Brush rolls - my lastest love for twitter

Just a follow up on the brush rolls. Here are two of my favourites I have in the etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/runawaywombat. I hope you like them. More on the way.

Once a upon a time - weight loss - New plan for exercise

I woke up this morning and thought how can I keep losing these last pesky kilos. And the answer is more exercise. A structured plan so I can keep moving and hopefully keep ahead of the calorie intake.

You are probably thinking. Boy, she really thinks a lot about plans and exercise and new plans and calories. Well, you are right. But with out all these actions I would not have arrived to this stage where I feel healthier, I look healthier and I feel stronger and better about myself.

Every little change made in my head I have seen in my body and what it is capable of doing. Motivation is the key and I will continue to keep coming up with new ideas, as silly as they may seem to keep pushing forward. And I have a new one. of course I do.

Dancing. Yes I know what you are thinking. But lets just think about what you are doing. The body is constantly moving for a period of time. Now, that's got to be good. My plan is to dance for 15 minutes twice a day. Now, 8 months ago with my back in the condition it was in, I was lucky to walk and sit for short periods at a time. So, to be even contemplating this, is amazing. With adding the gym work as well to this hopefully I will be able to lose the last few kilos.

I'm not going for any style of dance. Just 15 minutes of dancing to my CDs. Should be interesting and something for the family to talk about. Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss - the limits are being pushed

What a great work out I had today. It's amazing how the trainer really pushes you and how much harder you work. My balance has improved but the trainer then introduces a harder version of what am able to do, and pushes me to a new level of fitness.

I really thought I would hate this whole gym thing but I'm now starting to see some familiar faces and have a chat here and there. Oh Dear I may even make some friends out of this. (lol) You never know if you never have a go.

So, all in all, I'm really happy with all the gym work and the back and other complaints are better, now not gone, but better.

I have started to make a meal plan but if you are following me on tweeter I have good times and bad. But at least I am making an effort. The trainer did say a kilo a month. Now that doesn't seem like much but the key is to keep it off and to stay off. Which, at this point I have done. I'm seeing 69 more regularly on the scales and the goal is to get to 68kgs. Will keep you posted.

life in general- update

As I have joined twitter, I have been consumed with trying to keep up to date with my day to day life by tweettering. So, sorry, I haven't posted lately. If you have been reading my tweets I'm going to try a menu plan to lose the final kilos.

I'm happy with how the gym and personal trainer is helping me get stronger and fitter. Now it's about losing the stomach and that is about it. I have about 8 kilos to go. And in some way, they are the hardest to lose. Keeping the interest is hard but I have made myself a promise and don't forget the New Years resolution.

I will keep it and get there, it's just a matter of when. So, if you wish to follow me on tweeter to see what I'm up to in day to day life come and join on runawaywombat.

On the work front a new brush roll is on the way in the next few days. Will keep you posted.

Apron mini in pale lime green 'retro chic'

Just letting you know there is a new listing for the pale lime green apron in a mini style on http://www.etsy.com/shop/runawaywombat. This apron with polka dots is such a chic and stylish look for every woman. This style of hostess apron, I think, really embraces the cooking experience with a feminine touch. Here is the background story and pictures for you.

Background Story.
I love the polka dot patterns and it’s retro chic look. This material looks stylish in any color and on this listing I have the pale lime green and of course with the white polka dots. There is really no nostalgic feeling here just a love of a stylish retro and fashionable looking apron. The organic colour cotton heading tape combines beautifully with the flow of polka dots and doesn’t take away from this beautiful material. This apron in this material also comes in a vibrant purple colour on a separate listing.

vegie patch - organic at it's best

If you have ever wondered about a vegetable patch. Try radishes to start with. Easy to plant from seed and will produce a crop in about 5 to 6 weeks.

I know they are not to everyone taste but if you are after success in this area to build a little confidence, this is the vegie to try. I must admit,I never really like them myself but when it's from your own garden it's worth having a taste. Great in salads.

Brush rolls - it ticks all the boxes

As you have probably guessed by now I do love making the brush rolls. This item embodies all the qualities in an item I love. These rolls can be made in any material, in any colour or combination of design, they are very practical and provide an organization to many cosmetic brushes. And yes, this item can be washed and kept clean, which I think is very important, with this item. Here are the pictures.

Get with the times- on twitter now

Well, I did it, I'm on twitter. Don't laugh. I'll keep you up dated on the fitness journey and motherhood in general. New aprons on the way and brush rolls. Will post and list them soon. On the cooking front we went Mexican tacos tonight made at home, with Singapore noodles with salad. I know a mixture of textures but delicious. Will keep you posted.

Brush rolls - my lastest love 2

Here is another brush roll completed and listed on etsy.com. I love the bright hot pink material. Pink says it all. I hope you love this combination. Leave me a comment. Would love to hear what you think. Will keep you posted.

Brush rolls - the love continues

Here is the latest brush roll I have made and is now available on Etsy.com/runawaywombat. I love the vintage inspired material with the retro striking button.

I hope to create a collection of brush rolls which will be different and striking. I'm always thinking of something to add and if there is anyone who is after something similar but in a different material, I'm always happy to help out.

If you wish to see more just click on to the etsy mini on the side bar and it will take you there. I have more coming and hope you enjoy the new collection. Why not leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss - the limits are being pushed

Just back from the gym, tired but refreshed. I weighted myself this morning and the scales read 70.6kg. After breakfast and gym work it read 69.5kg. The thing about the weighing for me is that it's the pat on the back for when the weight goes down and a constant reminder to do better tomorrow if it goes up.

The great thing about this session was that I was able to push myself on the X -trainer to L3 and the speed from 4 to 7.5. So I hope I can burn more calories. Back permitting. So I am making progress. Of course, all that will go down the drain if I eat badly today. So my mission is to have a salad sandwich and I hope I make better choices at dinner. It is always hard when cooking for the family but I'm still trying to work that one out.

With everything in my life it is about a balance whether it is food, health or exercise. I am getting better at it but I am still learning. Will keep you posted.

Plum cake made - Here is the results

The blood plum cake was made and tasted. It was nice however it did have a syrup made from sugar, water and lemon juice which I didn't make. This would have made the cake fabulous when added to the cake at the end.

But I am trying, oh so trying, to loose the weight so I didn't add it. This cake really has potential for variations to it. I thought of adding uncooked apple and mixing it thought the cake mix with the blood plums for colour and texture to the cake.

I was pleasantly surprised and will be making this cake again. I always try what I cook, you know, a girl has got to eat, and by the way it was cake and cream. Having said that, I'm now going to the gym now to burn it off.

If you are wondering why there is no picture of a whole cake, I was cutting, serving and eating before I remembered I had not taken a picture. After all it was cake and cream. Will keep you posted.

recipes- never dismiss a recipe

As you know I now have a mountain of blood plums on our tree of which are all ready to eat. So of course I am now looking for ways to use them in my everyday cooking. We are already eating them every chance we get, and I often say " Don't forget to eat the blood plums, they are fresh and delicious".And they are fresh and delicious but I also want to get through them.

So as I was doing the shopping yesterday, I thought I would pick up a woman's magazine to read in bed and made my choice and came home. Sure enough as I was going through the magazine, there right in front of me was a blood plum cake recipe. Perfect.

So the reason for this post is to say to never dismiss recipes from magazines or the daily paper.They give great recipes with foods that are in season or recipes which are relevant for certain times of the year. My pancake recipe,for example, came from a recipe out of the newspaper my husband brought home years ago and I still make to this day.

Recipes for me are a trial and error and a visual thing. If it looks good in the picture I will give it a go. Of course there have been some bad cooking experiences and the " I'll never make that again". But my motto has always been, you never know if you don't have a go.

So, don't dismiss recipes and have a go, sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised.

Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss - new limits reached

Just back from the gym and a few milestones reached today. The X -trainer was pushed to 20 minutes. Now you are probably laughing, I know, I would be. But lets go back to the beginning, I was lucky to do 3 minutes on the X - trainer when my back was ready to push me off it yelling stop, stop, I can't go on.

So, this is quite an achievement for me and according to the X - trainer I burnt 150 calories. Good all round. I have hit the 69kg mark this morning but I had a busy day yesterday and there wasn't much time to eat. I was on the run most of the day I didn't eat what I usually eat. That's a clue, I have to eat less food.

I often talk to people about losing weight, it seems to be on everyone mind and often we talk about a life style change. I haven't really made a life style change, I just joined a gym and I'm trying everyday to make better choices with the food. I think as we get older that is just the reality of life. I need to keep the body moving or it's going to fall apart. And I'm not perpared for that to happen. So. off to the gym again tomorrow.

What I have also learnt is I can dream it or I can do it and I think the second sounds better. Will keep you posted.

Pasta dishes - Lasagne

I haven't been showing to many recipes and dishes as I have been busy with my apron making and designing but I thought it was time to share some more of my dishes with you.

Lasagne is a dish my whole family loves and once the meat sauce is made the rest is easy. Lasagne is a construction meal. Layer of sauce, layer of lasagne sheet, layer of white sauce with grated cheese, layer of lasagne sheet, layer of sauce and so on.

Italian cook books alway have some version of lasagne and when my family we young I would cook this dish and add vegetables to it so they would eat their vegies. I do however admit some were clever and picked out the vegies. Well, we can only try as mothers.

There really is no secret to lasagne making but here is a hint. I add some water to the bottom of the tray when I'm cooking the dish as I have found the bottom layer of sauce and pasta can dry and stick. It does take about an hour in the oven to heat through the layers. Here are the pictures and as always will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss

You have probably been waiting for an update on the weigjht loss. Well I'm still around the 69 - 70 weight mark. So not to much to tell there. However, I have noticed that my body has changed. I have lost weight around my shoulders, my arms, the back and my hips and legs.

I think what has happened is that it perhaps it has turned into muscle, I can only hope. The jeans are looser on my legs and they fit better around the waist. So what does that mean.

Well I feel better, I have more energy (we can all do with much more of that) and I sleep better. So the gym is working out (lol).

What is she going to do now, you are thinking. Well, I have ask the trainer to make me a menu for the week for me. This way if I can stick to it 90% of the time hopefully it will make a difference. Having said that, I'm happy on how things are going and I am looking much better. However having someone tell me what to eat and when is again more structure which works for me and one less thing to think about.

I will keep you posted.

Spaghetti with meat sauce

Here is the latest meal I made which is spaghetti with meat sauce. I was never really good at making the meat sauce but with practice I think I have mastered the art of this very traditional Italian dish. I add chopped carrots, capsicum, celery and you could add bacon as well before the mince meat goes in. Great if you want the family to eat the greens.

Lately, I have been adding a sprinkle of Mild Mexican chilli for a little tang. It's really up to you. If you are worried about cooking, Take it from me, I couldn't cook at all, a part from making schnitzel, which my mum, bless her, made me make when I had to help out. At least I had one cooking skill when I met my husband. Here is the picture. Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss- plantar fasciitis day 2

Well, Day two and I have done the exercises and it has helped. The strapping which the physio did helped as well. As, like most people I came home and googled my problem, as sure enough it is very common. Of course I now have more questions for the physio on heating versus cold packs on my foot and heal, but limping out of bed in the morning is not an option, so, as it was for my back situation I have taken action to get this problem under control.

I am fanscinated how when anyone suffers from a medical condition, as time goes on, you google and research as much information as possible about the illness. You become a wealth of information about one particular thing.

I suppose like most mothers as our children are growing up we come across illnesses which for me in my day I had never heard of. Irritable hip was a good one for me. What is that, I had never heard of it, apparently it is very common. However, information is always good and I'm glad we do get the information so we can start to recover, as in my case with my plantar fasciitis. Will keep you posted.

New brush roll - my new love

I love all things pretty but practical. Brush rolls are the perfect combination of these two. I've already posted two I have made on the blog and I have now another I have just finished and thought you would enjoy seeing the latest one.

I'm thinking of a new version of the brush rolls and hope to make one soon. I have some more on the way and will post them soon for you to see. I am constantly in invention mode and thinking of new things to make. I love this process from thought to design construction to making the item and then sharing it with the online community. Will keep you posted.

Plum tree fruit ready to eat.

The plum tree has now fruited and the fruit are ripe and ready to eat. Blood plums are so rich in color and are so delicious. I have posted this tree when it was in bloom and the tree didn't disappoint, it is so full of fruit one of the branches was hanging so low it was ready to break. We had to help the branch with boxes under it just to hold up the branch.

My husband came home and commented on the beautiful shiny fruit and said "Where did you get them from, they look great". I replied, " these are your fruit from the plum tree outside" With a smile on his face, you could see he was quite proud of his plum tree. In a funny way our fruit trees have become part of the family. And at times he often comments " I hope you went and spoke to the trees and vegie patch today, My reply, "Yes dear."

It is funny how I wait so long to eat this beautiful and tasty fruit but this year is a bumper year and jam or sauces might have to be made. I'll see what I can turn this fruit into.I will as always, let you know. For now they turn up in everyone's breakfast and lunch meals. I'm sure I'll be sick of them by the time we finish eating them.

Fruit trees are great but sometimes it's too much of a good thing. I'm sure I'll be craving them again in June. Here are the pictures. Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss- plantar fasciitis

Just an up date on the foot injury which was keeping me from running the marathon.(lol) But honestly, off today I went to the physio to find out and get some treatment for this foot complaint which is so painful, mainly in the mornings, I could barely stand on it.

The technical name is plantar fasciitis. Now I'm no expert but I had heard of this before but I never believed it could cause so much pain. Well it does. Ouch. After chatting to the physio the look of yes I do know what this is came onto her face. As always my complaints seem to be common and most people suffer from my latest injury. I suppose that's better then hearing,"that's new,I've never seen that before."

So,she showed me some exercises (as usual) for the feet to be done twice a day and strapped the foot which I'm to keep on for about 24 hours. She then suggested some inner soles which I'm to get at the next appointment.

Again, back to more exercises to maintain this body, not in prime condition, but in just average condition. But that's Ok by me as long as I can move with minimal pain, I'll keep going. Exercise has now become my new best friend and enjoy getting my exercises done most days. Will keep you posted.

New layout photo for my Hostess apron

Hi everyone, have just changed some photos on my etsy site. This Hostess apron needed a plain background as the madagascar pattern by Dena Designs if full of colour and stunning pattern. Here is the background story and photos. I hope you enjoy this apron.

Background Story.
This striking material was bought to make an apron as a gift for a relative and I loved it so much I thought it would be great to make one for the etsy community as well. This relative loves the colour red and with its floral pattern it was the perfect choice. I love the floral design and the way it sways through the material and tomato colour red background.

Once a upon a time - weight loss -personnal trainer - session 2

Off I went this morning to my training session with the trainer, it sounds good, doesn't it. All geared up for another heavy training session. The young males with the fantastic bodies don't seem to bother me anymore, I have other things to worry about, in getting my training done and improving my fitness.

The trainer got me straight on to the X-trainer and I did about 5 minutes. It really does get every part of your body moving and warmed up. I went into my injury woes and and eating habits and with a understanding look, the trainer advised me it was about not eating to much and cut out the sweets. No real surprises but it was good to tell someone.

He showed me some new equipment and we did some repetitions. Sumo squats were the order of the day and I did quite a few of those. They really work the muscles on the top part of the legs and 6 months ago I was lucky to do 3. Today with other ball squats I did over 40. It was amazing what the body was able to do and withstand compared to 6 months ago.

What I have learnt is that the small goals achieved at the beginning, which really didn't seem like much, has enabled me to achieve these bigger goals now. Feeling alot more toned and the body shape is now coming back, that's good. However, I am not losing a great deal of weight but I have muscle I have never seen or had before. My legs feel much fitter and I can bend over to pick up the washing to put it on the clothes line. This should be an olympic event (lol). All in all a great session and I'm looking forward to the next one. Off to the gym tomorrrow, with my second personnal trainer, ME. Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss

I have learnt something about this weight loss journey. It's all about being on a wagon and the wagon is the weight loss journey. Yes, I can get off the wagon and stretch my legs ( the odd graving for cake and cream ) but I have to get back on the wagon and keep steering it.

It won't always go in a straight line and I will probably get off and stretch my legs quite a few times, but I know I always have to get back on, and I seem to be OK with that.

Of course, this week I have another injury, Of course I do, after all this is me and injury seems to be my second name, but I soldiered on and still went to the gym. The bike was the preferred equipment today as there was no weight put on my foot, which is very painful at the moment. Seeing the physio next week with that and will keep you posted.

Makeup pouch - contrasting colours

I have just completed a new makeup pouch for you to see. Blue polka dots with the contrasting colour of a lighter and more vibrant blue for the lining. I hope you like this one. Heres also a picture of a small pouch made, now listed on Etsy.com