Happiness Review #26 & Coffeeshares

November 17, 2018November 17, 2018 - Tobia 4 Comments

Good Morning you all,

hope your week was a wonderful one. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and sit down a while and let’s have a chat.

Advents Calender

My weeks been busy however I didn’t get any work done that brings money in. I guess it’s ok for now but I need to get going double next week. I had to catch up on my Christmas crafting for the advents calendar I participate in. Man some things didn’t work out quite how I wanted so I spent lots of time getting it done in time. The perfectionist in me is not hundred percent satisfied but more was just not possible. Now that I am done with this project I am thinking about participating in Julias a Secret Santa #StadtLandWichteln2018.

Advents Wreath

I have been collecting ideas for this years advents wreath. I usually make two wreath a year – one I am gifting my mother. It’s our little tradition. I get an advent calendar, she gets a wreath. Hers will be brown/golden this year with a nature base. I have that one pretty much figured out. I am not so sure about mine though. I have another interesting idea for a wreath made of recycled packaging waste however I am not sure if I will actually like it. But I still want to try out the idea. I guess I have enough fall backs if it looks ugly as hell. In case you also need inspiration I gathered a list of advent wreath inspiration of the last years.

Cleaning Extravaganza

Inspired by my previous post I had a motivational push to get the apartment deep cleaned. So I spent the entire day yesterday doing everything – hence the missed post yesterday because I just couldn’t lift a finger at midnight. Now I am having lots of aches but a wonderful shiny apartment. I even managed to clean chunks of my craft room so I could vacuum there. Rarely ever happens because it’s so packed with projects laying everywhere.

Lunch Meetings

Also I had two fun lunch meetings with sister and neighbour this week. My sister and I met at this deli close to her work. The food was really nice, the location beautiful but it was so good to catch up with her. Haven’t seen her in a while. She also told me a story about something that really shook me. Sometimes crime is closer than we think. So please take care you all. And yesterday during my Feather-Dusting- Dance I took a break to have lunch with my neighbour and her new born. It was nice catching up. Now the is staying at home for a while we see each other every other week or so to take a walk in the park or have lunch together. I guess lunch breaks could be worth.

Weekend Plans

As for the weekend ahead. I’ll be spending tonight with my sister at “Santas Workshop” to pack up gifts for “Christmas in a shoe box“. I am excited about that. I’ll share my experience with you tomorrow if you like so stop by. On another note I will probably have to write a few blog posts or at least take the pictures so I can make them happen. Because you guys it’s getting dark early and I don’t want to post without photos.

Now let me know what you have been up to. I’ll head over to Lecy, Eclectic Alli and Denise to catch up now. Maybe I see you there.

Happy weekend,

Tobia

Disclaimer: This post contains links to other Blogs. Due to current (German) law this needs to be labelled advertising. Furthermore I have linked a few of my older articles because I believe you might enjoy them.

Household Chores – an Attempt at a Scheduling Plan

November 15, 2018November 15, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

I am not a huge fan of housework. I can come up with many ideas what I’d rather do. Even sitting and looking out of the window sounds more fascinating than swinging a feather duster. However I have to admit that I also don’t like to living in a pig stall so I have to suck it up and get to work. For a while we had some cleaning support. It didn’t work out as I was not willing to pay for services I am not satisfied with and prices were constantly raised. Every once in a while though I hire someone because we have too much on our schedule or I just want to treat myself.

For quite some time now I was wondering if a scheduled plan will help. Here is my attempt in gathering all the household chores in one place. Also I have included all the things that easily get forgotten in every day hassle.

Daily

Wipe kitchen counters and unload dishwasher while making coffee
Start dishwasher at night
spent 15 minutes to clean up clutter throughout apartment to make it look tidy (fold blankets on couch, put away mail, etc.)

Weekly

Mondays: vacuum floors (or let little robot do it) & water plants
During phone calls: dust, fold laundry
Fridays: clean bathroom & wash all towels, deep clean kitchen, clean all mirrors and glass doors

Monthly

1st: Decalcify the water filter & electric kettle
15th: change bedsheets
mop floors

Quarterly

Feb/May/Aug/Nov Cleaning program for washing machine
Feb/May/Aug/Nov Cleaning program for dish washer

Biannually

Wash bedding when changing winter/summer bedding
Apr/Oct clean windows

Annually

January: clean kitchen cupboards
November: Vacuum the couch

Now I just have to find the energy to implement it. And I probably forgot about a dozen important things – or maybe it’s a work in progress. Please share what and how often you do things. I could really use some insights on how to do it the “right way” and also sent all the motivation please.

Happy housewifeing,

Tobia

Advent Wreath Inspiration

November 15, 2018November 17, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

Who else is busy thinking about this years advent wreath? I usually ponder I ideas already when most people enjoy their summer vacay at the pool. I have to be honest, this year my picture is not that clear. When I don’t know what direction to go I usually just look at my Pinterest board ” Usually the first thing that I know if the color scheme of the new wreath. This might happen when I see certain candles or just some decoration that speaks to me. My moms wreath this year will be gold/brown/nude.

Following I want to share some advent wreath inspiration.

This pine needle advent wreath (tutorial) probably took the longest from all the ones I did. I love the look of it.

A minimalistic version is the French Knitted Wreath (tutorial).

A nature inspired one with the Walnut Advent Wreath (tutorial).This wreath was created of an old favorite sweater.

A wreath made of Muffin Liners. Took a lot of glue but its hanging in my apartment for many years.

Here is an idea on how to create a moss wreath.

One of my Favourites is this Snowball Wreath (tutorial). Just never leave it burning unattended.

Door wreath made of Pine Needles.

What’s your favorite? Let me know in the comments.

Happy inspiration,

Tobia

Scented Wall Hanging { RECYCLE QUICK TIP #11 }

November 13, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

My favorite season is slowly but steadily coming closer and today I want to share a quick and easy tutorial with you. It’s a Scented Wall Hanging made of orange peel. Because now is the time to eat lots of vitamins and so we’ve got peels to recycle. And it is a good way to slowly start decoration for Advent without overdoing it.

All you need for this craft idea is some oranges or mandarines, a cookie cutter of your preference and some yarn.

Instructions are just that easy:

Eat your oranges and saves the peel.
Get out your cookie cutter and cut away.
Thread them together. I did pairs of three. Then I strung them on a wooden piece.

scented christmas decoration hanging Well and that is about it. Easy and fun little crafting for in-between on a rainy afternoon.

If you like crafts with recycled materials my little eerie “Recycling Quick Tip” might be fun to check out. And if you have any fun and easy craft ideas let me know in the comments please.

Happy recycling,

Tobia

All the Emotions on a Monday :: 12 von 12

November 12, 2018November 12, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

Today is the 12th of the month and I’ll share my day in photos with you:

As most days I grant myself a slow start in my favourite spot with the perfect morning light, a cup of coffee and my journal. However I remembered I had a call with a business friend. So excited and pumped but it turnt out it’s next week …

… it’s ok I squeez in some crafting for my DIY advents calendar swaping which I have to drop of on Friday. I am cutting it way close as those sticks don’t dry. Feeling a bit under pressure here.

After some email checking and business stuff – feeling all legit – I hit the shower and felt like putting a bit more effort into the outfit today. My cozy star necklace was perfect for today.

So efficient today and only 11 am – time for breakfast. I decided it’s a day for French toast with homemade apple sauce. Gotta start your Monday right.

While eating I watched another episode of Nashville (why too emotional) and did some crafting along the way. Another deadline this week: my gift for the “Christmas in a Shoebox” needs to be handed in. Time to hassle.

Now let’s do some “real” work and stop procrastinating. Trying to build a website, feeling overwhelmed and inadequate…

12von12_work laptop … time to step away and take a walk.

Feeling much better after this (and the not pictured bag of chocolate I inhaled) to get back to it. After re-installing the software twice, almost crashing another site once, I finally got the hang of it. In between I do the household thing… carry towels, move the vacuum robot, water plants…
It’s getting late and I am hungry. Time for dinner. All time fall favorite red beets with feta cheese.