September 2010

Wednesday – Weigh in Day

by Chavah Kinloch on September 29, 2010

Well lucky me. It’s that time of the month again which means weigh in day is a complete write off.

The good news… I’m still exactly the same wight as before.

The bad news… I’m still exactly the same weight as before.

To top it all off, I’m now sick. Awesome!

Life returned back to normal this week at least. Back at the gym and eating what I know I should be eating. I did go out to dessert with the girls though but I timed it right and went after a really good weights session. So I didn’t feel guilty, just enjoyed the freedom.

Here’s this weeks results.

Next week the ticker is going dowwwwwn. From 5.1kg lost to 20kg lost. Ha! Yeah right, I wish. If only it were that easy.

I lost 4cm this week too. So now the total amount lost is 121.5cm.

Thinking I might have to do a private 21 days journey to make sure I keep my eye on the prize! Time to put in some more effort. I’m happy to say my husband worked out last night and guess what: he’s still alive, so I have my support person back again which is already making a difference.

Life’s been busy lately, more looking after a bunch of kids that aren’t mine (almost a whole damn week of it), exhibition prep, I just got home from working with some teen girls at Invercargill City Gallery (loved it) and it’s the school holidays, so all of my munchkins are gnawing at my heels. I also managed to get back into Boston’s room yesterday, I’ll update that progress with a post tomorrow!

For now though, I’m feeling rather worn out and tired so it’s time for some afternoon tea.

I’ll be back with a really good tip next week! I might even implement it into my life this week just to prove it works.

Catch you then. xx

{ 5 comments }

10 Minutes with Lisa Brook of Urban Habitat

by Chavah Kinloch on September 26, 2010

Urban Habitat is one of New Zealand’s up and coming interior design companies. Launched by Lisa Brook – Artist, Decorator and Interior Designer, Urban Habitat offers professional interior design services and designer products to every day Kiwis at fixed prices; helping clients achieve their desired look, within each individuals’ specific budget.

With Urban Habitat’s help, using their concept boards and colour schemes; they will transform a persons space into a fresh, creative, contemporary design. They are proud to support and promote like minded local New Zealand businesses and their products. Find Urban Habitat on their website, Facebook and Twitter.

Favourite interior trend right now?


Definitely wallpaper feature walls.. I love that wallpaper can incorporate so many elements of design in one product – amazing colours, beautiful textures, bold patterns and stunning effects. And the beauty of wallpaper is that if you want a change, it’s easy to remove and replace. And it’s affordable.

When did you realise you wanted to be an interior designer?

I’ve had a love for houses since I was at high school. I left school quite sure I was going to build them so did a 1 year carpentry course. Being the only female in the entire department of nearly 200 blokes, I stood out like a sore thumb (excuse the pun). That didn’t deter me though, my realisation that I wasn’t cut out to be a builder came when I was working as a builder’s apprentice, climbing up the side of a house in the middle of winter in the mud, wind and rain. I decided I’d rather be on the inside of a house! From there it was a close call between studying architecture or interior design.

Where do you find inspiration?


Everywhere. Everywhere I go, I’m looking at things and relating them back to interiors. From things as simple as the trees in my garden and their changing leaf colours, to going to the mall and seeing what colours are popular in clothing and fashion. Even going to the hardware store, I find myself looking at industrial products or garden sculptures and thinking of ways I can bring them indoors. I surf the net and read a lot of interior design magazines and adapt concepts I’ve seen and add my own ideas to them.

What has been your most challenging aspect so far?

The most challenging aspect for me so far has been setting up Urban Habitat with two preschoolers. Any parent out there will know that you don’t get any spare time to yourself except when the little ones have gone to bed. And that for me, has meant many late night’s working.

On any given day you can find me…

Doing the washing. I never seem to catch up with it. As soon as I bring in a load, I have another load to hang out in its place.

My secret indulgence is…


Turkish delight and anything chocolate, I have a real sweet tooth.

My latest purchase was...

A Boston bedside table lamp, since the kids broke my old bedside lamp. Not that I’m complaining, it was the perfect excuse to go shopping.

I can’t live without…

Facebook, I’m a bit addicted (actually a lot). And my parents who happily take the kids off our hands so we can have a break or head out to the movies and dinner for an evening.

Favourite place to be?

In bed, I love my sleep.

Dreams and goals?


I’d love to study architecture. It would be awesome to combine both architecture and interior design and alternate between the two as careers. I’d also love to travel more; a few places on my wishlist are India , Dubai , Rome and Japan . I’d love to experience the culture of these places and see in person the amazing architecture they have.

{ 16 comments }

Weigh in Day

by Chavah Kinloch on September 22, 2010

It’s weigh in day.

Ohhh no, time to confess! I’ve been dreading it this week. I have made such a pathetic effort!

I didn’t do anything I should have done and I’ve basically babysat someones else’s kid/s every day in a snowed in house. The kids were good but it took up all my time.

The gyms been out of bounds because you’re not meant to be out on the roads and most businesses shut down through the storm (which is still going on). Working out with 7 people in the one room set up to do it, just wasn’t happening!

As if that wan’t bad enough, to top it off I let myself eat the junk that my husband keeps bringing into the house. With him still not back on board with this, I’m losing it! I’ve said no a thousand times but fighting the urges when they’re constantly in your face is frustrating.

I did get out in the snow and just walking through it all with snow boots on was a workout. Those shoes are heavy! Snow fights and making snow men worked a few muscles too.

When the kids that weren’t mine found their way home, I worked out in my living room. So although my efforts were pathetic, I did still have some drive behind me.

Today though, we talked about the frustration. I refuse to fail. I’ve lined up physical activities for the week (hopefully we don’t get snowed in again but we’ve got a civil defence extreme weather warning for tonight, so I’m not holding my breath). I’ve got my gym gear at the ready and I’m making some super yummy healthy meals. Only good foods will enter my body! If it’s not working for me, it’s working against me and that’s not ok. I don’t want to be fat anymore.

I haven’t strayed from my water though, that must be my saving grace because here are the results for this weeks weigh in:

Same as last week!

I did my measurements too and I dropped another 10.5cm. Thank you muscle! Still trying to burn all those bad calories I’m putting into my body. I promise I won’t make your battle any harder.

The measurement drops were 3cm from my hips and almost all the rest off my boobs. Goodbye massive boobage! Glad to see you go. I do like my boobs when they’re a sensible size but right now, they’re just ridiculous. In clothes they look good, take away supportive underwear though and it’s a nothing but your worst nightmare. :P

So there’s my awful confession. I’m over it. Every time I put something bad in my body this past week I felt unsatisfied. I managed to move those extra cm from my hips like I wanted to do last week though. That’s something positive at least. Just my luck, I get a summer dress and sandals and the biggest snow dump in 15 years hits.

Now I’m off to get ready for the gym before we’re snowed in again.

{ 2 comments }

Update on a DIY Project for Boston’s Room

by Chavah Kinloch on September 21, 2010

Last night I got back to work on the chair for Boston’s room.

Did I happen to mention that I’ve never actually upholstered a chair before? I think it turned out pretty well for a first attempt! I’m not finished with it yet. I have to add the finishing touches to cover up my tracks but I’m feeling confident that I can actually pull this off. Exciting times!

The yellow is so incredibly bright, the only way I’ll be able to get a shot with it’s true colour is to drag it outside when the sun is shining. The above photo has been enhanced but it’s still not there. So lets hope, that come the time I finish this chair, the sun will be shining and I can finally show you just how powerful the colour is.

I confessed the other day that my sewing skills are almost non-existent, so obviously I’m attempting to reupholster this magnificent little beauty without touching a sewing machine. This next stage may need me to try to sew a straight line but that’s as far a I’m taking it!

I figure that it’s best I attempt to create my own little yellow chair instead of going bankrupt trying to purchase the likes of this:

Oswald armchair with hakon yellow velvet. RRP of £1495 which equals $3212.90 NZ.

If I had the money spare to buy such luxuries, I would. I do appreciate designers. They are, after all, artists. Like the average stay at home Mum though, their gorgeous products are a little (read: a lot) outside of my budget.

If I had the ability to choose exactly what I wanted to buy; nothing spared, no worrying about money; my home would be a  mix of both high and low end items. I’ve never been a label snob, I like what I like, it doesn’t matter if it costs $1 or $1000. Handmade items are a favourite because of the love that goes into creating them while an expensive designer item has always guaranteed me quality.

Where do you sit on the scale? Are you a bargain hunter or designer diehard?

{ 6 comments }

Time to Turn it On

by Chavah Kinloch on September 19, 2010

We’re not getting much done on the room this weekend. NZ has had a storm and the type of storm we got where I live,  was a snow storm. It’s actually been a lot of fun but it’s so cold there’s just no way we could paint the room. Up until the snow arrived it’d been really sunny and beautiful. It’s been such a contrast in weather these past few days. Beautiful though!

On the first day of the storm, Friday, when it was just cold and miserable; the electrician came over to install a lampshade I bought – once again- some time ago.

I didn’t have an electrician, so how else does one find one nowadays but through asking for recommendations on Facebook. :P

As luck would have it I knew some people, who knew some people and with that an appointment was made and I found myself an electrician.

This is what the lightshade looked like before: (Ok, I forgot to take a photo of the one in Boston’s room so this is the exact same style of shade but on his sisters ceiling – those dots are glow in the dark stars.)

and this is his new designer lampshade:

It has the most amazing glow when it’s on! Money well spent IMO. Putting it together was a mission and a half. It came in pieces in an envelope with the WORST instructions ever. There’s an online video you can watch to help you figure it out but that’s no better!

Eventually, Andrew figured it out on his own but after sitting around (where it was meant to be safe) little hands touched it and a few of the pieces came undone. I attempted to fix it and am proud to say I did it!

So, next to the paint and the cot, this is the most expensive part of the room. In saying that, for the result it gives and the actual amount it cost, it’s really affordable.

Electrician + Dangly hanging bit of the light = $50 (I only had 20′s though and he was so efficient I paid $60)

Lampshade & delivery = $30

Total = $90

Things are starting to take shape! I’ll try and finish the chair over the coming week. If it stays this cold we won’t be painting for a while yet so it’s the perfect time to finish some other projects.

{ 11 comments }

A DIY Cot Blanket

I taught myself to sew last night. Seriously! I am a crafty lady but when it comes to sewing…I suck. It took me 1/2 an hour to figure out how to thread the sewing machine butttt after a few test runs I got it right. I learned to sew when I was 11 and I [...]

A DIY Project for Boston’s Room

Sometime time last year I picked up this chair from Habitat for Humanity. I knew I wanted a really comfortable single chair in the corner of Bostons room so I went looking around. I came across some really fun chairs being sold at furniture stores and online; but their price tags were in the thousands of [...]

← Previous Entries