Have you ever ... #vlog #chaiwithsuzy #SuzysIlation

Have you ever thought about your retirement?

Does it scare you or are you excited about it?  I have mixed feelings -somedays it's scary and somedays I look forward to it.

Lately, as I get closer to 60, I've been thinking about it a fair bit so grab a cuppa and chat with me about retirement.

on my youtube channel: https://youtu.be/7Q7G6FkyEYg

I hope you enjoyed my vlog and that perhaps if you find the thought of retirement scary, my chat has alleviated some of that anxiety. Share your thoughts on retirement in the comments below.


Written for:
#LifeThisWeek

Linking to:
#MondayMusings
#Openslather
LovinLife


Enjoy your week.

Warm Regards


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Fun, Relaxing, Refreshing #vlog #chaiwithsuzy #FridayReflections

Life today, in general terms, just seems hectic, stressful, achievement focussed (and I mean big achievements). Everyone seems to want to reach great heights, make a name for themselves, earn the big bucks. Nothing wrong with that, but it makes life a little complicated and quite rest-less.

So how does one relax, refresh and renew?  Because without resetting at points in time, in my view, we'll just break.

Everyone has their own reset button. So there is no one size fits all.  This post is not advice on what your reset button should look like, but it's about my reset button.

Music, Arts, Crafts, Writing, Walking, Meditation are some of my big reset buttons.

So today on the vlog I share with you a card I made for someone's big O birthday.

Making cards is so much fun. It takes the focus off any persistent issues, and it brings out my creative side.  I love paper! So card making is just the perfect thing to do. It also adds a personal touch to the greeting and time invested in it is a way of showing your affection and love for that person.

So grab a cuppa and join me on a fun card making Sunday afternoon.

https://youtu.be/y53fmNHuFms

I hope you enjoyed today's vlog.  These are the moments when I am truly loving life.

What are your reset buttons? Share in the comments below or write a post and join in at #FridayReflections.

Rest when you're weary. 

Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. 

Then get back to work. 

~ Ralph Marston

Written for
#FridayReflections hosted by Everyday Gyaan and Kohl Eyed Me prompt Write about something that makes you feel refreshed and renewed.

Linking to 
Lovin' Life
#openslather at One Mother Hen
#LifeThisWeek
#MondayMusings


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Getting ready for Mother's Day #vlog01 #chaiwithsuzy

I've been wanting to do a vlog for a long time and also something different on my blog. So I thought I would start a new vlog series called "Chai with Suzy"

I'm not sure if this is going to be a niche vlog like arts and crafts but I'll just go with the flow and see how this evolves.

I intend to post a vlog a week but haven't decided on a day yet. Or perhaps I'll coincide the vlog with some other linkups. Don't know, I'll see how I go and what kind of response I get.

And now to the vlog ...

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and is perfect to showcase my first vlog, "Getting ready for Mother's Day". If you follow me on Instagram Suzy.Ila then you will have seen this already. But I have added some additional bits and pieces. 

So grab a cup of chai or coffee and join me on my vlog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dLWmAXNU-w

I love making cards and I enjoyed making this one. The editing may not be so good as I am just learning. The idea is not to be perfect but to showcase the fun I had.

Would love to hear what you thought and if this looks like a good idea. Also let me know what you would be interested in seeing besides my arts and crafts.

And if you vlog, please link up your vlog post so I can drop by and enjoy yours.

#chaiwithsuzy

Happy Mother's Day. I hope you have an awesome day.

Linking to #Openslather  #MicroblogMonday #WritingWednesdays

Warm Regards


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Birthday Cards ... #writebravely #WriteTribeProBlogger #FridayReflections

It was only a few years ago that I would receive so many cards on my birthday from family and friends around the world.

Now I get txt messages, whatsapp messages, facebook messges. I am grateful that I receive so many wishes, blessings, and greetings on my birthday. But I miss the cards. There is something about holding a card from someone who took the time and effort and sent or gave it with love.

So since last year I have started making birthday cards for family and friends. I get a lot of pleasure out of it and it keeps my creative juices flowing.

Here are cards I received this year on my birthday from my dearest loved ones. These are so special for me.

And here's a card I made for my daughter for hers. Still haven't completed one for my mother (tomorrow's task) and then I'll start on all the November birthdays. I love making cards. Even when I was little I was always making things - cards, little notebooks, art work.

To cultivate joy, pay attention to what you like

~ Billy Fingers (from the book The Aferlife of Billy Fingers)

What do you think? Has social media taken away that personal touch ? Share your thoughts.

Written for
#WriteTribeProBlogger Challenge
#FridayReflections


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5 Hobbies #FridayReflections

Unfortunately I missed the Friday Reflections prompt last week and I really wanted to write on my 5 hobbies and why I love them. So thank you Sanch for the prompt this week - write on any November prompt.

Dictionary.com defines a hobby as "an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation".

When I was young I collected stamps and postcards.  I still have my collection tucked away in a box somewhere. I also loved writing letters and at a point in time I had over 100 pen friends. I shared my thoughts and my life with them through my letters. I also had a fascination for stationery. Paper gave me a great thrill and I was forever making things from origami to little books, cards etc. And I loved to paint and colour.

Unfortunatey stamps and postcards collecting has gone by the wayside as has snail mail letter writing. But some of my earlier hobbies have transformed into the hobbies of today  (in no particular order) ...

Writing
I love writing. It's been a passion not since my young but my little days. Writing is so therapeutic. When the world of blogging opened up it was like a fabulous gift that was given to me, a chance to share my thoughts with the world with the hope that my words inspire someone. I also love poetry and share my poems on my poetry blog Reflections of my soul.  Poetry brings me great joy. So in the end letter writing transformed into blogging. 

Watercolour Painting
In November 2015 I came across some youtube videos on watercolour painting and I had to try my hand with it. I absolutely loved it. I paint on postcard size paper so within 20 minutes a painting emerges. Painting is so relaxing and watercolours are so unpredictible that more often than not the effects they produce are unexpectedly delightful.

Mixed Media Art Journalling
When I was young, I used to keep diaries of my thoughts and ramblings but when I moved to NZ I destroyed my diaries. I have no regrets as they served their purpose at that time. Over the years I tried to pick it up again but couldn't sustain it. Then I discovered mixed media art journalling. Now this is so much fun. I keep my journalling simple - a mixed media picture, scene etc with some words to go with it.

Crafting - Card Making
Mixed media art journalling led to card making.  This year I decided to make all my cards - adding a personal touch. Card making really challenges my creative skills. I'm hoping that this and my watercolour painting are hobbies that I can convert into post retirement charitable creations. My aim is to create and then donate my creations to places like hospice shops so they can sell and keep the profits.

Photography
I've loved photography from ever since I can remember. My late father was an avid photographer and my love for photography comes from him.  Photography for me is not about taking the perfect picture but about capturing a moment in time that you can remember forever. My photoblog Photos Are Fun is my photo showcase.


Some of my creations ...

sharing my thoughts from a snail mail challenge - a letter I wrote to a blogger, and my photo

my watercolour painting - Mt Fuji and Cherry Blossoms - the story behind this painting

from my mixed media art journal - I love this quote.

 one of my handmade Christmas cards. a few more shown here

Written for:
#FridayReflections at The Write Tribe - 5 hobbies and why I love them

Linking to:
Inspire Me Monday week 256
#openslather at One Mother Hen
No Rules Weekend Party at Sincerely Paula
#MicroblogMonday #118
#MondayMusings



Wishing you all an inspirational week. What is your favourite hobby? Do share in the comments or write your own post.


Warm Regards


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