a plan. Needs to know what's going on. I have lists for everything. If something goes wrong with my plan, i can become that crazy person crying in the corner. Moving is going to stress me like nothing else. And I'm trying to a stress-less 2012.

Now don't get me wrong... 2011 was a good year. BJ and I went on a family cruise which was awesome fun, we've gone to see some great concerts and gigs, We bought our house and started buying furniture and other items we need for it. But there are been a lot of shit that came with this year too.

There was a pretty shitty few months early on. Which sent me into a seriously depressed state... Then there was that long road of hard work and medication to get me to where i am today.
Just thinking about that period of time gets me quiet emotional and teary because i fear becoming that person again. But I'm not going to let that happen.

So bring on 2012... Bring on the house and the bills and the cooking and cleaning up after ourselves. Bring on the freedom of living in my own house, being able to paint the walls and hang up posters and play music as loud as i want.

Bring on positive thinking and relaxing more and not getting upset if something doesn't go exactly to plan. Bring on spending everyday with BJ and Cooper, Cooking together every night, Shopping for food, recording Fork This (without interruptions), Having people over to hang out, cuddling up on the couch to watch a movie. Bring on having my own crafting space, being able to leave projects out to work on as i please.

2012 is my year... The year of Smorgy! My year of happiness and joy.
And I'm NOT going to let anything change that.

Let the countdown begin

xx
Smorgy Pin It