{source}

I’m heading to Sydney for Kidspot’s Village Voices launch today. I’m also going to some blog materclasses at The School. I’ll be a bit late (Wagga flights!), but I couldn’t miss out!

Then I’ll be returning home tomorrow at lunch to start building our new garden. Have a great weekend, and see some of you soon!

The post Have a great weekend! appeared first on Katrina from The Block | The Blog.

I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn’t wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine. -Bertrand Russell

My Mum said to me once “Katrina, we cannot change people, no matter how hard we try. No opinion, no means of advice can change them, so stop trying and live your own life.” She’s right. People can’t be changed. They’ll change if they want to change. Good people come in to your life when you need them.

So, I find it really hard to read articles in magazines, online, newspapers these days. I can’t read other people’s opinions. It’s making me dizzy. Every time I turn on the computer there is another link to someone voicing their opinion. I’m all about the facts. Social media has changed me. It’s become a world built around a marketing strategy and I treat opinions like this – the push and pull strategy. I can choose what I will and won’t read about. Gone are the days where one article was produced in a newspaper and that’s the only thing I had to read. I’ve worked out what’s being pushed on to me and what pulls me in. I’m not stupid.

I had a discussion about this with my husband last night. He doesn’t read social media much. I was telling him about how insane the opinions have become on social media. Prior to twitter, facebook and blogs, the only opinions we shared (and heard about) were at a BBQ or a dinner party. Nowadays it’s rife with so many avenues to draw from.

So, yesterday, I text my girlfriend and asked her if she’d been reading the twitter rubbish. She quickly caught up, then we both powered our devices down, and put our heads back into to our own lives and gave the energy to what really matters. That’s my point, let’s tone down all the opinions, and just worry about what’s going on in our own backyard?

I know I am rambling today. It’s just a rambling kind of day. I’m not really sure what I wanted to get out of this post, maybe I just wanted to write something today that didn’t involve pretty pictures. And I guess it’s contradictory to have an opinion on people having opinions?? Dunno!

Anyway, I hope you have a great Friday… If you’re going to Kidspot’s Village Voices 2013 workshops/party tomorrow in Sydney, please come and find me. Come and get in my face. I want to connect with my online friends. Leave a comment here if you’re going so we can catch up. X

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I’ll show you better pictures when I’ve put it all back together. But I will say I am in love and am really happy I made this choice! There is another picture on my instagram.

I found a round mirror at a garage sale a few weeks ago and I had thought about putting it over the wallpaper UNTIL I woke in the middle of the night and realised it was bad Feng Shui. What was I thinking??

I read a Feng Shui blog post a few years ago, so I hunted it down to share it with you (original source)…

When a house has good energy circulating throughout, the people who live in the house experience higher levels of well-being. Basically, good feng shui in your main entry means a main entry that is able to welcome and direct the flow of feng shui energy into the house versus pushing the energy away or weaken it. 

Below are some basic tips for creating good feng shui in your main entry. Be sure to implement these tips along with the tips for a strong feng shui main door, as one does not work well without the other.

• Find out the feng shui bagua area of your main entry and use the best colors and shapesto strengthen the needed feng shui element. Should you use red color in your main entry? Or maybe blue? Feng shui-wise, it all depends on the bagua area, so start with it.

• Create a strong, welcoming “landing space” for energy. From a modest side table with a small lamp to a big round table placed in the center of your hallway with a flower-filled vase on top – there are many good feng shui decor choices to welcome Chi, or energy, into your home. If your space is limited, even a good quality main entry rug with vibrant colors or beautiful art and a strong wall color as a focal point can do the job.

Remedy all the potential “feng shui disasters” in the main entry. Below are some of the feng shui main entry challenges you might have in your home, along with some easy tips to help you out:

•  
  • Mirror facing the main door
• Staircase too close/facing the front door
• Wall too close/blocking the flow from the front door
• Bathroom over the main door

Look for creative feng shui decor remedies to let good energy into your home and be disciplined with your efforts of creating better feng shui energy in your main entry.

Some homes are easier to deal with than the others, but remember, you are the one who chose the current living arrangements. Do your best with what you have, and better things will follow. 

I nearly created a feng shui disaster!

Here is why:

A mirror facing the main door is one of the two big taboos in feng shui (second one being a mirror facing a bed.) The reason it is not recommended to have a mirror facing the main door is because the mirror pushes away all the good feng shui energy that is about to enter the house. In feng shui it is considered that the house absorbs energy (Chi) through the main door, similar to a human face absorbing nutrition through the mouth. This is why the main door is often called the mouth of a house in feng shui. Distance will only slightly change the effect of the mirror facing the main door, so if you have a mirror directly facing the main door, best feng shui advice is to remove it.

So needless to say, the mirror is back in the garage! And I’m pondering a new item to put on cupboard that sits in front of it… indoor plants are very good feng shui, so that’s on the list!

Do you practise feng shui in your home?

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A few weeks ago I was asked if I’d like to check out some of the new homewares in Target. Ummm yeah! So, I was lucky enough to go shopping! And as if I’d say no to shopping?? Ha!

I’d planned my trip (I went to Civic in Canberra) so I knew what I wanted by previewing the online catalogue.

I had an 11 year old kid to help me (I bribed him!) so we loaded up the trolley… I couldn’t wait to get it home. My new house is a work in progress, so I am enjoying all the styling and tweaking…

So what did I buy? Target has 2 new awesome homeware lines. One is styled around the change of season, being Autumn (orange, green, natural, timber), and the other is French Provincial (white, pretty, wrought iron). I couldn’t decide which style I liked the best, so I grabbed a few bits from both.

As you can see, Owl’s feature heavily and I loved them so I grabbed as many as I could! I am even using the little owl plates in the bathroom and bedroom. Can you spot a little kid snuggling in to a throw blanket? He grabbed that one straight away. The colours are gorgeous – pinks, yellows, greens and blues.

I bought the nested tables for our front lounge room that will be finished one day. Here is just a sneak peek! If you read my blog often, you’ll know that I am buying a new lounge, so the stripes will go. So, I thought ahead and purchased some new cushions and another throw rug for that room from Target. I’ve tucked them away for now (I’ll pop them up on my Top Shopping Picks in the next week or so). I love bringing out little things I purchased ages ago when I’ve forgotten about them!

All of this (plus some other goodies I already put on Instagram) didn’t cost me a great deal at all. I found them to be really reasonable - cheap actually! So, if you’re looking to jazz up your home, buy a new dinner set or buy a present for a small amount of money I recommend popping to Target (I’m not just saying that either – it’s the truth!).

Happy Shopping! X

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Happy Mother’s Day for yesterday to any Mummas out there. I had a nice day. I went ten-pin bowling for the first time! And… BEAT my husband. No that we’re a highly competitive family or anything

Last Thursday and Friday I headed off to Canberra with my eldest son so he could try out for a Catholic School rugby league team, but he got sick! It was terrible for him. He was so pumped and wanted to play. He managed to push out a game and a half, but was too sick. I could have cried for him. He was disappointed terrible. Never mind! There’s is always next year…

He did manage a little bit of training the day before his proper games and the training session was held at Uni of Canberra – my old haunt! I hadn’t been back there since I graduated. It felt weird, but energising and fun. I loved my time at Uni and I loved revisiting old-times. Nostalgia can definitely invigorate the soul.

Just when you think you can rest, nooooo…. we get up at an ungodly hour and travel to Boorowa for the other kids to play more footy. Well, God did give me 3 boys, so this is what I do every weekend haha. Lucky I love it!

Ford Australia have given me a new Wildtrak Ranger for the next few weeks to have some fun with. And boy oh boy, is this car a beast! My husband is in heaven because it’s got some serious guts. We took it to Boorowa on the weekend…

Getting ready in the back…

Big brother pep-talk before the game. Must have worked because the little fella got a try! His head was massive all arvo and now he thinks he is Mister Rugby League

Instead of relaxing on a Saturday night, I decided to whip out the scissors and glue and start covering lamp shades. As you do…

I also decided it was time to get these prints up on the wall. I ordered my Instagram photos in polaroid size and made a love heart in my bedroom. My husband calls it The Love Cluster.

Still so much decorating to do around here. It’s taking shape though. But I am happy plodding along.

So, how was your weekend?

The post The last few days… appeared first on Katrina from The Block | The Blog.

So, I have been a little busy lately. Nothing exciting to report, but you know what it’s like. I thought I’d break it down for you…

• I bought this from my friend. The photo doesn’t do it justice. It’s really shiny and gold and awesome! I love it.

• I ordered a heap of plants from the nursery this week, so we’ll be popping those in the ground in the next week or so. I am no green thumb! I have an idea on how to put it together, but I am no good at looking after them. I’ll leave that to my husband.

• I had a sick child and a sick dog yesterday. The child just needed a soft-pant day. We had milkshakes and banana bread down-town and he suddenly perked up. BUT the dog vomited all over the BRAND NEW carpet in the sick child’s bedroom. And I am not talking small vomit, I’m talking a big pile of it. I scrapped it up, but I’ve had to call the carpet cleaner to come here at 8am today. The carpet is like my special thing in the house. All I wanted was nice freaking carpet. I spent lots on it, it’s wool and I even want to roll around on it it’s so nice. But of course, if it’s not the kids wrecking stuff, it’s the freaking dog! She shit in the bathroom last week (yep, IN the bathroom). She is 13 years old, so I know she can’t help it and is getting old, but geez, why couldn’t she have vomited on the bathroom tiles like the poo incident?!

• Today I am off to Canberra with my eldest child for the night. Just him and I. We’re staying in a hotel and he is pumped. He’s trying out for a Catholic School Rugby League team over there. Not sure he’ll make it, but we’re acting like he’s a superstar anyway. We’re heading off early today (obviously I wrote some of this blog post last night!) and we’re hitting the Belconnen Mall. I used to work there back in my Uni days. I walked to the Belconnen Mall every day for 3 years. I am excited about visiting my old haunt. I’ll be showing off and stuff in front of my son and he’ll think I’m so cool. All he wants to do is go out for dinner and watch tv in bed in our room. TICK! We’re trying to play it down here at home because the other kids have sad faces, but I have bribed them with a ‘prize’. The middle child asked for a Lego City – I said divide that by 10 and now we’re talking.

• My middle child and I have been playing Solitaire on the ipad. Man I love that game. I haven’t played it in years! But he and I have got in to the Rubik’s cube, Tetris and Solitaire this week. We’re going old school and loving it.

• The littlest child was very very naughty the other night. He couldn’t keep himself together so I got really angry. Then my husband got really really angry (and that rarely happens – it’s usually me who is psycho Mummy) and the 2 other children came flying out of their bedrooms all flustered and yelling for us not to get angry at him. Talk about the baby having the whole family wrapped around his little finger! Ha!

Anyway, gotta run. Have a great day! X

The post Dog vomit, Solitaire and a trip away… appeared first on Katrina from The Block | The Blog.

As you can see from the photos, it’s a lovely sunny room, and it’s a thoroughfare between the garage and the kitchen. I have lots of storage too. Originally I wanted overhead cupboards but due to $$ I had to cut back + I didn’t really need them because I have the huge ‘panic room’ on the left.

I try really hard to keep the room neat and tidy. It can become a dumping ground as it’s the first room you walk in to from our garage and when you’re in the kitchen you can see straight in to the room.

So…. I have been thinking about how I could make it a little prettier, warmer, useful…

Help me out? What should I put on the wall? I don’t want to spend huge $ here.

But no indoor clothes airers.. I don’t want to actually see my washing!

I was thinking of a few shelves (but that’s just more storage and the wall is huge, so where do I start/stop them?)?

Or I could paint it?

Or I could buy a blackboard calendar?

Or put a quote on the wall?

I don’t think the photo’s do the room any justice at all! Stupid iphone! But I’m sure you get the idea. All images that are not my own can be found on my Pinterest boards.

I even thought about putting a TV in there! I’m in there so much

So, what do you think? Sometimes a big bland space can be hard to work with. AND I am terrible at deciding things for myself. Give me YOUR laundry and I can sort it in 2 minutes, but I am so indecisive when it comes to my own house. I STILL have boxes everywhere and am happy to live like this until the right thing comes along, or the right idea hits me in the face. This is why I haven’t shown you my living areas yet! Do you do that too?

Happy Tuesday everyone! X

The post This is my laundry appeared first on Katrina from The Block | The Blog.

ipad quote

ipad calendar

iphone 5 quote

iphone 5 calendar

iphone 4 calendar

iphone 4 quote

iphone 4 calendar

desktop 1024 x 768 quote

1024 x 768 calendar

desktop 1900 x 1200 quote

1900 x 1200 calendar

desktop 1280 x 1024 calendar

1280 x 1024 quote

desktop 2650 x 1440 quote

2650 x 1440 calendar

If you’re not sure how to do it, click on the size, save to your camera roll, or right-click and save to computer. Then go to settings or personalisation, find background and select the size you just saved. With the iphones and ipads you shouldn’t need to resize them and with the desktop one (if you don’t know your computer screen size), it might just be a bit of trial and error. To save them from you ipad/iphone make sure you are viewing the images in Safari and hold your finger on the photo and it will then ask if you want to save it to camera roll.

Hope you like them! X

PS. Here were the January, February, March and April QUOTES.

The post Free desktop/iphone/ipad wallpapers and calendars for MAY appeared first on Katrina from The Block | The Blog.

My husband listed off all the reasons he wanted to be me and I had an answer for everything (of course!):

• I don’t have to meet deadlines (Really? You know that bill we paid last week? I had a deadline on something that gave me money)
• I don’t have to deal with staff (He’s right there, but I still deal with stupid people like everyone else, it’s just from behind a screen)
• I can eat when I want (Do you truly think I whip up gourmet lunches every day? I am the worst cook, so that’s not going to happen)
• I can watch TV if I like (Have you seen daytime tv? No, that’s right, the only time you’ve been home during the day was the day I brought our babies home from hospital – he only had 1 day off with all 3! And at Christmas time in the holidays we go away to where there is no TV!)

Anyway, I got my husband a beauty with a text message mid-morning yesterday that said something like “cancel today, I’m watching movies in bed, don’t ring me…” He laughed then rang me a few hours later with “you up?” Haha!

Then we had this conversation about a delivery we are waiting on and I said it hadn’t arrived. He said “maybe you were asleep and it’s out the front?” Ha – ha – ha. He thought he was funny.

I think I still work about 40+ every single week between blog design, blog classes and interior design (and I start my job at 5am!).

So, tell me, if you work from home, do you get to relax all day long?

Have a fun day every one – it’s Friday! X

The post I do just lay in bed all day watching tv appeared first on Katrina from The Block | The Blog.

Brrrrr can you feel it? Winter is coming! The heater has been making an appearance in our house lately. It’s time to dig out the throw rugs and start making our living rooms more cozy. I love nothing better than curling up on the lounge with a little blanket over my legs. Here are some rooms to get you in the zone…

{images found via my Pinterest board}

Now that you’re feeling all snug, I thought I’d give you my Top Picks for throw rugs. Most of these are under $100 and you can buy online. I’d really like number 4 from Target. That would suit me perfectly!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Happy shopping! X

{Top Shopping Picks are not sponsored posts – I do this for fun!}

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