t’s been a very busy but wonderful week here in Smaggle land. I’ve spent the last week at the Gold Coast for the Problogger conference where Chrissy and I presented a session on blogging productivity. It’s been on my professional bucket list for a while now to speak at PB and judging by the feedback we got I can pretty confidently say that we nailed it. I also didn’t say ‘vagina’ and I only used conference appropriate swearing. Win.
Mr Smaggle and I then stuck around for a few days and worked in Byron. It was seriously lovely to spend time away near the water and slow down a little bit. We stayed at Blah Blah (note: I wrote this on the plane and meant to Google where we stayed before I published it but I forgot and it’s too hilarious to change now: We stayed just outside Byron) and I can highly recommend it. The AirBnB place we stayed at have a cow called Slutty Cow (they called her that because she keeps getting pregnant by the bull next door) who’d come say hello every morning and the view was totally killer.
After an insane yet still relaxing few days I thought I’d do a taking stock post. This is a little template that Pip from Meet Me At Mike’s and I like to do every few months just to reflect on stuff and it’s a very lovely thing to do. If you want to do this yourself you can grab the template from the bottom of this post but if you want to publish it on your blog be sure to credit Pip.
Making : Crochet everything! I’m doing a blanket for a special present but I’ve been doing lots of beanies, booties and little toys. My next challenge is make a corner to corner crochet blanket of Benedict Cumberbatch’s face. I think it’s the right level of dedicated and creepy.
Cooking : Poached eggs! I’m finally a part of that smug group of people that perfectly poach eggs in their own home. It’s okay to hate me a little bit.
Drinking : Empower-Mint Tea. I made little tea bags for this years PB event as my business cards. My mate and I made them on a boozy crafternoon a few weeks ago and it was the best few hours I’ve had in months. Craft and wine work REALLY well together… until a certain point and then you really shouldn’t be using scissors any more.
Reading: Eccentric Glamour by Simon Doonen. I re-read this every now and then because it’s just so delightful.
Wanting: Not a lot at the moment to be honest. Feeling like a very lucky lady right now. Although some nude t-bar Swedish Hasbeens wouldn’t go astray.
Looking: At bridesmaids dresses! I get to be a bridesmaid in November and January. I adore being a bridesmaid because I love dressing up and organising other people’s lives. It’s like an activity that’s made specifically for my enjoyment.
Playing: Call Your Girlfriend podcast. It’s a podcast for long distance besties where two girls call each other and talk about all the stuff. It’s brilliant. You should listen to it.
Deciding: On a name for my new blog… stay tuned!
Wishing: That our government would get its shit together. I’m so worried about climate change, marriage equality and our refugees and the powers that be keep sticking their heads in the sand.
Enjoying: Spending a few days working from beautiful Byron bay. It was slower, calmer and I had time to give myself some creative space. It was wonderful!
Waiting: For my bestie to come over so we can go to the gym. She likes to cut her deadlines fine. *twitch*
Liking: Bojack Horseman. A very cool show on Netflix that everyone should watch. Just a warning though: It’s a drama not a comedy. It’s animated so I think a lot of people have pre-conceived notions about it.
Wondering: Why some criminals are so stupid. I’ve been binge watching FBI Files on Netflix and on the whole, murderers are pretty dumb. If you kill someone, burn all the clothing you wore when you did it, including your shoes. It’s just common sense. Not that I want people to get away with murder but come on. It’s not rocket science people.
Loving: Spending time with all my blogging besties. Blogging is a weird hobby and an even weirder job and although my real life friends try really hard to get it, it’s just not the same as when I spend time with my online crew.
Pondering: Getting a tattoo. I’ve never really wanted one but I have a phrase I’ve been sitting with since I went to India in 2011 and the urge hasn’t quite left me. It will probably never happen but the thought pops up from time to time.
Considering: Growing my hair really, really long again.
Buying: Jewellery! I bought myself a beautiful obsidian ring when I was in Byron to celebrate an excellent year in business and to keep myself inspired for my next phase. It’s my version of a performance review for the self employed.
Watching: Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge… or anything at all with Alan Partridge.
Hoping: To get some solid work time over the next few days. I’m travelling to 4 states within the span of a week and travel is a total marvellous time suck.
Marvelling: At planes. I never ever get sick of them or stop thinking they’re totally cool.
Cringing: At people taking my Instagram memes, cutting off my @smaggle watermark at the bottom and re-gramming without credit. It takes me ages to make them and it’s a bit mean to not credit me.
Needing: New underwear but I hate all the underwear so it makes it very difficult to buy it.
Questioning: The existence of my fringe. It happened quite accidentally and now I don’t know what the hell to do with it. Keep it? Grow it? Advice needed.
Smelling: Coffee. Sweet delicious Melbourne coffee.
Wearing: Marimekko and Cos everything. I don’t need to shop anywhere else. I’m done. I once had a reader describe my style as Gothic Gypsy Nimbin Minimalist and these stores serve my style perfectly.
Following: ChilliPhilly. Cannot get enough of this guy.
Noticing: How much bigger ‘big butts’ are these days. Sir Mix A Lot has no idea what big butts are. Anaconda forever.
Knowing: …me knowing you. Ah-ha! (That’s a joke that only Alan Partridge fans will understand but I couldn’t help myself!)
Thinking: About bed time. I’ve been very in to my sleep these days. I was having trouble sleeping last year and crochet has totally fixed it so now I’ve fallen back in love with my bed.
Admiring: The career of Judy Greer. If I could have one Hollywood career, it would be hers. Not so famous that she can’t live a normal life but famous enough so she never runs out of work or money. The perfect combination.
Sorting: My Evernote files and trying to come up with better systems for note keeping. My current system is pretty good but when it comes to organisation, I like to reach for the stars.
Getting: Buff! My bestie and I have been hitting the gym about 4 times a week. We have a running joke that her wedding is going to be a nude wedding so we both need thigh gaps. There’s a trainer at the gym who thinks we’re being dead serious and keeps suggesting exercises for us. So helpful.
Bookmarking: All About Ami, Crochet in Colour and Attic 24.
Coveting: A new couch. Ours is on it’s last legs.
Disliking: The boring part of my business. I have so much money stuff to deal with and all I want to do is the fun stuff like speaking and writing.
Opening: Boxes and boxes of yarn. Like if I go to the post office and it’s not yarn, I pout.
Giggling: At my full on comedy spray last Saturday night. I took a swig of red wine right as Chrissy busted out the best MC Hammer impersonation of the century and I laughed and sprayed wine EVERYWHERE!!! It was amazing. I live for comedy spray.
Feeling: Really good actually. Very busy but quite well after being sick for a week. Life is good.
Snacking: On cucumbers and capsicums. I’m trying to eat less packaged snacks so I’ve been wandering around eating capsicums like apples.
Helping: Mr Smaggle get up in the morning. He actually sucks until about midday, poor petal.
Hearing: Rumours about a new Flight of the Conchords project. This pleases me greatly.
Here’s a blank one if you want to do it yourself! And you should because it’s lovely.
Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Buying:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Cringing:
Needing:
Questioning:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Coveting:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Snacking:
Helping:
Hearing:
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How are things with you? Want to take a little life break and take stock in the comments section?
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By the way you should totally sign up for the Smaggle newsletter and like Smags on Facebook. I don’t want to pressure you but I heard all the cool kids are doing it. Just saying.