Introducing My New Travel Blog

Just about everybody knows this but I'm heading off to travel in 8 weeks but just to make it a bit more official I'm formally introducing FabricCats - On Tour. My travel blog which keeps y'all up to date with where we are in the world. 

As I will not be doing a lot of crafting/sewing/cooking whilst I'm away you can expect the original FabricCats blog to be on a bit of a hiatus. I may do a few more markets and make some bits and bobs until I leave but things are winding down around here. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and I hope the new year brings wonderful and exciting things your way.

How To Be A Positive Person

I used to be a really negative person ruled by my own fears and insecurities. Some of it had to do with my Asian upbringing, you were taught to work hard through fear of failing i.e. if I don't study hard I'm going to fail this test and will never get a good job. 

I did get those good grades but I was extremely stressed and had no life. Ten years later I can look back through retrospective eyes and see what things have made me into a more positive and balanced person.

1. Surround yourself with positive people

Get a support network of people who you trust and respect. Sometimes you just need a bit of encouragement to push you in the right direction. Listen to only constructive feedback, of course there will be be people out there who will say negative and possibly hurtful things to you. Try to avoid these people or stick to neutral subjects so you don't get your feelings hurt.

2. Be confident

Be assured in the set of skills that you have and know that you can adapt and develop as a person. There is no such thing as failure, just growth. If you don't know how to do something, learn it. I was worried that my first market stall wouldn't be a success but at the end of the day I can feel proud that I had actually gone out there at done it. Don't worry so much about what other people think and just focus on your own goals.

3. Be balanced

I found I'm most at ease when I've got a good balance between my physical, emotional, work and creative needs. I work during the day, create at night, fit in the occasional run and see my friends on the weekend. But sometimes I just need some time to completely veg out and its easy to get stressed and feel like I'm doing 'nothing'. Everyone deserves some down time.

4. Be present

When I was younger I lived with a lot of regret. I'd worry about what things I could have said to people and if that offended them. This is a negative spiral that will get you no where. There's also no point going into the many tangents of the future and dreaming up scenarios that will never happen either. Just be an organised person in the present and trust that most things work out ok. 

5. Dream Big

Don't be trapped by the smallness of normal life. I wanted to get out and see the world and experience things that I can't in Sydney suburbia. So we've saved up for year and we're selling all our stuff and leaving next year. It's as simple as that. You only have this one life, so why waste on it the mundane?

Sydney Rides Festival

When Kevin and I come back to Australia in a few years we've decided we're moving to Melbourne. Not that we don't love Sydney for all its lovely weather, beaches and containment of our friends and family but we're hoping Melbourne will provide us with a better living culture.

One thing I'm particularly hoping for is a better bike culture where pedestrians and motorists are more accepting of cyclists. In Sydney I am constantly disappointed by the lack of empathy for cyclists who should be supported for reducing the amount congestion on our roads and fumes in our air. 

Today was the launch of the Sydney Rides Festival. Three spots along the Bourke St bike path were dedicated to live music, markets and spaces to sit and relax. 

Ukulele band

I got to eat a rose and raspberry popsicle next to Hunter the kelpie, decorate my bike basket with streamers and flowers,and whilst Kevin was trying out the new free street bike pump across the Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills - Clover Moore (mayor of Sydney) came over and talked to us about how we were finding the new pump. Plus Kevin got to pat her staffies. 

Overall a great day in the sun and even though we got abused by a crazy dude and almost hit by a car (typical Sydney folks), we will keep on bikin'.

Life in a flash

Reading clockwise.

1. Daisy is over for the week, first encounter with miniature things.

2. Marcs dress with peter pan collar. Current project.

3. Owl figurines in tea shop in The Strand, Sydney. So darn cute.

4. Mossimo poppy print pants. Pretty print.

5. Bake sweet potato chips, perfect as is.

Work/life balance

It's hard for me to fit time to sew around work. I work 8 hours a day at a Vet clinic then get home and all I want to do is sew. I sew for around 5 hours a day when I'm not eating, working or sleeping. I truly love it and time goes by so quickly when I'm in that creative zone. Don't get me wrong, I love being a Vet and going to a place where I can cuddle animals all day and make a positive impact on an animal's life. So how do I find the balance between the two?

At the moment I'm trying to balance being a Vet and doing my feline medicine course and squeezing in a lot of sewing around it. But I'm neglecting my studies a bit because when I get home from work, I REALLY don't feel like doing more Vet work. As a clear sign of defiance I've made the following two tops in the past  two weeks when I really should be doing my assignment. 

Last night I dreamt I was in the middle of a maths exam and all my nails were rotting off. I think the stress of trying to fit everything is getting to me and I have to cut back on something and sadly I'm thinking its the sewing. It's upsetting to think about it but until the assignment is done...I'm going to have to unplug the sewing machine.

Ruminations of an almost 27 year old

My birthday is in 2 days time and now is that time of year where I start to get a bit philosophical  and reflect on what I've achieved as a 26 year old. 

Every year, your priorities shift, you lose a lot of 'life clutter' and you really begin to focus on who and what things are truly important to you. Slowly but surely, you become an 'adult' yet for me it's not in the usual let's get married, have 2.5 kids and buy a house (though that's not to say that time will not come).

I'd like to think that a year from now I'd be doing something completely different, whether it be travelling or at a new job or city. I think the past year has been really good to me, I've:

- Started regularly exercising and finished a running event.

- Improved my cooking skills and have included a lot of fresh food into my diet.

- Stopped shopping altogether and am in the process of getting rid of all my material goods and saved lots of money so I....

- Made the leap of faith and will be leaving the country for a round the world trip in 2013.

- Improved my sewing skills and will be hopefully having a wardrobe mostly of my own making. 

- Started studying again and feeling more invested and interested as a Vet.

- Started this blog so I can share my experiences and improve my writing skills. 

I'd like to think that you should be a better person than the person you were yesterday, just picking up a new skill or just being nicer or more patient. Today I woke up and just felt really great, I jogged to Bronte beach and running along the cliffs is just so uplifting. I'm looking forward to the rest of today and to turning 27. Who knows what the future holds...can't wait!

View from Clovelly cliffs

Dealing with the Winter Blues

Apologies for the delay between posts this June folks. I know you've been eagerly waiting but in all honesty I just wasn't doing anything all that inspirational. I've been recently wondering why I've been so lazy this month.

The weather was getting more miserable with the start of Winter. I was more inclined to roll about in bed til 10.30am on my days off. And even when I did manage to join the living, I wasn't really doing anything. I lacked motivation, inspiration and enthusasiasm. After a bit of research (google search: why do I have no motivation?), I reckon that poor effort on my behalf may not be *completely* my fault after all (that would be convenient wouldn't it?).

Well indeed I might have a case of S.A.D. or seasonal affective disorder. According to wikipaedia, symptoms of SAD may consist of difficulty waking up in the morning, tendency to oversleep and over eat, especially a craving for carbohydrates, which leads to weight gain. Other symptoms include a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating on or completing tasks, and withdrawal from friends, family, and social activities.

Let's bring in exhibit A:

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

I have been going dessert crazy and have made (in sequential order) a banana and passionfruit pavlova, green tea cupcakes, blueberry and lime panacotta, strawberry and blueberry Eaton mess and just this morning - caramelised apple crepes with whipped cream.

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

It's a travesty. I've really got to find some way to get my spirits up again and not rely so much much on delicious desserts. I'm also going to try to get some more Vitamin D, sit out in the sun for a bit. Ride my bike somewhere. Go for a jog. OK, I'm off. Wish me luck!

x

x

x

x

x