I have moved.... Follow me to Polka Dot Pjs

:-)

Earlier today I had a wordpress account, which is still up, though wont be updated. It is titled the same as my new account (just to make things confusing) though is not hosted on a server. The link above is the ONLY blog from here on in that I will be updating! So, unless you want to miss out on things planned for this new blog, please make sure that you follow the link above!
Mwah. xxx
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WARNING: Site is undergoing changes so that it will be all cozy... so please tread lightly, wipe your feet and hang your coat! (haha)

Wordpress... here I come!

I have created a new blog... I am just in the process of moving house and tidying up a little before I have guests come to play... so keep an eye out for the link... and then... let the party begin.

No follower at this point... i know... i know.. that was the reason that i was getting so frustrated... though i am working on it. I am sure there is one out there, somewhere, i just have to find it.

Lyn.. i promise to send your way a long rope so you can tie the end around your waste so you don't get lost!

Love and hugs

xxx

All in the name of Followers...

Grrrrrr....

I HATE this stupid thing.



I read your post Lyn and dont you worry your pretty head. I will take you along with me, where ever I should land with this stupid blogging thing.

If i go to something new, i will have a link for you to follow... you wont get lost!

Though...as you can see guys.... this blog has changed some what.. and i hate it!
I thought that by changing templates to something new, since my blog originated in 2004, that I may be having problems with the "Follower" ability, simply because if was an old template.. but... it appears not! Grrrrr.



I created a new blog, purely to test... and you guessed it... it had a follower thingamajiggy.. the same thingamajiggy that elludes me on this blog. Grrrrrrr again.



There will be change after change done to this blog while i figure it out. While it would be easier to just toss in the towel, im stuborn and dont like to lose!



I WILL WIN THIS WAR BLOGGER... MARK MY WORD ON IT! (them be fightin' words!)

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NOTE: This bolg has reverted to the old format, though for how long, no one really knows. GOD HELP my BLOGGER... cause i dont think anyone else will!

Silly Blogger... behave!

I have tried to add a feature to my blog today, to enable people to follow my blog and that follower list to be visible to all that come to my blog, though silly bloger does not want to play the game... it comes up as a broken link continually.

Its not hard... honestly, its as easy as clicking a button.. but... blogger wants to make it hard... I am frustrated at this moment in time and losing my patience. I am thinking that I may very well have to source a new blog host if blogger does not start to co-operate!

Grrr

Latest Scraptacular Calendars

What would the calendars be without a few sneak peeks of what is coming up??

Lexia has made this stunning album in commemoration of Scraptaculars latest scrap retreat. The theme was "once upon a Time". While unfortunately, I did not attend the retreat, what I have heard, and seen makes me wish that I did... With a theme like this though, it doesn't matter weather you were lucky enough to attend or not... This album was created using the most glorious collection of embellishments and the stunning Girls Paperie - Paper Girl papers and would make a beautiful addition to any little girls treasure pile.. I know one little girl in particular that would go NUTS for this little album. If you know someone that would go nuts for this class, or you would just love to have a treasure like this for yourself, keep an eye out on the upcoming months newsletters and calendars for find out more details!

And she does it again!!!! Another wonderful and totally awe inspiring project from the talented Miss Lexia! With use of Collections, and a beautiful 7 Gypsies Piece, she has created a wonderful treasure, suitable for preserving treasured memories, or photos of loved ones.
She will be teaching this class at Scraptacular on:

Saturday 16th of October from 1.30-4.00pm
Wednesday 20th of October from 1.00-4.00pm

Inspired by the talented Audrey Underwood, this 12"x12" canvas has been created by Julie, the owner of Scraptacular. I spent the longest time yesterday, standing, looking at all the details in this. It is amazing. I am surrounded by so much talent and I will happily stand in their shadows!
There is so much depth and texture to this piece! It has been created with loads of products from "Collections".

The class bookings close TODAY so unless you want to miss out on making this beauitufl piece, you need to contact the girls at Scraptacular NOW!!!

Using a mix of the new range of papers in Teal, Sepia, Black & White and an assortment of inchies, twinchies & thrinchies tiles you will take home a completed Canvas Collage filled with treasures and artistic features.

There is quite a bit of work in this creation so the workshop will run for a full day with... a prep class offered or perhaps you'd like to complete a little bit of homework before class. It really is worth every bit of work put into this piece of art, you really have to see it to appreciate the detail and once completed you will want to create another version.

Workshop is being offered as a Kit Class as there is a lot of little bits and pieces that you will need, this will keep the costs down and also make the class run smoothly.

If you have any further queries or would like to see the project in real life just call or pop in to the shop as the Collections Collage Canvas is on display now.

Cost of Kit Class is $95.00 - this includes all materials, workshop & morning/afternoon tea.
Date: Full day workshop is on Saturday the 31st July from 10.00am till 5.00pm
Prep' workshop is on Friday the 30th July from 6.00pm - 9.00pm or you can collect your kit and complete your prep work at home
Bookings must be finalised by Sunday the 25th July.
(Customer Loyalty Discount does not apply to this Kit Class)

(I hope you dont mind Lex - as I said, I have had difficulty seeing images sent via mail, so I have grabbed some of these from your blog!)

I will post more sneaks of upcoming classes soon!

Until then... stay safe, have fun and dont forget to smile!

Upcoming Classes

Man, you know.. if you live in the Melbourne area and miss any of these classes at Scraptacular you are totally bonkers!

I have seen them all and my goodness... they are nothing short of divine.

I am the luckiest gal around... not only am I part of a wonderful design team, the girls that are part of with me are such an inpsiration and just so freakin' talented... I have not once NOT been not awe-inspired by anything that I have seen...

In August we have a month packed full of scrummy stuff... from a beautiful layout using Basic Grey papers with Lexia and a Websters Pages layout by myself to mini albums from Debbi who has got it all wrapped up for someone wishing to make a special album for a bubba and Lexia (who is one busy busy gal) who is making a multi-media album that has it all.. tags, pockets, special treasures to find to and last but definately not least a Collections collage canvas by Julie!

See... I told you it was nothing short of a spectacular month... and we are doing all this... as well as heading to Paperific!!!

So... what you need to do now... is drop by the store at:
Shop 4, 1297 Nepean Highway,
Cheltenham VIC 3192

and check out these scrummy creations up close and book your spot in the classes, or... just take my word on it and give one of the girls a call on 95845000 and book your spot before you miss out!!

A change is coming...

{I think!}

For the past few weeks I have been scrapping without issue... without stressing about what the page will turn out like... without reason. I have just been scrapping. Of course, I have been doing this scrapping to put on display in Scraptacular, though for the first time in a long time, I have just been scrapping.

The layouts that I have created, have not necessarily been the kind that I have scrapped in the past. For one, I have been working A LOT with Websters Pages papers. While they are pretty, the are not something that I would generally scrap, more than one layout with... though, I have enjoyed this change, immensely.

Secondly, comes the fact that I have used flowers. Yes, I know that I have been known to use the odd flower, though we are not talking a jumbo kind of flower that I would usually use as a large embellishment, we are talking the prima kind... and scarier still... the HANDMADE kind!

These layouts have been detailed, complex, layered pages... nothing like the clean kinds of layouts that I have been doing over the last 6-12 months. I LIKE!! I like creating something, that causes someone to look and look at the page, seeing detail.. and sometimes the tiniest detail, that could, if attention was not paid, be overlooked the first time.

I think I am evolving (again)... I think a change is coming.... and I think... I will enjoy the ride.
{ofcourse, I have no doubt that there will be a fair share of the layouts that have become customarily, my known styled layouts}.

A promise is a Promise....

....and I am not one that likes to go back on a promise, so... here I am, keeping good to one.

I have finally gotten around to posting pics of some of the layouts that I have been working on before I got working with Scraptacular.... but what I didn't realise, was how many that I have forgotten to take photos of along the way... and then, there are a few... well.. Im sure I have shared, but can't seem to find record of showing, so ... please excuse me if you have seen some before. Others, well... had something or other missing... so have been buried on my desk just waiting for that last important touch to be added or... found while others, simply needed photos added.

While I know what photos I want to use, I don't tend to print photos until after I have created the page most of the time. I know.. i know... not something that is the "done thing" but something that I have fallen into the habit of doing...for, well...
Two reasons.

1. If I only scrapped photos that I had laying around, I would never get much scrapping done. I find it better to scrap when the mood strikes or a few free hours spring up, and pop the photo in later.

2. Young scrappers. Generally speaking, if there is a photo laying around and its not somehow "nailed" to my layouts or just my desk in general, it it free for the taking.. or atleast, the asking, nagging, begging! This reverts back to reason #1. If I had to wait for time to scrap the ideal photo, I would never get is scrapped because someone would have beaten me to the print!

Thanks for looking... I hope there is something there that inspires someone. (I have done my best to remember weather I have uploaded anything previously. If by some chance that at this late hour, I have been a dope and popped something up for a second time on this blog, please ignore it. Its late. I'm tired. Bed is looking very inviting!)

(I dont think This layout and this photo work properly together. I am thinking that I may have to reprint the photo in B&W. The photo was taken, yeeeeeears ago. Mirandas little friend had given her a dress up dress and boa to play in for the afternoon. I could not resist the opp to take some photos of her in it. It just was soooo pretty!)

(This little poppet loves school. To the point that she has actually asked, during the first few days of school holidays to go to school. When informed that infact there is no one there and that she would be by herself, she has said "that is okay mummy.. I will just take my story books and read on my classroom steps! Talk about Keen! I wonder if she will be like that still in a few years! ha!)

("Upside down Daddy!!!" - one of the most common phrases for a long while. Not a lot has changed... she still loves to be upside down. Miranda and Matt in the gardens near the old Parliament House in Canberra - One very chilly, winters day!)

(What can be said now that has not been said before!? If a soul can be split 3 ways, this girl and Matt are my other parts. Life would not be the same without this beautiful girl a part of mine. I didn't think I could love someone not related to me so much... though then again... she is my sister of the heart... my best friend... so anything is possible when it comes to her.
The background paper is actually a paper bag from The Body Shop the christmas before last)

(My Man Child...Jamie... The sweetest dude I know.. This is one of the few times he is not being his crazy self.. He didnt know this photo was being taken - perhaps that is a BIG part of the normality of this photo. hahah. )

(My gorgeous teenage daughter Kiera ... It is simple.. it is sweet... it compliments the photo... i think, anyway!)

(Do I need to say more? I cheated a little with this one... I actully scrapped it on New years eve, BEFORE the photo was even taken. Atleast when I usually scrap, I have a photo in mind. Hmmm.... Im not too sure what I would have done if fireworks pics did not turn out. I guess, considering that Mother Nature was giving her own show - with lightening, I could have snapped a shot of that, huh!?)

(I think this is a layout that somehow has slipped through the cracks when popping things up here. This was actually done, when I first started nursing a few years ago. I was tavelling between states on a weekly basis for a while (living away weekdays) and had a LOT of time on my hands when I was not studying. I took just enough stuff away to create... It is simple, though I think it just makes the beautiful photo just pop!)

(I dont have many photos of all the kids with my mum, though I was lucky this day at the beach, that they were all in the mood, right at the same time in order for me to capture the moment. It was my mums first every visit to the Brighton Beach Sheds and was something she had always wanted to see... I think the sight blew her away - There is nothing quite like it!)

(The beautiful, one and only Miss M. Who needs her daddy to take a picture of her when she can come up with one this great? I love it. Such a little poser.. though she loves to play with "george" (my camera for those who are not up to speed on my named inadement objects) and you can find her most weekends, snapping photos of her self as well as any number of obscure objects. I plan to make her a mini album/book "through the eyes of Roo")


(yep... you guessed it... that is me... as a baby..... wasn't i just too cute!? I LOVE this paper!)

(Miranda, sitting in her pram on the bank of the High Level of Katherine River. She had just woken up and was so hot. She just wanted to go home. We had been fishing for Barramundi in a known Croc hot spot. I was rather keen to get out of there too! Yikes!)

(Kiera Jamie and I at Mt Selwyn. Soaking wet, freezing cold but having too much fun to call it a day. The quote on the paper could not have suited the day better. I was being pelted with snowballs all day. The more I tried to stand up and get away from them, the harder and faster they were coming. I'm sure to a bystander, it was hilarious! ~I thought it was pretty damn funny as well~)

Time to Spill...

And tell you what I have been up to, scrapping wise that is.



For a while now I have dropped a few hints, as to something that was happening in the background, though something that I was not yet telling about... Well... I have been asked to scrap for a store here in Melbourne, The one below actually that I advertised as having a Huge Stocktake sale.. (~laughing at Lyns comment about Budgets).. It was seriously difficult to think beyond the sale, that is for sure... especially since she had so much on sale and so much that would have burned a hole in my pocket.. though, I was very good... I stayed at home and played instead with what I had in my own stash and the new stuff that Julie had me pick out from the store to work with.

Julie has asked me to be part of her design team, but also, to teach in store as I wish as well.. Which is extremely exciting. It is something that I have done before, though for the nerves that are rattling around in my tummy when I think about getting up in front of people and teaching them how to put together a layout based on something i have created, you'd think this was a first. I guess sometimes, no matter how practiced you are... nerves still get in the way, huh?

Now... the staying at home and away from the Stocktake sale was rather easy considering that I was stuck at home on Dr's advise and was awaiting results of CT scan to determine weather I had bruising, or a bleed on the brain after one hell of a collision with a door frame last Friday (30/5).

Breath Lyn... Everything is pretty well okay. He has cleared me of a bleed, though says that there is a little bruising... and he is questioning the results, and looking into the possibility of a little fracture. Though I have been given the all clear to return to work. (I had worked three days of last week, much to the Drs horror that I could have just dropped at any minute had it been a bleed and ordered me to stay home until the results were in).

Thursday and Friday saw me totally knocked out on medication that would help me sleep through the pain since pain meds were not doing anything for my headache. (have had one since the bang-up). Thankfully those meds were changed on Friday afternoon since he realised that I could not return to work if i could notkeep my eyes open... so since then, I have been scrapping up a storm.

These are some layouts that have been created for the store to Promote Making Memories "Flutters" paper range. I know... the name is rather uncanny, huH!? Anywho.... These are the first 4. I have to add a title (need to get the paint from toe store first) and add a photo or three to another.. though I will show these to you on Friday (18th)!











Anyway guys.. as usual.. thanks for stopping by and having a look.. I hope that through my scrapping, and the Design team, I can continue to inspire y'all.


Mwah. xxxx

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EDIT: The Websters Page Layout that was published here will be an up and coming class at Scraptacular, so for the mean time, I have had to withdraw it from View while the class runs, though it will return shortly... ;-)

Remember the Sully-Crisis?

A lightbulb moment... an update of sorts..
Life... it does get in the way, huh?

Weeks ago we had Sully assessed... and even though she has about $18000 worth of damage, the insurance company has deemed her repairable.

Wooooooot!

It has been a few months since the storm hit and the repairer that we are taking her too is still catching up on the backlog of work that they had been given because of the storm.. Although before long, Sully will be stripped of every panel and her makeover will begin!

I am not sure what I will do without her for a few weeks. (I know.. a FEW weeks) although I do know that I will be thrilled not to drive a Golf Ball Sully around anymore!

A sale that I could not help but share with you!!!

Shop 4, 1297 Nepean Highway
Cheltenham, Victoria 3192
03 95845000
http://www.scraptacular.com.au/
sales@scraptacular.com.au

Business Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed & Thurs 9.30am to 5.30pm, Friday 9.30am to 9pm & Sat 9.30am to 5pm
_______________________________

JUNE IS STOCKTAKE TIME at SCRAPTACULAR and the sale starts TOMORROW!!!! And my gosh, what a sale it is!!! Looking at the details, I am actually struggling to figure out what is NOT on SALE and actually what will be left for everyone else after I have gone shopping!

Their online store is being revamped at the moment, so unfortunately, this is an instore only sale, though I am sure, that if something caught your eye, and you just felt that you had to have it.. if you gave Julie a call, she may be happy to do a sale with you through mail!

Anyway... Here are the details..


There will be Massive reductions on many popular products.

Check out just a few of the bargains that we
have to offer commencing on:
FRIDAY JUNE 4TH at 9.30am
Shop hours have been extended for the SALE

Friday 4th - 9.30am to 9.00pm
Saturday 5th - 9.30am to 5.00pm
Sunday 6th - 11.00am to 4.00pm

SALE will be held from the 4th - 12th June or while stocks last !!!
note: C.L.C discount will not apply, Layby not available,
Sale prices will apply on current stock or special offers only.

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#1 special is "Cricut" machines

PINK Cricut Expression - is at a very low price of just $650.00

Cricut Personal Cutter - now down to just $290.00

Cricut Design Studio - are at a great price of $95.00

Cricut Jukebox - is also just $95.00

With every order of a Cricut Machine you will receive an optional bonus 1 hour instruction classPre-order's will be taken with a delivery of 7 days / 50% deposit is required upon order.
Special reduced price is valid only while stocks last.

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#2 is "Cuttlebug" machines & folders

PINK Cuttlebug - order your Pink Cuttlebug machine for just $99.00

Cuttlebug Embossing Folders -
purchase any 2 folders for just $15.00
We have over 25 designs in stock to choose from!!!!

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# 3 is 50% off the following:
Heidi Swapp - all products are now 50% off - stock includes paper, ghost shapes, chip shapes, flowers, bling strips, chipboard alphabets, masks, invisibles, transparencies....... plus more.

Christmas Emporium: all Paper & Embellishments are 50% off

MM SLICE Cartridges: 7 styles of different cartridges have been reduced to just $45.00 & all tools are now 50% off. We have 1 only Desktop Storage unit marked down for just $50.00

Fiskars Punches: a selected range of squeeze & border punches are 1/2 price

Scrapworks Albums: we have 4 only Brown Leather Boxed Albums in stock, were at $99.00 and now just $50.00

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Other Totally CRAZY Bargains

Totes: Large Navy trolley totes were $125.00 now just $60.00 ( 4 only )

Stamps: Clear Acrylic stamp sets from - Ali Edwards, 7Gypsies, Autumn Leaves, American Crafts, Heidi Swapp, Kaiser, Basic Grey, are all 50% off

Patterned Paper: a large selection of patterned paper from a crazy low price, starting at just 50c a sheet - selected ranges from Making Memories, Pink Paislee, Sassafrass Lass, American Crafts, Fancy Pants, Basic Grey

Kaiser Timber OTP: a good range of products are now 1/2 price, perfect for the coming School Holiday Projects - prices start at just $4.00

Grab Bags: assorted bargain bags full of patterned paper, cardstock, ribbons, bling, brads & stickers are at a silly price of just $10.00 (valued at over $20.00)

SALE TABLE's: check out the many bargains marked down and all reduced to clear, these goods are not being counted in our stocktake this year so we have marked down lots of items at below cost - come along and stock up !!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

PRINT THIS COUPON

(or if you are unable to print, let them know that you were at "Sandra Allans" blog! ;-)

TO RECEIVE ONE
"FREE CLASS VOUCHER"
VALUED at $20.00
FOR THE MONTHS OF
JUNE or JULY 2010

note: BOOKINGS ARE REQUIRED
FOR ALL SCRAPTACULAR CLASSES
speak to our team for all details
(does not apply to School Holiday's, Collections Workshop or Crops)

there is movement...

Well.. the first sign that things were starting to happen out at the estate was that the ones that had titled, and had all their council stuff done, had taps.

Today though, we stopped by on the way home from work and not only are there shiny taps, but there are signs that development is underway, with land on certain blocks being leveled.. and even a few sites have their temporary fencing, dump bins and one even is as far as having a port-a-potty on site!!
Things are a happening everyone... but sadly, 215 is still sitting, as empty as it was the other day. Soooon... Hopefully real soon I will be bellowing out some great news that things have started on our block too!

I just gotta have patients, just a little longer.

And then we could breath again...

At precisely 10:30am today, the bank and the conveyancers got together, exchanged a huge wad of cash and our land became ours (under a biiiiig morgage).

The final drawings are a few days away from completion and we have been advised that there are about 2 weeks from there for council to approve everything and then we shall be well and truely on the right road to building! Finally!

________________________________________
Because we were a week behind (because of the bank not having the documents for us to sign in time) some of our neighbours titled last week. It is easy on a visit out to the estate to see who these people are, as they are the ones with the shiny new taps out front!

Our tap will be there soon enough!

As promised...

As I posted earlier in my Blog, I have been working on something for an OS label. What I have been working on exactly is an application for a spot on the Design Team of My Little Shoebox.

The call ended on the 15th of May 2010 US time so I am sure that I should be able to post what I have been up to now, as my entry is safe as... well.. houses. hahah.

I had to create 2 layouts, 1 Project & 1 card using their products. I think it was something like 80-90% their product, which I have done, using only cardstock, Heidi Swapp & Basic Grey alphas as my extras that were not theirs..

Ofcourse, what would this journey be with out my bestie to take along for the ride? I guess, its a bit of an inside joke, although with anything that I have done, in the sake of the scrapbooking industry, I have done a layout of Cath and I. I am sure she is thinking "OMG, not again!!" but honey... where would I be without you? You and I have travelled Australia and the US so far in the name of this art... why stop now!? right? ;-)

and lastly... a card. I hate taking photos of stuff that has had kindy glitz and stickles used on it.. It never looks quite right, though I hope it is good enough to give them a look-see. The glitz on the umberella is meant to be crystal... not blue like it appears, though, it is most definately blue tim holtz stickles that has been used on the cloud and the puddle beneath the birdie.

Oh well... not a lot that I can doto change what looks wrong to me now! ha.

Anyway... they are bold.. they are colourful, though I think they are a good representation of me... ~shrugs~ What do you think!? Me?

Scrapbook Housekeeping..

I have just spent the last hour or so doing some much needed housekeeping for my scrap layouts. I had gotten to the point where I had a leaning tower of scrap layouts on my desk and barely enough room to store them - so after calling on my work in progress album - I have found just enough room to store the tower of layouts that were on my desk, although while putting them safely away, have realised that there are many of them that I have failed to share with you. Eeeep. So, I will endevour to get these photographed, cropped and uploaded ASAP.

Looking at the way that my darling husband is staring at my desk as I type and he waits to gain ownership once again of his laptop, I would suspect that he believes that there is way more to scrapbook housekeeping than just putting away a mountain of layouts... ~looks sheepishly to the mess that once was my desk~ Okay... so we have operation catastophe on our hands... so!? Okay... I guess I will go fix it up too... but... in my defence, I must say that when one works with as much purpose at her desk as I did today, one must expect a little scrap "fall out" in return.

I mentioned that I had been working on something for an OS label... well...my work is done and that too, is something that I hope to share, in detail with you soon... instead of the teaser that I shared last time I blogged. In a little while, I will add some more teasers of the rest of what I have been working on... and since the deadline was the 15th of May (which is today in the states - its times like this that I love that they are a day behind us... which means that I had a day more... ) I should be able to share in full with you what I have been up to... for now, though... I will just say this.... My Little Shoebox!!

That leaves me with one little scrapping secret then... and that one, while it is absolutely killing me NOT TO SHARE, I will have the go ahead very soon to share with you......

well... I guess I have stalled enough... I best go clean up before he makes an inventory for a garage sale!
Hope you have had a happy and fulfilling weekend.
Love and hugs.
xxxx

3 months on...

If you have been following my blog you would have known that three months ago I started out on journey... the journey was to take control of my life and a major part of that was to start attending a gym regularly.. and ultimately lose the weight that has crept on (and many times rushed me) over the last 17 years..
I am still a long way from the end of this journey, though every day, gaining more and more control.. and the scales thankfully are showing the winning results...

Since I put the extra weight on, i have hated having my photo taken. While I will let the kids and Matt take my photos sometimes, for prosperity sake (so their children can see that i truely did exist)I smile, deep down I am hating every minute of it.

This photo was taken last weekend, when we went on a picnic for Mirandas Birthday... Even though I know that I still have a way to travel, I am really impressed with the way my body is starting to look and can see the results myself.. I didn't mind having this photo taken, and I am glad that someone wanted to take it, as I think that it is proof, that I am on the right track. (a good comparrison shot is the photo that is in the layout below, "me @36" which was taken only this January gone, before I started on this journey!) Oh yeah.. and to celebrate reaching my first goal weeks ago and approaching my second goal, I decided that a trip to the hairdressers was in order. I got it lopped and seriously thinned!

A picture tells a thousand words..

They say a picture speaks a thousand words... and this picture is definately no exception. It was Mirandas birthday last friday (she turned 9) although unfortunately, when she was born, she collided with the long weekend that we celebrate ANZAC day and since over her short life, most of her friends are children of defence members, the weekend just does not work to arrange a birthday party. Especially since it sees her own daddy marching and often away.


Even though many of her friends now are not defence children, their parents see it as a great opportunity to sneak away for a lovely weekend away.. so ... I think you get the picture.



Anyway... This year I promised Miranda that she could chose her own cake and I would make her a cake. She is the only one of the three that has not regularly had me make her a cake and the only one that has not had the opportunity to chose the design of her cake. So, she chose a castle and had a giraffe as backup.. though do you think that I could find all the trimmings required to make either of them? Bah... no way!
I tookyesterday off as an accrued day off from work so I would have time to make her a cake, shop for the party favours and food and have a little nap before being overtaken by a hosue full of 8 and 9 year olds.


Well... at 7am yesterday morning, Kiera and I were scouring the internet like crazy loons trying to find a wow factor cake that would not necessarily require me travelling to all corners of Melbourne to look for trimmings when we came across a whole heap of "topsy turvy cakes"... the colours in these cakes were amazing... and there was definately some WOW factor to say the least, so we started off sketching out our own design ideas... only i knew i did not have enough time, i sketched the cheshire cat out of Alice in wonderland, sitting plump and round with the mad hatters hat on his head and a tea cup precariously balanced on top. (the teacup would have been made out of fondant)... anyway... we figured that since Kiera was going to school so i would not have the extra hands i would need to make such a cake, and that I was going to the gym, heading across town to the bank manager with Matt, then getting back at about 1.30pm to start the cake decorating, that I would only have a few hours before firstly, Miranda came home and secondly, party guests would start arriving... so, the cheshire has been put off until next year and I settled for this instead... The cake : children ratio was alot out, and there is just under 3kg of sugar in that baby... though who cares when I got a responce like i did!?


All morning we had been telling her that we were going to be making her a cake with a dinosaur on top. My darling friend Richard sent over this amazing cake topper that when batteries are inserted, roars and has eyes that glow red. When i say cake topper, I dont mean the pathetic little things we get here in Australia, I mean, about 6" of roaring animated cake top action!
While my baby is a little too polite to say "mum - pull your head in, im a 9 year old girl and so not into dinosaurs" the look on her face was telling me exactly that, mixed with a lot of worry and concern. So when she returned home from school and automatically ran down the hall and headed to the kitchen, she was

very concerned when she was stopped short and told she could not see her cake!
This poor babe had to wait until 9pm last night before she finally got a glimpse at her cake and Matt was on hand with the camera... This photo was not staged, this is the first snap of the camera - taken precisely at the second she first laid eyes on her cake!

I love it!

From the depths of my scrap desk..

I peeked at my blog last night while I was hosting a birthday party for a bunch of eight and nine year olds after I was made aware of the fact that not only have I not updated my blog in a while, January was the last time I uploaded anything that I had been scrapping - That long!? Surely not!

Well... the information was correct... so I am going to attempt to right the wrong and upload some work over this weekend... though, while I get the other stuff sorted and photographed, I figured, I would start with these few things...



and finally, I can only give a sneek peek of this one. I have been working on this for weeks now. I am using it to apply for a position on a DT for an OS scrapping label... so obviously, I would hate for any of the competition to move in on my design and get the position... right!? I promise that you will be the first eyes that see it when I can show it!

It will be a few weeks yet, though I promise you, I think it is worth the wait.
;-)

Anyway... happy Saturday... The sun is shining.. its a little fresh here this morning, though I think that it will be a lovely day anyway.... Enjoy what ever it is that you have planned... for me, that is, leaving you now and heading to the Gym!
Love and hugs.
xxx

Blog Candy

Aren't the colours in this candy just to die for? I don't think i could pick a favourite flower out of all these, though I have to say, I am totally loving the rosette looking ones... Divine!!!

If you would like to go into the draw to win yourself some yumminess, just head on over to Bridgettes Bloggy and follow her instructions.. I know you dont wanna... cause, then... if you did... I would have competition!!! haha.. Nah... Go on... I dare ya! ;-)

All in a days work..

Well, yesterday, since the weather was awesome and the gardens were well overdue for some TLC I figured that we would bundle into the car (Matt, Mea and I) and head to bunnings for some garden lovin'... so that is exactly what we did.

While Matt pottered in the manly sections, Miranda and I filled our cart up with pansies, poppies, and some other flower seedlings that I have forgotten the name of. All i know is they start with C and i am too tired to go check out what the tag says. ~L~... Miranda got her face painted like a lady bug and informed me that corriander is a lady bugs best friend.

Last year she planted corriander and we had an amazing crop of it, which lasted months and months until i finally got tired of trying to coko things that contained corriander, convince the neighbours they needed more, and taking it to work.. anyway... another punnet was bought for the garden this year... ofcourse, while miranda doesnt eat too much of it, hunting for lady bugs in the garden definately keeps her occupied for ages of a weekend. So, still waiting for daddy, who by this time was needed to life heavy bags of fertiliser, manure and mulch onto our cart, we found someone making cotton candy as part of the stores easter celebrations.. so a little while later with a daddy used well, and now in toe, our lips and tongues blue from the candy, we headed home to play.

We only got one bed done yesterday although before that, while matt was mowing, i got onto the opposite side of the yard and freed the grass, or our poor excuse for a lawn from a horrid weed we have here, which creeps over the ground and suffocates everything in its path. It was like laying a lawn, only in reverse. I was litterally rolling up the weed as i went, and the piles of it at the end, looked like turf waiting to be laid.. well.. kinda. This morning, since i dont do the change from day light savings to normal time well, I got up at 6.30 and headed out into the garden again to prepare the other bed, and the planter pots for planting. Man did i do some digging!

Matt joined up the boxing gym last week so that he could come along with me, push me hard and work out with me with things that i need a partner to do things with, and since we didnt get there over the weekend, due to the fact they were closed for the eater weekend, i think we both got our workout regardless.

As a easter gesture, since I was adement that I was avioding as much chocolate as possible, Matt offered, firstly to send me researching online for what ever die cutting system I wanted to buy, but we after much discussion and fuss made by me, decided that i would not use one enough for the HUGE outlay they are... so he sent me shopping instead. I was looking for a store that sold My Little Shoebox papers, and October Afternoon all in one place, and not only did I find them, I found them at discounted price as what I can only explain as the best little online Aladdins cave that I have ever come across. Or, should I say, Anna's cave. Anna has everything that I wanted and soooo much more!
It is definately the place that I will be returning to, over and over again. There is so much more that this gal "needs".

Anyway.. Im missing out on sleepy snuggles with my little girl and my man and a movie that I was going to watch has well and truely started.. so im going to say...
Night..
Hope that your easter was spent relaxing, having fun and safely!

Quick Catch You Up.

Well... now that I have gotten past that little rant below, I thought I would get on and post a little catch you up so that I could let you know that I am alive... in one piece and okay.

It has been about a month since I last blogged and I have realised that in the eyes of many bloggers, that is simply not good enough. But... as you have probably well guessed by now.. im far from being like most bloggers. I vanish with no word... and then just re-appear... as politically incorrect as I was just now... or with no word what so ever.. just a post, as though I have not been anywhere but here the entire time.
Hmmmm... So ... Ummm... ~crickets chirping in the background~

Oh.. yea.. hmmm.... where have I been? No where...
What have I been doing!? .... not overly a lot..

Work... sleep... work... gym.... work... gym... work.. work... work...
now that you have the picture... hahaha.

IWe are still waiting to start our house... we are now two months over date on our settlement due to bad weather, though we are hoping, from what we see, that this month shall be the settlement month.
We have been waiting for our block to have our lot number put back up so that we could get a soil test done... we went for a quick run up there today and saw that they have put the site numbers in... yay! So... this means that we should be able to do our soil test next week... hopefully, that will come back fine and we will be able to run everything by council and have ourselves ready to pour as soon as the land settles.

We have decided, after checking out flooring last weekend that we will be doing all that our selves. (getting a private company to do it instead of the builders)... we will be saving a packet and in the end, getting way better quality stuff.
We are going nylon short pile for our carpet, which will just be in the bedrooms and theatre. We thought wool, though we dont want track marks, which we were told will happen quickly with wool... and considering the carpet we have chose ins just as lovely to touch as the wool, and a fraction of the cost, that is where we have settled.
We have decided on beechwood coloured timber laminate flooring, which will then join up with the same beechwood, decking for our entertainment area.
The biggest area that we have seen that we will be saving is in the tiling in the laundry and bathroom. We are able to purchase large porcelain tiles for $33 a meter unlaid, where our budget with the builder was $44 laid. For that, we could not find anything half way nice in ceramic (which is as much as they would allow us to get as porcelain was an extra)... these tiles are glossy and oh so purdy... and... big.. did i say they were big!? They are going to look so hot against the white of our spa and next to the timber floor as you leave the bathroom. I cant wait to show pictures.. though, at the moment... we only have one sample tile.. which i dont think would show up to its true potential in a photo... soooo.... i guess that means that you will have to wait! ~L~

Sully: well.. we are still waiting for the insurance guys to make a descision.. so at the moment, we still have her, dents and all... and we are hoping, minus the dents, to keep it that way. I know she is just a car and that we are all safe, though she is ours... she is sully... she is beautiful. Besides that, Cathy has yet to meet her.. and see why we love her so much. ~L~

The kids are great... growing like weeds... ploughing through the year at school with great Grades. Matt is great... He has started his own business... we have taken on a partner... so you have to go check out their new dig... Red CactusHe unfortunately was not promoted like we were hoping this year.. so he has been posted out at the end of the year, which means that we will have one of two descisions. 1. build, move into the house and then move out months after to move, or 2. Matt will move by himself for a year, so that the kids can continue at the same school and Kiera will be able to complete her senior years at the same campus... so.. we have decided on choice two. Well.. Matt has. He wont putt any of them out of school since they are all happy... he wont well the house, OR put anyone else into it as a rental... and wont let me quit my job and move to try and find another. It will be hard though we have talked long and hard and think this is by far the best option... other than him leaving the defence which he is not prepared to do just yet.

We have figured that the defence sends him home every 8 weeks, so inbetween, we will just organise cheap flights every other 4 weeks. Hopefully, with him doing photography jobs, going to the gym and working, me working, looking after the kids and finishing off things around the new house, the year should fly by.
If the defence doesnt give him a position back here after 12 months, then he said he will look at getting out.

Now all that news leaves me as lucky last.. I am still working out.. and it is working out great for me. I have now lost a total of 7.5kg and am still going strong. Matt has joined the gym with me so will be my "pusher" as of tomorrow. He figures that since he wont be here next year to see the final results, that he will come along, push the shit out of me and make me work harder, thus getting to the final results faster. I like the idea... there is nothing wrong with being pushed a little harder than you would push yourself, right? We are working me back into things a little slowly, as for the last 3-4 weeks i have not been well and after being cleared of cancer (5 years post) at christmas, I have been going through testing all over again.. though tests so far has come back very positive looking... so we are hopeful that I have just had some nasty nasty (GAY) virus!

Anyway...that is it i think... i am certain that I have bored you all enough by now.. I have still got layouts to post, though will try and get to those soon... but until then, i shall say... HAPPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL... Stay safe and dont eat too much chocolate.
Love and hugs
xxxx

PS: you know what? I think my "gay gay gay" mood is passing.. though im not going to tempt it by going back to my desk just yet! hahah.
xxx

So Gay..

Have you ever had a day where you want to accomplish so much though it all seems way harder than you thought it would be? Wanted to go shopping though everything seems oh so gay?

Well... as politically incorrect as this post may be... that is how my day today is... SO GAY.

I wanted to play with my stamps... I can't say I have a great array of colours.. and my stazon ink (as i discovered when i sat down) is dry. GGGG-GAY. Everything i stamped has turned out GAY... I wanted to make some cards... the one i have done is .... you guessed it... GAY. I went shopping for something for Kiera for easter... GAY GAY GAY... can you say GAY!? I couldn't find anything!

I have just been given a present from Matt &... while it is deliscious stacks of colourful DCWV cards and a pad of yummy cardstock and some inks... all i can say is GAY... simply because, no paper i have goes with it and the stupid scrap store is shut.. enough of a reason for me to scream GAAAAAAAY from the roof top.

I think... what i need to do is go have a bath... get into some PJs and go hide somewhere until this gay mood has passed.

PS: Happy easter to you all... and... um... i'm back!? I can't believe that it is easter already... where have the first 4 months gone? I guess... I should make a little catch up post so y'all know where i have been and what I have been doing for the past month. huh!? hmmmm...

Quote of the Day

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the mornings, Satan himself Shudders and says........"Oh Shit She's Awake" - Unknown

Storms, Scrapping and a Sad Sully...

I have just this second walked in the door from going to this years Paperific Scrapboooking and Stamping show... (what a dissapointment)... and living through the little Cyclone that ripped through melbourne at 2.35pm today.

I was not feeling well so I decided that I would leave the show and head home... just as I left the building the thunder and lightening started... the clouds, OMG, i have NEVER seen anything so big black and ominous before in my life.. (and i have been in 3 cyclones before)... these ones were just SCAREY... anyway i got to my car as the rain started... which turned into hail the size of marbles and golfballs seconds after.. can you say SCARED!? I was bawling... It felt like there were people all around my car, rocking it around and pounding on the windows and jumping up and down on the roof... I could not see outside as it was just like someone had draped Sully in a whilte sheet...so i had no choice but to just sit there and endure it and talk to myself... convincing myself that i WAS going to be OK... about 20 mins later, the hail stopped... and slowly visability came back and i moved from where we were parked. (sully and I)... only to find the roads out were FLOODED.. (we had been on a bit of a hill before that)...
I sat watching cars driving through the flood waters, assessing what i was going to do and finally drove up the wrong side of the road (carefully and then on to the right side), as driving down that same side, in the right direction would have lead me to deeper water... and went up the little incline, only to find cars up to their windows in water. Uh oh.
To cut a long story short i took side streets, continually taking the higher option as the way i was going when i got the the end of each stret. I ended up in the City, some how bi-passing all the flooded areas and got onto the Citylink, which was littered with embankments of hail, that made it look like we had encountered snow drifts for hours before hand. It was amazing.
After all that, I got in, took the Chamie to the car to dry her off and assess... and omg... Imagine dropping a million golfballs from a height onto a car... that is what she looks like. Her bonnet and roof are ruined... they actually look like the skin on a golf ball..

It has ended up being the most expensive show of my life... hell, i could have gone to CHA for a little more than what it cost me today and what it will cost me in excess to get Sully fixed. GRRRRR


___________________________________________________________

POST NOTE: 9/3: A friend of ours has seen sully and sadly told us that he thinks that the insurance company will write her off... please god.. no!!!

slackness...

i again write as i have done so many times in the past... to say.. yes... i breath... i live... i am just a slack blogger.
Between working and working out... and sleeping... and... well.. just trying to keep up with life... i have not had a lot of time to blog... i have thought about it often though... i have even scrapped a few more pages. (I know... if i can scrap, then i can blog.. though you know what!? I chose scrapping.. as any sane person would. hahah) I am hoping that Matt will help me print a few photos out so that i can finish them.. (we have a new printer and it hates me - truely it does!)
I will even push for some help getting pics taken of everything ive been doing when im not sleeping, working or working out! ~L~...

Talking of working out.... its working!!!! (huge ass grin)... I have almost reached my new goal... 300 grams away from it... it is that close i can taste it!!
Im pretty chuffed... it is a small goal... and a small number in the big scheme.. though it is still a huge step.. stoked!

Zesty and Fresh and up for Grabs!

one of the many talents at Scrapboxx have started their own etsy store and is so generously offering this bundle of blog candy up to one lucky person... is it so fresh and funky? I LOVE the colour... (i know.. i know... something other than Green and im in love!)
Anyway.. you too can have a chance to win by becoming a follower of her blog and leaving post... im sure, like me, you will be crossing your fingers that youa re puled out in this draw!! Good luck!

VOTE 1 for Bailey.

Isnt he just the most gorgeous doggie? He is Bailey, my 6 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and I have just entered him in a competition at our local pet store... though he needs your help to win.. If you think he is deserving... please click here and look for his photo and give him your vote...
He has his eye on a new rope bone in the toy isle as well as a funky new lead. His prize money would sure help him get these items!
Thanks
Bailey and Me.

Happy Australia Day.

I just thought before I popped on a pair of runners and set out for todays challenge of 10km (in two 5km lots) and then go to a BBQ, I would stop by, say happy Australia day.
Hope that you all have a great one, remember the sunblock and if you are out on the roads.. stay safe !!

I am hoping to be back at a reasonable enough hour today to actually take some photos of my most recent layouts and pop them up here for a looksee.

Anyway.... must run.. (not litterally - yuk)
xxxx

____________________________________________
PS: thank you for your gorgeous comment Lyn... It means tonnes to me.. I think i fixed your posting issue... ;-)

I've become accountable...

Accountable for my life..

I plan on blogging the journey... so when I am at the end of it... I can see where I was... where ive been and what its like on the other side...

A journey is started with a single step...
This blog will follow that first step and all the others to follow...

3 Angels Goodness..

I could sit here and ramble though I am just going to keep this short and say, WOW. I recieved my HUGE order from 3 angels today... you know, the store that I wrote about below that had the huge rediculously cheap sale!?

Well... its only been 8 days from the time I put my order in until it arrived on my doorstep. ( a little soggy after the stupid postal delivery guy left it in the pouring rain - however the girls were on their game and ensured that everything was packaged and bagged up, i guess for those just in case instances... like today)
Jo and Rosy are just so friendly. I had a need to email them a few times (to combine shipping. oops) and they were so prompt with their replies.. and just so very professional but still approachable. I don't think I have reason to need to look too much further than there for anything in the future, except that odd bit of paper or Cardstock needed to complete a layout. (you know what its like when your on a roll.. just gotta have it so you can do it)... Anything else.. well I am happy to wait the few days to arrive. (my first ever order with them took 2-3 days) to arrive. Like i said.. great service!
I have spread everything out over my bed and it is better than i could imagine... while the images online are great, as in colour representation.. though OMG.. some of these papers I am wishing I had bought more than one sheet each of.
I just may have to pop another (little) order in before their sale finishes on Friday..

When I am a little more awake, I may just have to take a picture of this package and let you have a little peek see.

Anyway.. happy Mondays to you.. I hope you had a great day.. for those who are just starting yours.. have a great one!

love ya..
xxx

Blog Candy of the century...

There are a few blog candies floating around at the moment though this is one I just had to share... isn't it fabulous!? I think I could very well call in sick for a month if I were to be lucky enough to win this!!!

If you would like to be in the running, head on over, grab her link and this image and add it to your blog.. then, leave her some lovin' on her give away thread and wah-lah... you will be in the draw.. simple.. huh!?


thedailymarker.blogspot.com/

Speaking of blog candy... keep an eye out on my blog... I have something I would love to share with someone too!!! (A post with details will be added some time soon)

3 Angels, one girl and a pink Credit Card

Have you ever gone window shopping in a scrap store and left there with in excess of $400 worth of products including postage and paid a smidgen $120 for it!? Well...That is exactly what I have just done... Thanks to the beautiful angels that own the online store, so named, 3 angels scrapping I was able to get the best bargains that I think I have ever gotten... anywhere scrapwise...

If you are looking for something... and dont mind waiting a day or so for it to arrive.... (I have shopped with the Jo and Rosy before and can vouch for their incredible service and speed in which your shopping arrives at your door)... you would be nuts at the moment to shop anywhere else than with these girls... with 70% off tevery product though, I doubt the shelves will have things on them for long...

Conditions:No free postage during the sale - No coupons/other discounts apply - $25 minimum spend

Have fun... thanks to a gorgeously generous husband who told me to "knock myself out and get what ever I wanted/needed/wanted".... a pretty pink Credit card and 3 Angels... I know I did!!!!

(I have no affiliation with these girls.. even though it looks like I could have just written an advert for them... though credit is given where credit is due... these girls R.O.C.K!!! - and my credit card did not even require a band aid!)


I am a total fan.. that is all.

=D