Craeeeeeeee-zeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

:-o

As a few people know, my mum has come to visit.. and ultimately become my warden for a few weeks... this is NOT good. While i love my mum... i love my space, my quiet and my own time way too much to share an ounce of it with anyone outside my immediate family for more than say... a week.. though, why is it that the visit span of mum's should never be any longer than the shelf life of fresh meat!? ~lol~
i say two days maximum.. that is a weekend visit that would normally fly by, though 2 weeks? What was i thinkin'!? Not that i really had a say in the whole warden thing.. but... you know.. right?
Insane.

i made a poem up that explains the situation completely..

Crazy's taken her crazy pills and boarded the crazy train. Crazy is no longer crazy she totally insane!

5 sleeps and counting..
hahaha

ground hog day... almost...

Happy Birthday to you...
Happy birthday to you..
Happy birthday my mini hunka hunka man...
Happy birthday to you!

No... im not losing my mind and singing birthday songs again for Matt... Besides.. he packed up this morning and went to the snow :( leaving me at home for 7 sleeps... though... its my other mans birthday today.
If i get too reminiscent, im going to cry... though, it's hard to believe that 12 years ago today, born in the wee hours of the morning our boy child graced us with his presence.. i was a new mama to the sweetest little boy that i had ever laid eyes on... 12 years though.. how did that happen!?
The girls are sick sick sick... i think im not far behind... its blustery cold outside today... so while this is not going to be the best, funnest out doorys type birthday... it will surely give him way enough time to try out all the playstation games that he got last night at his lil family birthday party we had.
Sometimes, just doing what you want to do on your birthday makes it a birthday to remember.. huh!?
Anyway...
Happy birthday Sweet man... so proud to be your mum... Love you to the moon and back! x

Since Matt was going to be away, we did birthday dinner, cake and pressies last night.. though... Matt has take the pics with him on the camera i think so i will put up pics later.

Hope y'all have a great sunday!
Stay warm!!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to You...
Happy Birthday to You.
Happy Birthday my Hunka-Hunka Man
Happy Birthday to You!

Let me say.. that my man is so lucky that he is at work at the moment when i am in the totally crazy mood to want to sing to him. Lucky for him, lucky for his ears... lucky for the neighbours to.o.
Though.. even though i sit here and joke...(when i should have on my mummy face and be in the kitchen doing lunches and supervising 3 drag-m'-bottom-in -the-mornin' kids to get dressed, i hope he knows what he means to me, how much i love him and how glad i am, after ALL these years to be beside him to share yet another birthday with his birthday-aging butt. (even now that we have to alert the fire-brigade to birthday activities).

Love you Baby.. you mean the planets to me, as well as the world. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

xxx

Got her head screwed on straight...

I have to share this... it is too brilliant to not. Her thoughts... her hate for stuff says it all.... exactly how i would love my house some days... Matt and i have a real issue with stuff just hanging around... the kids how ever... obviously see it as interior decorating skills... bra's hanging on bed posts, shoes not on their rack, school bags dumped at the front door... notes strewn across a perfectly clean, spotless, BARE bench.. BLEH.. not me... i see it... as annoyance..
My scrap room on the other hand... now... that is one place sacred that is allowed to have... stuff..
I have to say though, that i dont have photos on display, though it is something that i long for a moment or two in my ever growing list of "projects" to do... but minimilistic is definately the way to be.

anyway... This is written by Erica Glover... in my eyes... a genius in her thinking! ~L~

"I HATE STUFF. Especially piles of stuff. Paperwork, washing & folding, toys etc. You get the drift. I hate it. In my house, everything has it;s place and everything had better be put back in its place. Or else! Clutter terrifies me. I have nightmares about it. Seriously. So i throw things out. And i delete. A lot. Too much probably. If it hasn't been used in a while, it doesn't need to be in my home. Piling up, needing to be cleaned, or washed, or dusted, or put away, or replied to, or filed, or backed up. I am the ultimate deleter/disposer. I don't save emails. I don;t save documents. I don't save bags or boxes or receipts or mail. I hate stuff. Come into my home, open any drawer, open any cupboard, and what will you find? A whole lotta shelf! And maybe one or two items, or three or four. Neatly folded, just the way i like it. Sure, the kids follow me around, like a shadow undoing all that i do. But i persist. Clothes that haven;t fit in a while, toys that havenn;t been placyed with, things that are too dirty to clean, anything that doesn't make the cut turf turf turf. My kitchen bench is totally bare. No mil on the bench, no toaster nor kettle available for easy access, no photos or nik naks on display. Nothing on the windowsill. Nothing anywhere. I crave a clear head. But my life is hectic, I can't keep up no matter what i do. I am constantly chasing my tail, constantly playing catch up, constantly trying to keep my head above water and constantly failing. And failing sucks. So i delete, and i spring clean, and i remove anything that i possibly can that is unnecessary. If it doesn't fit properly, or it has a stain, or it doesn't match, give me any excuse and i will turf it. I know i am anal. I know i am a nightmare to live with and that there are far more important things in the world than a clean bench, a bare fridge and an empty inbox. I can't stop. I don't think i want to. I really hate stuff".

How many of you have ever wished your house to be so simple... so crisp, clean and fresh!?
I do... atleast daily.

Tag Time.

The Crazy Kat hastagged me,... a tag of any kind is a first for me... so here goes...

The rules:
Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose other people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog! (it is meant to be seven, though.. since i don't have that many to tag, im not worrying about trying to find 7)

The Facts:
1- I'm Obsessive. Weather it is cleaning or my routine of how things are to be done, or what ever... i can't help obsessing... totally a pain in the arse at times... i swear..

2- Im a list writer. I don't seem to function unless i have a gazillion lists happening. I guess it would help if i read them more often than just writing them. Taht way, i definately would not be the woman standing at the checkout of the supermarket doing a great impersonation of a blonde as i try and remember EXACTLY what i had to go in there for and instead being the well organised woman that is not buying all the "just incase" items! (no offence to my blonde friends)

3- I'm not a very trusting person. While i rate myself highly as being extremely trustworthy, it takes me a long long time to trust anyone. Not because i think there is or may be something about them... i just find that its an easy way not to be let down.

4- I Adore butterflies, but am totally phobic of moths! I once had a huge (im talking two hand span in size, no kidding) moth fly up under my dress and was flapping around. I seriously thought i was going to die!

5- As a child i wanted to be an astronaut. Even as a teen i wanted nothing more than to become a NASA astronaut.. brains let me down. :( The of such though still fascinates me. Perhaps in another life.

6- I used to be a serious planner. If i was going somewhere, i had to know every little detail and plan accordingly for it. I could not just fly by the seat of my pants. I would stress.. These days, while i still stress, im trying to be more easy going and just follow my feet and see where the day takes me apposed to planning every aspect of it. (again.. i guess that falls under obsessive, huh?)

7- A day is not complete without millions of kid-kisses, three kiss kisses from Matt, wet kisses from Bai and Music..

Now... for my unsuspecting victims...
Miss Cath, Miss Nance, Lisa (S-Witch), Tara
....
:P

Rollercoasters, Rain Clouds & Pink PJs

By now, you guys are possibly thinking that im one of the slackest bloggers of our time... ha, i do... though you know what!? Im here now.. and really.. that is all that matters.. right? hahaha.

So... where have i been since last time i blogged? I dont know... my memory sucks... though i'm trying hard to play more regular blogging again.. okay?

This i promise is not going to be as gloomy an entry as the title may suggest... quiet the opposite... for the most.

The one thing that i didnt add in my title was SUNSHINE... because... well... it didnt sound good in the title...(haha) THOUGH.... i have had sunshine in the form of one gorgeous Cathy... and her darlin' family whom surprised me last week and dropped in on me for a lunchtime visit with a present no less... may i add... they came all the way from New South Wales to give me a "hug"!!!!

While the visit was short... and very tear jerking (on my part) saying goodbye after a few hours, it was absolutely wonderful. This is one lady that knows how important she is in my life, and one lady that i thank my lucky star every day for knowing. A lady that whispered something in my ear as i got my last hug before she left that put a HUGE smile on my dial... she is coming for a sleep over play date again very very soon!!!!! i cant wait!!!!!
I love ya sweety... (and thanks for letting me steal our pic off your blog! ;) Mwah!!)

I think that i have seen as much rain in the last few months as what i did for a wet season in Darwin. While it is not monsoonal, or terential like it was up there, its regular... and its good soaking rain.. just what we all need to pull us out of the drought. I have a lawn! When we moved here in December, as Alison could vouch, our newly laid turf crunched!!!! Well... its now got to the stage that you can walk on the grass though i am not game enough to stand still just incase i sink and vanish! ~L~
While i love winter... love the ability to just snuggle up and stay warm and cosy... i have to sadly say that this year.. im getting over it and looking with excitement to spring... Canberra was chilly, though i think because we live near the water here.. its a different chilly entirely... moreso because of the horendous winds that seem to blow almost constantly. Nothing worse than feeling like you have walked through a wind storm just to retrieve the mail. ~laughin~
So... to make those winds bearable i think that winter needs to come to an end... i love my slippers, though i found a pair of my thongs (flip flops for Lyn ;) ) in the wardrobe this morning and had this yearning to wear them again.. hurry up summer!

As my friends would know, ive been riding a rather icky rollercoster over the last few months.. well i wish i could say that its stopped and i can climb off, though it seems that some where... when i was not looking, i was given a double ride pass.. Bleh.
On top of the other things that i have been dealing with...routine blood tests turned into regular... i am now having to learn to cope with weekly blood tests and more medicine than i think i want to ever take. :(
Hopefully on Thursday i will have some of both mine and the doctors questions answered as to what the hell is happening with me...
For now though... i will just keep taking my medicine like a good girl and hope that with every dose that im closer to being able to stop that and the tests.
~L~ Did i tell you how much im scared of needles!?

Through all the nastly pathologists there has been an Angel in Pink PJs, weather its via 4.25 hour long phone calls or in person to make me laugh and take my mind of everything.. to whom im forever, eternally greatful... though... i swear, i am going to educate that girl in the way of music if its the last thing i do!!! MAHAHAHA. >:P

You know those days where you just wish you could just stay in your Jammas all day and not worry about anything!? Well... in my neck of the woods, that has become an official day of the week.. while so far, its been a monday, the day is negotiable.. though the attire isnt... its pink Jammas... no... ifs... no buts.... hahah.. and i have to say... im sure we are a dashing site to see... specially the on lookers when we have ventured outside of the house.. fluffy pink sox t'boot!
Though.. you know what!? I think everyone should have a day where PJ's is the uniform... there would definately be a lot more relaxed happy people in the world.
Alison... my Pink Pyjama companion... you broaden my thoughts.. widen my scopes and show me that anything is possible if i use my imagination.

And... last, but not least... ive even done some scrapping. I have promised Wendy that i would have it in the gallery for you to see... promise you will all get a squiz soon.

So... there you have it... i will leave you with this quote, since its starting up at me from some Chatter box transperancy tags that i have left to scrap for the FTC DT.



Smile to yourself until you have warmed
your own heart with the sunshine of
your cheery counterance. Then
go out - and radiate your smile.

~Bruno Hagspeil~

Quote of the MONTH

As many of you may have realised by now, i have not been around for some time.
For those of you whom have stopped by and found a very quiet blog.. im sorry...
Where i've been or what i've been up to, doesnt matter... I will not go into details, for i don't feel inclined...
For my friends that have been there, even if it was simply noticing my absence, i thank you from the bottom of my heart... you each in your own way know what part you play in my life and know what you mean to me.
Lyn, i shall just say... love you girl!

So much more time than a month seems to have past since i last blogged... i guess that happens sometimes huh!? Time, seems to have truely been lost.

So much, i could write, if only i had the inclination, though instead, i shall just close with....

~The only way to deal with the future is to function efficiently in the Now~
~GITA BELLIN~

xxx

published...again

Well... having my first acceptance for publication was not a fluke afterall...
After submitting my felt Layout to Scrapbooking memories at the same time as i uploaded it online for the felt competition, i recieved an email today telling me that they loved my layout and could i please send it in for further concideration for publication... wooohooooo.. im so so excited!!
_______________________________________________________________

Update: Well... i didnt win the felt LO comp, though as far as im concerned... im a winner anyway, being published instead! Yipppeeeee!!!

_______________________________________________________________

28th June 2007: I have received my Layout, Poser back from Scrapbooking memories... Now im just waiting on details of when it will be published. I know at this stage that it will appear in the "girls Gallery"...
I'll be sure to keep you posted!
mwah!
xx

a storm is a brewin...

of the scrappin' kind!

Im a slow scrapper... bah.. we all knew that.. though.. on sunday, i was able to complete yet another challenge from the FTC CC... honestly.. its something i really dont care if anyone else likes.. because.. to me... its perfect.. it complements her so well.. and.. im not talking from a scappers view.. im talking souly from that of a smitten mama.. She was so tired, though still so willing to be infront of the camera... the paper reminds me of that sweet soft skin... and just makes me smile when i look at it. Hopefully in years to come is will give me the same pleasure, the same warmness that it does now..

And.. then there was felt! What is it with this stuff that has the scrapping world so crazy about it!? Sure.. its different.. its texture.. but its felt.. ~L~... Anyway.. i decided that it was about time that i caved and gave it a go... It has been entered into a store comp for the felt challenge
While i dont expect to win, i have to say, i enjoyed playing with it.. though... honestly.. i enjoyed hand stitching again.. a whole lot more. ~L~ The photos though.. arent they gorgeous? Matt took them of Miranda while she was sitting in a huge tunnel tube thing attached to some play equiptment a few weeks back when we went on a day trip to Mornington peninsula.. She is definately a poser... though... gorgeous t'boot! Hahaha..



now... onto a dark storm front.
There has been a lot of crap happening at Scrapbooking Memories Forum that apparently allegations have been made in which i am to be blamed for the trouble making and bullying.
Ha.. if i only had the time..or the inclination for that matter, though, for the record... emotionally, i am not of the mind to be buggered with the crap that seems to be taking over that forum. I would like though for the allegations towards me to cease though.. you would not think that it would be a tough ask.. though apparently someone has a vendetta out towards me and wants to bury me alive in lies and bullshit. What does it take.. seriously? Defamation charges to be laid up them or for me to have a total nervous break?
Ive had emails up to my ears, from gutless people too scared to show their real names.. threatening me, accusing me of everything but sinking the titanic... the next one i get, im afraid i will be taking action on. I am over it.

She

This is sofar the only layout that i have been able to manage for the Froggy Todd Cyber Crop this weekend.. Figured since i made the challenges that i best do something.. even though for the most of the last three days ive been struggling with a migrane that just does not seem to fully want to leave me..
This photo was taken of Kiera a few years ago, though as soon as i saw her through the view finder the Song, She by Elvis Costello played in my head and has done so every single time that i have looked it... anything else i dont think would have done this photo justice from my perspective..
I have another one that i created a few weeks ago that im busting to share with you though since it was made to be released with this months FTC newsletter i guess i have to wait.. just a little longer! ~L~
anyway...

~hugs~

Quote of the Day

Life gives us brief moments with another...
but sometimes its in those brief moments,
we get memories that last a lifetime.

The saddest News...

This message today goes out with the heaviest of hearts....

To MY wonderful American Family... you are in my heart as well as my thoughts.. always... Love you especially sweet sweet lady..

You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.


if you need me... i'm here... love you girl. xxx

Thank goodness green is my favourite colour!

This is my boy... I'm just so proud... He scares me a little... (especially when this face was made when mama was just trying to give him a kiss and say "i love you" on mothers day! )

I got this for mothers day... what did you get!? ~L~

Ofcourse, he really wasnt angry... he was being the silly billy that he usually is... the title fitted though.. ~L~

FROGGY TOOD CREATIONS MAY CYBER CROP

This Months Cyber Crop is ready to get underway in just over 30 minutes from now.
There are stacks of challenges and some totally fabulous prizes up for grabs..
You would be crazy to miss out on it.

For this weekend only, the BIG rego Raffle is getting bigger as we give everyone participating in the cyber crop this weekend a Double Take!

Pop over to our forum and check out May Cyber Crop for more details on how you too join in on our Double take!!!

Look forward to seeing old faces, meeting new faces and having a great weekend with you all!!

Cheers!!!!
SJ

Lions and Tigers and Bears.... oh my!!!

What a day we had!!!! We have just arrived back from the Melbourne zoo... totally exhausted and ready for sleep. Seriously.. i didnt realise that place was so big... seriously .. i dont think i even did that much excercise in my 2 hours gym cram sessions with my trainer.. seriously.. would anyone realise if i just passed out here!? ~L~

To see the childrens faces with the animals was so wonderful.. Kiera and Jamie were only both very small when they last went to Taronga Zoo in Sydney... Mirandas face was priceless... i only discovered this morning that she thought that Elephants were only a pretend animal... how wrong she was... She was so excited to see all the animals that she pours over in her books coming to life... though i think the highlight of the day would have been the visit to the butterfly house... oh my goodness.... i thought i was promptly going to cry... serious.. those who know me know my fascination with these creatures.. right? Well almost the instant i closed the door behind me some flew over, circled me and promptly landed on my head.. ofcourse, Matt and the camera were off paying rediculous prices for some dispossy batteries since the rechargables for the flash of our babie died. So... innitially, he missed the excitement.. the squeal od Kiera and Miranda as they saw them land while Jamie rushed to hurry Matt back to snap photos.. This photo was taken, as we walked through their sanctuary... it seemed quiet at home and had been there, sitting on my head for most of my visit...at that stage... shortly after.. Matt was having Northern Territory flash backs and had to leave... it was just so humid in there... the kids and i however, spent a good hour in total.. just surrounded by these beautiful creatures....

Sadly... it left our visit with the Orangutans shorter than the hours Matt had envisiaged spending with them... though.. priceless... breathtaking... gorgeous creatures they were. While this picture is very blurry, it is one that i think Jamie will treasure for ever. This orangutan had been walking around like a twit on the enclosures ground entertaining the crowds for the longest time with the sheet rightly pulled over its head... arms swaying in the air... bumping into everything and anything before plonking down like a 2 year old on tantrum and pulling the sheet around its head like a bonnet..

All the while.. Jamie stood in the gallery upstairs with his face smooched to the glass in awe of the darlin below... all of a sudden it springs to its feet, grabs a rope and hoists itself up to the platform on the otherside of the glass... eyes intently on Jamie.. by this stage Matt is running like a wild man through the crowd who were moving in for a better look. tears forming in his eyes as he could see exactly what i could see ready to happen... the grin.. OH my god.. Matt was like a kid in a candy store.. he loves these guys!!! The orangutan smooched its face directly in front of Jamies, sharing the very same bit of glass.... the glass was litterally the only thing that seperated them!! I think... it scared Jamie a little.. or.. started him atleast that he was so close.. that he shifted back quickly, just as the camera snapped. The reflection from the flash has made it hard to see.. though its something that in all honesty, will stay with us all for ever!

Quote of the Day

Wise men talk because they have soemthing to say...
... fools talk because they have to say Something.

~PLATO~

How slack have i been?

Hi guys... i am almost ashamed at my slackness where my blog is concerned.. i think this absence has been the longest by far. It was actually the gorgeous miss Kat that pointed out that i had not updated in the longest time. Im so sorry for not atleast checking in.
Yes.. im alive, i have all limbs, fingers, toes and eyes.. and i breath..
Ive just been caught up in the whirlwind of life, teaching & preparing classes, froggy Todd Creations Design Team stuff and scrapping.. And, between you and i.. .. im scrapping up a storm.

Some of my most recent stuff will be released along with the latest edition of the FTC newsletter which is going to be hitting emails everywhere.. anyday... so please be patient... trust me.. im finding it hard to take my own advice.. im busting to show you all that while my style has been morphing a lot over the last few months.. ive finally fallen into my own... and quietly, i think i like it!!!
Anywho...
just wanted to say hi... that i have not fallen off the face of the earth... hope to get into the swing again.. quickly.

I have a post or two still in draft stages... (Cath.. namely, documenting the chaotic fun of two friends when they get together)

~hugs~
SJ

Caths Visit

(she went back yesterday)

sleep kept me from blogging though already i miss her dearly.. :( :(


While most of our time was spent scrapping... quietly... and one day spent visiting Mornington.. and getting slightly... errr... well lets say we took the scenic less travelled route there.. ~L~ Add sugar in the form of pink icing left over from Mirandas birthday cake and that quiet suddenly dissapears... I dont think i have ever... seriously laughed as much... or as hard as i did .... we had a case of the 3.30pm munchies and decided... since the cupboards were looking less than interesting that we would pull out a pack of cinnamon crunch bickies and the icing and share with the kids for afternoon tea... well.. lets say... anything and everything became the subject to be topped with this sickly sweet pink concoction... even in Kieras case a Banana... while Cath discretely whispers that it didnt look anything LIKE a banana... (thanks for that Cath!)
I cant wait to have this wonderful.. beautiful lady visit with me again.. though next time.. it will have to be for so much longer...

Miss you already girl!!
Love ya!!!!

My Babys first kiss

well Miss Mirandas 6th birthday party was a raging sucess... so much so that we had tears from a few when mummies and daddies started arriving at the end.. though, two were inseperable... Miranda her and "friend" Joel.

Apparently his mum hears nothing but miranda this and miranda that all the time at home and last night miranda painstakenly chose the "best" lollies to put in his lolly bag. Joel is all i hear about here at home too..
so, birthday cake comes out.. he pushes through to sit next to Miranda and helps her blow out her #6 candle. Miranda knows the house rule that if the knife comes out dirty she must kiss the first boy... well at this stage all the boys stepped back, .though this darling little boy that is smitten with my sweet girl as much as she, him, stood firm and waiting for the knife to come out... with a grin he waited while miranda had a marshmallow off her cake before being delivered that awaited kiss.
Was so cute.. and best still.. i have it on the camera and plan to scrap it over the weekend!!!

(will show y'all the pic later)

Tin Box Creations Stamps

I discovered these Tin Box Creations Stamps a little while ago at FTC and i'm now hanging to get them all, they are fantastic. They are clear like the autumleaves stamps though so much more stickier.. i dont have an acrylic block yet though without a problem they cling to the face of an old CD case without fail, every single time.
I could rave on about these all day...they not only come in a gorgeous lil CD tin, they were created to stimulate and inspire by a lil company in Canada... and FTC are lucky to be the only store that stock these here in Australia... yay for being first to discover these.


I created this dragonfly out of the stamps in the laugh-lines set... one of the many things that ive been making with the array of little bits and pieces that fills the tin. Its truely creativity in a tin.. With so many different stamps on the market now, and me loving so many of them, i have to say these by far were the best find... definately a cheap and easy way to create a stamp made by ME instead of having the very same stamp as everyone else..
You so have to get yourselves some and have a play.. you really... truely dont know what your missing out on..


PSSST... wanna know a secret?
A lil birdy whispered in my ear and told me, if you go and visit Miss Wendy over at the shop from sunday she is putting the full range that we have in stock on sale at 10% off until the 30th of April. Just have to make sure that payment is received within 24 hours to be able to benifit from the special.

im sure if you cant wait that long though, if you poke your nose into her email she may very well help you with your need to buy earlier.. though ... shhhhh... ~hahaha~