It's beginning to feel a lot like...

CHRISTMAS! I have made a pretty good dent in the Christmas shopping, some in store but most online (so convenient), the boys and i decorated the house with a few things last weekend and the plan was to put the Christmas tree up and decorate it this weekend as the tradition has always been to do it the first weekend in December. I however, had a very productive day while the boys were in childcare today and decided that seeing as it's the 1st of December, i would set the tree up and we would decorate it after dinner, and then i would try to get a good photo of the boys for the calenders this year. This is how it went:

The tree... not a bad effort i thought!

Aaaand the photo: these are three of the best out of about 25 that i took!

Do you hear that?

It's me sighing a massive breathe of relief... my final exam was this afternoon and it went preeetty well i think. Overall, the 3 exams i had were much better than i expected and i went into them and came out feeling pretty chuffed! Although, now it feels strange to not have my mind preoccupied with assignments, readings and exam study... instead it's filled with peaceful nothingness - which is an extremely odd feeling after the year i've had. One week of placement in the beginning of December (which i am very much looking forward too) and im done and dusted until March next year!

One thing i will miss for 3 months though is my Uni mates... most of who will be working their little behinds off over Christmas to save money ready for next years Nursing craziness. However, i am sure there will be a get together involving a little too much alcohol and lots of laughter to celebrate completing our first year without ending up in a corner rocking back and forth! 

As a side note, wish i could work but with the boys and Uni it would just not be physically possible unfortunately and it's just not worth getting a job for 10 weeks while im on holidays only to have to quit when i start back at Uni next year. I would love to be able to do a little part time work in an aged care facility but alas, unpaid clinical placement next year will have to suffice.

So, for now, i will be spending money and not saving it by entering the crazy world of Christmas trees, tinsel, present wrapping and the fast approaching arrival of the jolly fat man we call Santa!

(and i CAN NOT wait to read a normal book :D THAT is on the top of my to do list)!

My happy places.

I have many of these... happy places i mean. One of the most predominant ones is in the kitchen cooking - i LOVE to cook and enjoy it even more when it is received well and gobbled up by my 2 taste testers. I am always being asked for the recipes i use (which are mostly from cook books and magazines but who cares?) and i enjoy giving them to whoever asks cause' it means they will also enjoy the yummy food we are!

Tonight i made Spicy Chicken and Vegetable Pies (not spicy at all) and they were YUMMY and better yet, the boys devoured them! AND even better there are leftovers so they can be thrown in the freezer for Child Care days. I made Zucchini Slice the other night, another great one for the lunch box! I think i will blog about food more often, it is one of my many passions and some what of an outlet for me... just like blogging.

My family and close friends are also happy places for me... i can't wait for Christmas and New Years - i get to spend some awesome quality time just hanging out with my family and some of my bestest friends. It's only an added bonus that their is gift exchanging (for the record - prefer giving over receiving, seeing the look on the other person's face when they open their gift takes the cake, given they love what they get of course) and alcohol involved hehe. In saying that, this year is going to be 'quiet' for us... it will more than likely just be myself and my 2 boys, my parents, my younger brother and my grandparents. My older brother, sister in law (SIL) and 2 nephews are heading to Whyalla to see my SIL's family for Christmas this year. Quiet but good... sitting outside at Mum and Dad's on the deck looking out over the pool, drinking some bevvy's and enjoying good food and laughs - i think i can deal with that :D! 

I love to read, always have... reading a good book on a rainy day, snuggled up in a blanket with a hot cuppa sitting next to me is definitely a happy place!

I have many other happy places too... some im not willing to divulge into on here :p but for now, i need to go and study for my last 2 exams... one tomorrow morning and another Monday afternoon and then im done (aside from placement of course) until next year. Oh, and don't even get me started on next semester, i have NO idea how i will get through it! *sigh*

There IS light at the end of the tunnel!

Im not sure if i've mentioned it previously but i am approaching the end of the 1st year of my Bachelor of Nursing Degree... yesterday was exam study day, this involved 5 GREAT Uni mates, a massive breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms and juice as well as copious amounts of tea, coffee, chocolate, lollies, chips, biscuits and the list goes on. But most importantly, LOTS of laughter... i am astounded at the amazing friendships i've formed, one's i never would have made had i not gone on this roller coaster of a journey called University! Our ages range from 18-44 and we all have a quirky sense of humour that seems to be getting us all through, and i wouldn't have it any other way, i am so honoured to call these people my friends!

So, with one assignment to go, 3 exams (and a few more days like the above mentioned to enjoy), one week of placement at a Nursing Home and i am done and dusted... i would have made it through the first year of my degree! I can't wait to finish that last day of placement and breathe a massive sigh of relief...

Here i am...

Im not even sure where to begin... i've joined the world of blogging to release my inner thoughts and i suppose what you would call, expose my creative side - im good at writing, so i guess this is a good place to start?! 

An even better start would be to introduce myself... my name is Karina, im 23 (almost 24 but shhhhh... i don't want to get any older) and i am the mum to two of the most gorgeous little boys ever, Izaak (4 & a half) and Kyan (almost 3). Not only are they the 2 main men in my life, they are also the ones who bring utter joy, love, excitement, laughter, happiness and bedlam to my life!

Im hoping this blog will allow me to 'think out loud' and share not only the ins and outs of my life on a daily (or weekly basis ha ha depending on how often i manage to write here) but also my opinions, perspectives and interests on certain topics and to hopefully achieve through all of this, an even more positive outlook on life.

So... welcome to life as i want to know it - filled with insight and positivity!

Putting things into perspective...

So, tonight while the boys were playing quietly in their room after dinner and a bath before bed time, i caught the beginning of A Current Affair, a program i haven't watched, well probably since i left home when my parents used to watch it about 7 years ago! It was one of those live broadcast shows with a heartfelt story about a struggling family, only i didn't realize until i stopped flitting around tidying up to watch it, that it would strike such a chord with me...

I found myself with my butt perched on the lounge, eyes glued to the television (something i rarely do these days, im usually head down bum up face burried into a Nursing text book) and in no time, bawling my eyes out while tuning into this amazing story about a young families heartbreak. A young family, living in a debilitated house with a mother that is battling a terminal brain tumor and not being able to 'breathe' at the thought of her husband and 3 young boys living in such a shamble when she goes. Her last wish was to have a house in which she could happily leave this earth, knowing her husband and children would be safe and comfortable living in... i could not stop the tears, the thought of leaving your children behind and not being able to see them grow into teenagers and then adults is gut wrenching and a thought that has brought me to tears whilst putting myself in that situation one too many times.

It was after seeing this story that i began to think of all the little things i have been whinging about the past few weeks and the fact that my (not so) darling boys have been driving me absolutely batty, do not matter so much in the scheme of things. I should be enjoying life and what it is offering, rather than dwelling on minute aspects that are not important AND loving my boys with my entire being, not sweating the small stuff like the fact that they continue to empty the dogs water bowl (after me asking them not to a million times and then making them come inside because they are not listening) into their trucks and trailers to 'dump' on the grass... wet pants and shoes are no biggie when your looking at the bigger picture. 

Right here and now, after sharing such an intimate emotional moment with a family i don't even know, i am starting fresh... no more worrying about the insignificant harmless acts my boys explore or crumbs on the floor, or spilled juice or breakfast, it's time to enjoy life and look forward to what tomorrow brings rather than dwelling on yesterdays antics.

If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.  ~Don Herold

Music!

Music is my life. Just listening to music changes my entire mood, it ignites something inside me and is a great motivator to get things done (or not done) whether that be house work, Uni assignments, gardening, relaxing, reading and the list goes on...

I have music on all the time, i dislike the tv and prefer to listen to some tunes...  the boys both seem to have a habit of counteracting the positive energy coming from it by being whiny, grumpy and whinging, about one thing or another... and then silence breaks and i hear the music again - bliss! The sound of their laughter and happiness is music to my ears also and makes a smile break out no matter how much of a mood im in...

Right... off to make these boys happy again and get some 'stuff' done!

Izaak & Kyan