Tick tock

I am running out of time.

3 pages...the length of my to-do list.
5 days left at work.
9 days until we leave for Europe.
27 days until Christmas.
47 days...how long we're away, which is great but also really hard because...
113 days until the wedding. And still so much to do.

It's all very exciting but also a bit stressful. Planning a DIY wedding in 6 months from the engagement is crazy and I don't recommend it. Particularly not with a 6 week holiday smack bang in the middle.

On the upside, I'm getting much better about making decisions. No time for deliberation here!

I will post about my trip on Instagram/Facebook for anyone that's interested. And I'll probably have time to post a bit more about the wedding plans then too and the various DIY projects that have been going on lately.

I'll be back in 2016!

ABCD #001 - #010

I'm a bit behind on my ABCD Series so I'll have to churn out a few posts to catch myself up.

Leaving work just after the storm came through (flooded Ann St)

Decorating...Christmas and Photo Gallery

In the last two weeks I have managed to both print and hang 33 photos for my wall gallery and buy and assemble a Christmas tree and decorations. Reasonably productive I'd say.

You may remember I spoke about my travel photo wall gallery plans here. I really wanted to fit the maximum number of photos I could manage onto our walls, while still looking organised of course.

Well they're up and I love every one.

Christmas Catch Up #3

My mother and sisters know about this blog and have taken to reading it on occasion. Apparently the criteria for a good present this year wasn't 'something Ash would like' but 'something Ash would blog about'.

I was rather spoiled this Christmas but don't want to bombard you with every little thing I received, so here are the highlights...

Christmas Catch Up #2

So after driving for a three days to get home for Christmas, it would make sense that SJ wanted to make macarons, right? Sadly not his best batch but I think the lack of patience to sift almond meal can be forgiven. These ones are candy cane flavoured, the ganache is made from melted candy canes, white chocolate, butter and cream.

Christmas Catch Up #1

This blog and I have had a rather long distance relationship of late. So now, three weeks after Christmas, when everyone is back at work and finally getting on with their lives...I'm going to update you all on my Christmas in Brisbane.

Starting with...the drive from Melbourne to Brisbane.

All Things Christmas

Only 5 more sleeps til Santa comes!

Sad Little Christmas Tree

I am finally home. Our apartment was happily waiting for us, but sadly, our little garden patch wasn't so happy. Most of the herbs have passed away and there was a lot of wind damage.

My darling little Christmas tree was knocked over, out of it's pot and so so dry it should have been brown. Thankfully, it's still green so I'm hopeful that we can revive it.

Other than that, I am sick. Had a sore throat since yesterday and I'm feeling incredibly rundown and ill today. We have visitors (friends currently living in Denmark) visiting for lunch tomorrow, so I need to feel better and get around to unpacking in the morning...

One Week of Holidays

I have finally found the energy to turn on my laptop and upload the pictures I have taken over the last week. So here we go...

Still Recovering

I haven't been on the computer still. Spent most of the day at the boxing day sales, will have to take a photo of my hoard, just a few things for work and a dress I fell in love with.

The above is a photo of my arm during Christmas lunch yesterday, took a little scrubbing to get them off this morning...

Merry Christmas

Just a quick post while I am recovering from a late breakfast before we start our late lunch.

Hope everyone is having an incredible Christmas with those they love.

I'll be back on the computer in the next few days to upload real pics and read all the blogs I follow. My road trip has put me so far behind and I can't wait to see everyone's holiday posts.

Stay safe and soak up as much Christmas spirit while it lasts.

Miss Directions xo

Christmas Slices

I spent Christmas Eve having a big slice making day with MissT while we babysat some younger cousins (4 kids aged 8-15).

Christmas Lights

Made it to Canberra safe and sound, had dinner with friends and went to see a bunch of Christmas lights. Took some good photos that I'll upload from Brisbane.

Another big day tomorrow...

No More Christmas Tree

Since we're leaving for Brisbane tomorrow I had to take the decorations off my Christmas tree so it can live (we hope) outside.

 Are you jealous that my Christmas decorations can be stored in a sandwich sized clip seal bag??

All Wrapped Up

I've wrapped almost all of my Christmas presents, I'm still waiting on an order of MooGoo which I really need to arrive before lunchtime tomorrow. Not holding my breath though.

I have a confession to make...

Yesterday I bought my first ever copy of Vogue.

Heading Home for Christmas

10 days until Christmas now. I don't have a lot to do to be ready, but it still feels like I'm rapidly running out of time.

SJ and I will be driving back to Brisbane for the holidays so we have even less time than usual. I will finish up work sometime on Tuesday afternoon (I have a bit of flex time worked up...maybe I should take the whole day lol) and head out to Traralgon to have dinner with some relatives.  Wednesday night will be spent at my best friend's place in Canberra, Thursday lunch with family near Newcastle, Thursday night will be somewhere on the New England Highway (maybe Armidale?) if we can get decent cheap accommodation we'll stay in a motel, otherwise we'll have to just camp (the hazards of traveling without bookings at Christmas time). Friday I'll be dropping SJ at his brother's place in Toowoomba and attempting not to get too distracted by his nephew so I can be at my parent's place on the Gold Coast before dinner time. Phew, exhausted just thinking about it. About 26 hours driving all up thanks to our detours.

Christmas Cards Sent!

Had a rather productive weekend with SJ. I managed to finish writing in all the Christmas Cards we're sending and posted them today. I get such a rush from posting mail, especially a stack of cards that big!

Also got a little present shopping and wrapping finished and gave the apartment a massive clean. And I mean massive, I vacuumed and dusted and cleaned all the doors, door handles, light switches and cupboards, even used glass cleaner on the windows and mirror (though the outside of the windows missed out, they get filthy every time it rains and it's due to rain all week). I even used cleaned all the internal walls with a rag and a white-block.

Was a little exhausting even though the place is so small!

Having a few friends over for a Christmas catch-up tonight, was motivation to have it all done. That said, I've started sorting through my clothes and the guest bed has piles all over it! Will just keep that door shut...

Christmas Cards

A Happy Little Christmas Tree

I finally decorated my Christmas Tree.  Bought two sets of little battery operated lights (harder to find then you think!) in red and white. Not sure they are what I wanted but I guess they will do.  I also bought some red and white spherical bells for the tree, but they were way too heavy for the poor little conifer branches. I didn't think of that in my planning.