To get Mandy off my back ...

it's time for an update. It's going to be a quick one!

What's been going on lately?

• P!nk concert ... omg. omg. O M G. It was amazing. Awesome. Loved it loved it loved it!!


• Work. Busy .... total understatement!! Parent teacher interviews. Subject information session, which was awesome, but full on. Reports, which had to be completely redone ... argggh. Oh yes, and I've been teaching sometimes too ... what a novel idea!


• Sad news. We're getting our heads around it, but those of you who know what's going on will know the depth of my sorrow right now.
  
• Kids stuff ... Kieran has cadets stuff left right and centre, Kelsey has Karate grading coming up soon, and Tayla has her state trial gymnastic competition in a couple of weeks, so has been having extra classes, and loving them to bits.
  
• Scrapping ... I've been doing not a huge amount, but really enjoying the freedom of it! The journal-it challenges are great, and no pressure at all. I've been doing an Idol comp at Chook Scraps which is fun.

Is that better Mandy? In your honour, you lovable nag, here's a layout ... from the last round of Idol, and looking decidedly shabby. Speaking of which - check out my new pic in the sidebar over there, which you can click on to go straight to the new Let's Get Shabby blog, which has it's first fab challenge up!! (You can click on the pic, as always, if you want to read the journalling.)

K, I'm off to bed .... have fun people!!

Loving a lazy long weekend!

Sigh ... bliss. Friday night scrapping with the totally awesome Nic. Saturday catching up with my sis and mum for a d&m, then home for housework duty (I'm pretending to be a mature and responsible adult .... LOL) Saturday night, a couple of friends came over for dinner - Dennis knows Bruce through work, and I've met him a few times, but his wife only once before. It was really lovely to catch up with them, and share a great meal and a few nice drinks (I have a new fave sparkly wine!!) Today, we slept in. I'm still in my pj's. The kids are playing Wii. I'm wasting time on facebook. I'm scrapping tonight, and planning the same kind of day for tomorrow as I have had today. Totally awesome!!

It hasn't been all great - my SIL Shelley is in hospital, with an enlarged liver. She's not been well for a week or so, since her chemo and radiation treatments ended, so we're glad she's getting some help now .... fingers crossed.

Oh, some super-exciting news!!! The beautiful Mandy and and wonderful Julie, along with some over super-awesome scrappers, have set up a new challenge blog. It's Let's Get Shabby, and I so can't wait until the first challenge is posted. Check it out!! I'm also loving the new Kiddilit challenge blog that's been going for a few months now ... planning on scrapping a layout for the Wild Thing challenge tonight!

K, here are a couple of layouts I've done recently ...

I can't believe he's 15 next month. SOOOO in denial here. It's just wrong.

My final challenge for ScrapTherapy - each of the DT members picked a challenge element that we thought best fit our style, then created a sample layout encompassing all of these elements. This was mine - and I'm really happy with it!!

This one is for Round 7 of the Idol comp at Chook Scraps ... the challenge was to do a layout using black, white and touches of one other colour, masking and dimension. My new Tim Holtz clock mask and glimmermist arrived the day before this challenge was due, so I had fun playing with them ... I think this layout needs something else, but I'm not quite sure what, so I'm leaving it for the moment. I've been scrapping so many pics of myself since I had my hair cut!

What a tom-boy ... she is so girly, but so rough and tumble at the same time!! Love this paper range, I wish I had more of it left.

And finally, this fortnight's layout for Journal-It!! - the theme is to scrap an affirmation. Pop on over and check it out if you haven't seen it yet - no pressure, no prizes, just some great inspiration to create some layouts with journalling that is meaningful for you!

K, off to play more facebook games... thanks for stopping by!!

May 30th .... one of those days.

Have you ever had one of those days that was incredibly sad but at the same time truly wonderful? Yesterday was one of those days for me. It was a year since Pa passed away. The reality of that hit me like a ton of bricks. ONE WHOLE YEAR. 12 months. 365 days. However many minutes they sing about in Rent. Lots and lots of time. So why does it seem like only yesterday? Mum's taxi was in full swing yesterday, with Tay's gymnastics class, and Kieran needing to be at Blacktown to march in the Festival parade, and both these events happening at the same time. So for the first half of the day, I didn't have time to think much about it. But after lunch, I sat down, and contemplated the past year. It's been full of good and bad. Lots of tears shed. Lots of breathless gasping nights where sleep only came through sheer exhaustion. But also, lots of moments of laughter through the tears.... moments where we reflected on a life well lived. Moments where we remembered joys shared over a bad joke, a silly trick, or a special hug. Lots of moments, good and bad.

What occured to me yesterday was that 12 months ago, I couldn't imagine ever smiling again. I couldn't imagine NOT thinking about how many pieces my heart was in. But there have been whole hours, sometimes even a full day, where I haven't thought about Pa. That just seems a bit wrong, doesn't it? People are supposed to say, at times like this, that "I've thought about you every day", "you are forever in my heart". I was feeling a bit guilty about that .... but I shouldn't, right? This is what is supposed to happen. You are supposed to feel better. It doesn't mean I miss him any less ... in fact, if it's possible, since Nan died I miss him more. So, I'm celebrating my dead people today, and am very grateful for their lasting impact on my life.

Some good news!!

I completely forgot to announce this, in my sorrow about another family funeral, leaving Therapy DT, and all the other not-so-exciting news going on! A few weeks ago Beth asked me if I'd like to be involved in a blog she is running, focused on journalling, which is really close oto my heart. Journal-It is not a typical challenge blog - it's not about winning prizes, it's more about inspiring you to create something with some meaningful journalling. This fortnight's prompt is about Your Favourite Phrase.

"Suck it up, princess!" has become a bit of a favourite around here - firstly to the girls, but it's also been adopted by my softball team when trying to get me to run an extra base ... sigh.

I went out to dinner last night at a tepanyaki bar with some friends for a hen's nihgt, and had such a great time!! Good food, good company, good coffee and drinks afterwards, and lots of laughs. Plus, I looked pretty hot, if I do say so myself - I got a new haircut yesterday, and I'm loving it sick! I didn't get a photo, though, so hopefully Gill has one that doesn't have me with food all over my face ... I was the only one in our group to drop the rice when it was thrown at me! lol

K, off to do some housework - nothing has been done around here for a while, because we've had heaps of sick people. Not me, touch wood, but I'm expecting it to hit me soon! Take care, and give the people you love a big hug!!

Eggy tears.

How is it possible that something as simple as eggs and soldiers can bring you to tears? Well, this is a mighty powerful meal. Tonight, after a full-on day at work, physi for the girls this afternoon, and karate for Kels and I, I popped in to see my sis and her partner. Shelley's uncle died this morning. It's sad, but at the same time everyone is kind of at peace with it. He's had a rough struggle with health issues and dementia. We are all so sick of funerals though, and while we were talking, we counted up the amount of deaths that have affected our family or close friends in the past year. It's almost 12 months since Pa died, and there have been 7 more deaths since then. So, it was with that in mind that I came home. Got Kelsey some dinner. Carried poor little sick Tayla in to bed. Wandered aimlessly around the kitchen till I found something for dinner. Sat down to some boiled eggs and toast. And proceeded to bawl my eyes out.
Pa used to do this thing ... every time I had boiled eggs, he'd sit there, very patiently waiting until I finished. Then, he'd distract me. "Look, what's that?" Very subtle, he was. I'd turn around, knowing exactly what he was doing, but secretly delighted all the same. He'd turn the empty egg-shell over, and then when I turned back round, tell me to finish my breakfast. He'd sit there trying to contain the big goofy grin on his face, while I broke the empty eggshell. Then he'd laugh and laugh, and brag that he got me again. And I'd laugh too, partly because I wanted to humour him, but partly because I just loved this. I loved his reliability. I loved that he would continue to do something over and over again if he thought it would bring a smile to my face.

Love you Pa. Miss you every day.

Scrappy news ... happy and sad.

Hi all! Especially Mandy, who has been pestering me to update ... are you happy hon? lol
So, what have I been up to? LOTS!! School holidays ended with a totally full-on, but totally awesome, weekend. Saturday, Anzac day, saw us in the city. We went Jet Boating on the harbour - very fast, very sharp sudden stops, very VERY wet, and most of all, lots of fun! Kelsey almost cut off the circulation in my hand, and went VERY white, but she couldn't stop talking about it when we got off - total thrill seeker, that girl. Of course, well prepared mother that I am, had dry clothes for the kids, but for me? Nada. Thank goodness for the modicum of protection provided by the purple monk robes we wore, otherwise I may have been even more drenched than I was! We went in and back from the city on the Rivercat, which is well worth the trip, let me tell you! Lovely views, unhurried pace, a nice and relaxing way to get to Circular Quay. I'm going that way more often!
Sunday meant it was time for our house to be taken over by 9year old girls. Kelsey wanted a scrapping birthday party, and it was 4 hours of girly mayhem. Lots of fun though, both for the girls and for me. The made a wonderful little mini album each, painted a gift bag, played a few games, and made mini-pizzas for lunch. Kelsey has such lovely friends!!

After a very busy week back at work, during which I was acting head teacher (sheesh - full on!!!) I got to friday again. I had a yr12 excursion planned, to take my class to see a performance of Richard III by the Siren Theatre Company. OMG. I've never been so on the edge of my seat, holding my breath captivated by a performance of a Shakespeare play. Totally wonderful!! The only downside was that I had to lug my slightly under 23kilo suitcase there. The upside to that was, I WAS ON MY WAY TO CAIRNS!! ScrapTherapy retreat. Holiday Inn, overlooking the Esplanade. Water views from our room. The bestest room buddy a girl could ask for. Adjoining room with 2 wonderful chicks I hadn't met in real life before, but who felt like long lost friends. Three days of scrapping. More wonderful friends - some I've known for years in real life, some I was meeting for the first time, but all of whom are just wonderful beautiful ladies!! Lots of laughter. Lots of scrapping. Lots of shopping, eating wonderful food, and just enjoying some me-time. I was in heaven ... especially when I got to go and take some pics of the cute jellybean guys holding their privates!! lol

So, because Mandy told me to ... here are some pics of the weekend, both people and scrapping.

Nat and I with the little perverted jelly-bean men ... LOL
This layout has a story behind it - when I opened my suitcase at the hotel, I discovered my brads and buttons all through my clothes. It took me about 40 minutes to completely pick them out, and I was VERY careful putting my undies on for the rest of the weekend! The next morning, I got downstairs to the scrapping room to discover someone (cough*RACHAEL*cough) had spilt buttons all over the layout I was working on. They weren't the right colour, but it inspired me, and two hours later this layout was finished - man, it took a long time to do all these buttons and brads! Yes, I know there is purple ink on the photo - I need to reprint it. That's what happens when you try to recolour foam alphas ... tip of the day, just use sharpies!!

How cool are these light-up skipping ropes? I've had this BG paper to use for ages, but it just didn't do it for me, so I was soooo going to use it before I came home!!



Room mates - Lisa, Natalie, Me and Rachael. What a top group of girls!!

And finally, the DT group, minus Julie who couldn't join us. Mandy, who is just too sweet for words (even when she IS harrassing me to blog!!), me, Narelle, and Leeanne, our Therapy mum.



Ok ... The sad news. (Hidden at the bottom of a post about things that made me happy for very good reason!! Lol) I have made the decision to step down from the Scrap Therapy Design Team, as have the other girls. It's been a wonderful experience, and I really thank Natalie and Leeanne for the opportunity. It's been wonderful working with such a wonderful group of girls, and this is not a decision I took lightly. It was announced on the forums this morning, and I thought I'd be ok with that ... I've been at peace with the decision for a while now. But to see it in print, and to make it public ... well, it just seems so real, and I've spent a few moments today in tears. I'm really looking forward to being able to scrap with the girls more, and to scrap without commitments to anyone else but me, and that's a really liberating feeling. I had wanted to be on a DT for a while before this opportunity came up, and I'm so thankful that this came along when it did - I can't imagine a better place to be a Design Team Member for, and a more wonderful group of women, both DT and forum members, to have shared this experience with. I know that after the end of this month, when my status officially changes, and I'm no longer able to do all that extra stuff that I do as an administrator, I'll probably have a few more tears, but mostly I'm very excited about seeing who the next lot of inspiring Design Therapists will be, and enjoying my role as Therapy Locum.
Leeanne has chosen a Guest DT for June, from some wonderful girls who were at the retreat, and will be looking for another group for July, before the new DT takes over. I can't wait to see what everyone does, it's going to be great!

So, off for some icecream, and some celebratory scrapping. I'll share some more layouts from the retreat soon - there are heaps!!

This is a community service announcement.

Today be'eth a day of immense significance. Hirrah to Sir William Shakespeare, who would be aged 445 years today, if his life had not been arrested by the ravages of death. It has been proclaimed throughout the land that thou shalt speaketh like this noble gentleman today, and I entreat you to't!

http://www.talklikeshakespeare.org/


For some Othello goodness, checketh this out. It maketh me happy in my heart. So, methinks thou canker-blossoms should'st speak out, loud and proud. Ellocute thyselves in a manner befitting a man who scribed more about sex and incest than any playwright of modern times would dare do. Methinks there is a double meaning in that!! (laugh-out-loudeth).

Holiday!! Oh yeah.

Man, I love school holidays. Love them!! We have just been chilling. My MIL came to stay with us over easter, and was here for 5 days. Love her to bits, but it's nice to be able to drink the last little bit of coffee in my cup without being jumped on for my mug, because she wants to wash up! lol She's awesome, and the kids loved having her here. I think it made Easter a little bit easier for everyone, because we could spend time with Grandma, and weren't so focused on the fact that it was our first Easter without both Nan and Pa. Tuesday after Easter was Kelsey's birthday ... she is seriously getting WAY too old, and too tall, and too amazing for words.

The best thing about the day was that Dennis and I had our whole family there. Dennis' daughter and her kids came over, and his son Garry and his girlfriend are down for the holidays. It was so good to see them all together in one place - it made Dennis really happy in his heart, I think, and it was the best gift Kelsey could have for her birthday - to have all her brothers and sisters in the one place for the first time in years. It was a truly awesome day. Aren't we a gorgeous looking bunch?

The kids and I went to Nurragingy the other day, and took some pics ... I'm so in love with that place, I can't even tell you. It's so beautiful. And when you have a beautiful place, a wonderful day, some stunningly gorgeous kids, and a great camera, you can't go wrong! I took hundreds of photos, and apart from the debacle of trying to get a pic of the kids laying on the grass with their heads touching from above, without cutting anyone off at the neck, they are all completely scrapable. In fact, I've already done some of them!!

It's been a week of letting go for me. Of realising that my kids are getting so much bigger than I'm ready for, and so much more independent. Kelsey has gone away with friends for a week, and she wasn't at all upset about saying goodbye to me. That's a good thing, I guess, especially as she used to be so painfully shy, but it just made me a little sad. Then, I said yes. I sat for most of an afternoon with my heart in my throat. I let my baby buy get on a train and go and meet some friends, all by himself. Yes, he's almost 15, and I could be accused of being overprotective, but it's better than the alternative, right? Sigh ... growing up way too fast.

Speaking of way too fast ... it's been over a month already since Nan joined Pa. So long, but so

quickly .... and while life is still going on, there are moments when I stop, and realise that it just doesn't seem the same. I don't know what it is - the colour of the sky isn't right. The birds are slightly off tune. The earth is slightly off-kilter. But then it passes, and I'm ok again. I remember how lucky we are. Totally blessed. Loving my life, ups and downs, and I wouldn't be anywhere else.

K, that's it from me at the moment ... take care everyone, hugs to you and yours!!

Hi ho, hi ho ...

It's off to work we go! It's been full on at work for the past couple of weeks, and will be the same, I think, for the next couple. Bring on Good Friday, I say! School holidays. Sleeping in. Catching up with family. Much needed scrapping time with friends. And just chilling ... how wonderful!!

I actually had a total chill-out day yesterday ... we had people over for dinner on Saturday night, so flogged our guts out getting the house looking presentable. It was a really nice night. But the best part for me was waking up on Sunday morning and knowing that there was NO housework to do. Nothing at all. Zip. Nada. Zilch. So, our plans to go to the river for lunch went out the window. We stayed home. Me in my pj's all day (you reeeeallly needed to know that, didn't you?) The kids played. We did not much of anything. I read a book. Dennis watched sports on TV. And it was BLISS.... totally wonderful, and just what we all needed after the past few months.

I even did a bit of scrapping on Sunday night, which was nice!

So some of what has happened over the past couple of weeks ... the funeral was last friday. The day started with a major drama ... Tayla had a scarf that Nan had knitted her, and Kelsey wanted hers as well. Only problem was, Daddy couldn't find it. Frantic phonecalls to mummy at work ensued. I came rushing home and searched high and low ... yes, we found it, thank goodness. My wonderful awesome beautiful cousins from Perth arrived, and there were hugs and tears all round. My brothers arrived from QLD ... more hugs. We headed to the funeral, and met more family, who we only seem to catch up with at funerals ... we need to do something about that, I think! A lot of people didn't recognise me to start with, I don't think - they aren't used to seeing me without long hair! After Lorraine and I did our eulogy, though, there were more smiles of recognition ... well, smiles through the tears, at least. I was really proud of what we put together to remember Nan's life, I think it was pretty moving (if I do say so myself!!)

The priest who did the service was so cute - old, irish, a bit dottery, and slightly eccentric I think. Said Nan's name wrong. Was convinced that she was Irish too, to the consternation of my aunty. I had to laugh ... is that wrong? Ah well, I know Nan would have liked the Hail Mary he said in Gaelic, whether she was Irish or not!!

After the funeral, we joined the throng heading back to mum's place. You haven't seen a wake done like my family do. Or really, any gathering where people need to be fed. It's really amazing - like a military operation, only with icing sugar and cream. Unbelievable!! Fairy cakes. Date loaf - a total throwback to family get-togethers in my childhood. Scones. Jam slices. Pikelets ... not store-brought ones. Not packet shake and bake mix ones. Pikelets full of air, and an aunty's love. Heaven!! Mushroom cakes, which were secreted in the kitchen, and doled out to special people with the air of a clandestine drug deal. They certainly had everyone on a high! They were the highlights ... I'm so bummed that I didn't think to get a photo of the food table.

I was too busy catching up with the McDiarmid/Ryan Clan. Love these people so much, I can't even tell you. It was a wonderful amazing awesome afternoon, and I know that Nan and Pa had staked out a good possy up there, watching, laughing along with us all, shaking their heads in embarrassment when we told some of the stories about her she wanted to keep secret (we kept them out of the eulogy Nan, but how could I resist the bribery of a mushroom cake for a secret story?????)

Saturday, after spending some time with the WA clan, my sister and I had to play softball. It was our grandfinal. And, can I just say, with all due modesty and decorum, we so totally rocked. Extreme in our awesomeness, we were. In our division, there were three other teams. Two of them we beat comprehensively every time we played. The other team, though, which is from the same club as us, always gave us a run for our money. They had only beaten us once before the final series (and that was a game I didn't play ... does that tell you something??? ROFL). The first semi-final we played them to go straight into the grand final, and they beat us. Only just, and one of our team members ended up in hospital with a broken wrist. So, we had to play the next week to get another chance to get into the GF, and play them again. Which we did. And, as I think I mentioned before, we TOTALLY rocked. 15-0. Us 15, them 0, in case you are under any illusions as to how totally fantastic my team is. It was the best fun ... and even more wonderful because I know just how proud Nan would have been of us (now that she's finally gotten over her horror that I started playing team sports at the age of 32 ... "aren't you too old for that now Tamara?") My sis and I had the biggest cheer squad there - three car loads of rowdy relatives. So glad we won, they never would have let us forget it if we didn't!!

Oh, and for the record ... as vain as I am often accused of being, I could probably be forced to admit that I am perhaps NOT the secret to our teams' success. In fact, Belinda and I are first to admit that we are probably just the window dressing on our awesomely talented team, all of whom can hit, throw, and catch like I only dream of. I'm soooo amazed that by the end of the season, I was swinging and hitting almost as often as I was missing ... woo hoo!!

My girls stayed at my sister's place that night, and headed out to the club to celebrate for us, while I headed to Castlereagh Academy. It was time for Scrapgirls Cropfest, which has started on Thursday night ... so I had a lot to catch up on! It was really just wonderful to see the beautiful Tracy, Kylie, Nic, Sharon, Cath, Ali, Lorraine, Sue, Rae, Anne ... have I forgotten anyone? OMG ... yes! Belinda! Fellow rocking softballer, and all-round awesome scrapper. She also is a fairly mean cook, and fed us so well over the weekend. Luv ya B!! I created a few layouts, but it was just wonderful really to have a bit of time just for me. No family commitments. No work to think about. (well, yes there was, but I was in denial). Just me. Loved that ... need to do it more often.

Wow, that's a seriously long post, huh? So, here's a few scrapping things to check out.

This one is the beautiful little Bella-Rai. What a cutie, huh? And the mini-album is made from totally from Bella products, as part of a DT challenge for Scrap Therapy.

I have another layout to share soon, which is really special to me - the photo I shared last post of Nan and Pa sharing a smooch, using some of the most beautiful Melissa Frances papers. I have so many of these papers now, after winning a RAK recently with a heap more of them, so I'm going to do a RAK myself next post with some of these ... keep an eye out for that!

K, off to eat some Bega cheese chips. Yummo! Take care, and hugs to you and yours.

Farewell...

Yesterday morning, just before 10am, a beautiful soul rejoined her beloved husband in heaven. My Nan, Esme McDiarmid, has been fighting for months, after being diagnosed with cancer that was pretty much everywhere through her body. She had radiation and a dose of chemotherapy. She was taking so many pills we thought she should rattle. As time went on she wasn't able to walk by herself, and in the last few days wasn't even able to get up out of bed. For most of those months she has been staying at my mum's place, just down the road from us, and was helped by her two daughters (my mum and aunty), and her youngest sister. Last week, knowing that the end was coming, she made the decision to go to palliative care.

Over the past few months she has been surrounded by people she loves - family from all over the country, literally, have travelled to spend valued time with her, and it's been lovely for us to be able to see her every day, and make the most of those few precious moments. On Monday afternoon, her pain became too much, and they doubled her morphine. My sister and I sat with her all monday night, but she wasn't really conscious ... sleeping, in obvious pain, and moaning quietly. It was so painful an experience for everyone there to see her like that, and it was heart-breaking to leave that night, knowing that it would probably be the last time we saw her.

As it turned out, it was. I got the call at work, and some awesome people stepped in to cover my classes so I could be with my family. I got to see her, lying there in her bed, the pain lines gone, and looking really peaceful, and as hard as that was, it was also kind of a relief, if that makes sense.

Telling the kids was the hardest, as we knew it would be. They were as prepared as they could be. They knew she wasn't well. They knew she wasn't going to get better. But the reality of a world without Nan hit them hard. Tayla, though, the little legend, was also a bit happy. "Now Pa isn't alone, him and Nan are together again." And that really sums it up for all of us, I think.















The funeral is on Friday, so I'm sitting here contemplating how to talk about this beautiful woman in a way that will do her justice. Love you Nan. Give Pa a kiss for us!

Really??

Really? It's necessary as a teacher to go through a massive about of bullshit for no particular reason at all?? I'm not talking about parents. I'm not talking about obnoxious students (and trust me, I have a few!!) I'm talking about staff members. I'm going to be very non-specific here (I don't know WHO stalks my blog from work! lol) but I'm so over people who think they are all that with no reason ... who talk themselves up ... who use big words to make themselves sound impressive ... who feel the need to attempt to put other people down to make themselves appear more superior. I'm SOOOO over it, and there are some days that I wonder what I'm doing with my life. Sigh. Today was a mix of one of those days, and one of the good ones - the ones where I walk out of a classroom just feeling alive, like I've made a difference, and that someone is a bit closer to being successful in their schooling career because of something I said or did. And THANK GOD that moment came not once, but twice today ... that's the only reason I'm going back tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that ... well, no actually, because it's saturday, but you get my point.

Hmmm ... what's going on apart from that? Lots of stuff to make me sad. Yes, I've spent a massive amount of time in the past 4 or 5 days just bawling. Bushfires. Loss. Tragedy. It's just inhumane that people are dying, not just because of a natural phenomenon, but due to the work of some sick disturbed arsonists. It's something I'll never understand ... and thank god for that.
For every beautiful image that comes along, like the wondrous picture of the CFA worker giving that koala a drink, there are so many more to break your heart. Houses. Land. Belongings. People. Too sad for words ... and it's not often that I'm lost for words really, so that's something huh. One of my classes today actually brought it up - we were talking about character traits, and they all had to pick 10 out of a list that described them. Compassionate was on the list, and one of the kids said that was me - and then asked how I was feeling about the bushfires. I said that, in all honesty, I just couldn't talk about it, and they all sat there stunned - totally stunned. "That's a first, Miss!" came the comment from the back of the room. Yeah, that lesson was one of my highlights ... love that group.

Other stuff to make me sad ... Nan isn't doing so well. Yet again, too heartbreaking for words. She has deteriorated a lot in the past couple of weeks, and whilst we are all hoping that she is here for Bella's first birthday, we aren't really holding our breaths. I'm just not ready ... are you ever? Crapola. Totally.

I was reading Lusi's blog today ... she has this "Get Real" thing going on, and I was planning on starting it - I was going to tell you about how I didn't make the beds this morning (in fact, I haven't in AAAAGES!!) and how my laundry basket is full to overflowing. I was going to tell you about a whole lot of average, ordinary, real-life stuff ... but I guess what I've already posted is just about as much reality as I can cope with today. Love the focus on the real Lusi - I think I've been doing that for a while actually! No-one could ever accuse me of being superwoman (except in jest! Lol) So I am going to leave the reality of destruction and despair as my "getting real" for today. And I thought I might share some of the other realities in my life that keep me grounded! Some layouts of my favouritest people. God I love my kids!!

These are all layouts using some of my yummy new Basic Grey, and my beautiful new printer ... oh how I love thee, Canon Pixma 630!! Just awesome.

Basic Grey is the MAN of the Month at Scrap Therapy this month - check it out, there is a lot of great stuff on sale, and some new ranges due in any day now!

K, I'm off to get ready for work tomorrow, and get the kids school clothes ready - they are having a mufti day to raise money for the bush fire appeal, and they are very excited about it - they have been gatherin every cent they can to take in!!! Hug your kids, and tell the special people in your lives how special they are!

A new profile pic!

For all of you who were wondering how the hair is growing back - check it out! I have hair again. It's seriously so much cooler - I don't know how I coped in summer with that much hair before! I'm loving it (even if I do look like a toilet brush ... don't you just love my DH!! LOL)

So, back at school. The girls are just loving their teachers and their classes. I'm loving my classes, but not so much my classroom - I had to move at the end of last year, and my new room isn't airconditioned. Most of our school isn't actually, so I guess I was lucky that I had aircon in my old room. I'm more missing my mural than the aircon though - 2 years ago my classes, who new how happy I was to finally have my own classroom, painted the back room of the wall for me, and I miss looking at it every morning. It made me happy. A big bright rainbow. Some very funky butterflies. Sunshine on one side of the rainbow, and storm clouds on the other. And beautiful fish and sea creatures swimming along the bottom of the wall. Sigh ... I miss my wall!

Not much more to report on at the moment - it's hot here, I'm sweltering, and sooo not looking forward to playing softball tomorrow!! It's wrong, it's just wrong. Thank goodness for air conditioning! Oh yeah - do you feel like scrapping tonight? Cybercropping at Scrap Therapy - it's OSCAR'S month!! Come along and check out the challenges and chat - bingo is on tonight! I'll be back to share some scrapping soon - I've been doing heaps, but I can't share them, as most of them are DT layouts. Take care!!

What a day.

America officially has a new president. Yep, I stayed up all night to watch the inauguration. The coverage started around midnight here in Australia, with the official ceremonies kicking off at about 4ish ... I don't really know, as my eyes were falling out of my head about then. I did see most of it, but drifted off to sleep after Obama's speech, so I managed about an hours sleep before Dennis got up to go to work. Today Tayla has her BFF from kindergarten over to play - they are in full swing dress-up mode at the moment. I've had princesses, witches and fairies running all over the house, goodness knows what they are turning into now!

So, the inauguration. He's such a great speaker. I was moved, and I'm not even American! There's just something about a stirring political speech which speaks to my soul. Loved it!

Less than a week until back to school, and back to work ... so wishing we had a bit longer! I've been making the most of my scrapping time though, and managed to squeeze in some scrapping with Michelle, and some cuddles with Holly. Lots of layouts done for the LSBS cybercrop - it's the most challenges I've managed to do for this for ages!

This one was a pic I took while playing with the new lens ... working out how to get different things in focus in a picture. The Sass Lass Reindeer Kisses paper was just perfect - how cute are those little reindeer?

I love this diecut stitched cardstock - it's Bella. Add some cool papers, some gorgeous lace, and you have my favourite layout at the moment!!

This one was for a challenge set my Nic ... to scrap an ordinary moment. This was that day last week where the temperature hit a squillion ... the girls found their own way to keep cool!

Kelsey grading to Orange Belt/white stripe at Karate ... what a legend!

And, finally, Dennis and the girls cooking dinner. And he says I'M a messy cook! lol I used a lot of old supplies on this one - I'm trying to use up some old pp, so I don't feel guilty about the yummy new stuff I've got coming from Scrap Therapy. BG Bittersweet ... yumm!!!

K, I'd better go ... the girls are playing Dance Factory on PS2, and want to show me their moves. I hope they don't want me to dance, I don't think I'm awake enough to be able to follow all those moves!

Scrappin' and singin' ...

I love listening to music while I scrap ... and Scrapping The Music has has some great songs the past couple of weeks! This week it's Pictures of You by The Last Goodnight. I love this song ... I had actually scrapped it once before!!

This is the one I did last night - another picture from Colo playing around with my new lens. I need to work on getting rid of those shadows a bit, but I love this photo - it's my neice, Bella-Rai, who is seriously the biggest character! She's a total clown ... love her to bits.

This is the one I did last year - lots of pics of Kelsey, between 1 and 2 years old. She's almost 9 now - and growing up WAY too fast!

K, I'd better go and finish de-christmasing my house ... there's still little bits everywhere!!

Happy New Year!

Yes, I know I'm late ... I've been on holidays!! Our annual NY trip to Colo. Bliss, total bliss. We slept in, ate too much food, had afternoon naps, spent time in the pool, went canoeing, did a bit more swimming, read, read some more ... the kids rode their bikes, got totally filthy, and had a fantastic time. I could fill pages with how much I love Colo! Plus, it gave me the perfect opportunity to play with the new lens I got for my birthday. I got some fantastic pictures, and I've already scrapped a few of them! I got lots of scrapping done while I was away - it was nice to scrap for the fun of it, not because I felt like I had to fit the layout to specific challenge criteria, etc etc. I had fun! So, what did I do when I got home? Did a challenge layout! lol of course. I can't help myself.

I did this one for Scrapping The Music - the song this week was Hands by Jewel. It has made me dig out my Jewel cd - I forgot how much I loved her music! This was my annual "NY reflections" layout ... very deep and meaningful. Look at that bald head! It's grown back a bit since then - I'm looking very fuzzball-ish right now.

I'm doing a "52 pickup" layout challenge this year - a layout a week, with specific criteria. The first one was to use some metal on your layout - and lets face it, most scrappers have heaps in their stash! I used an old metal frame on mine, cut in half for the photo corners. I'm going to do my 52 layouts using photos that I've taken in that week, so it'll be a record of my year. Some people at Scrap Therapy are doing a photo a day, but I just don't have time for that, so one a week is as much as I can commit to. This one is a picture of Kelsey at Colo, using my new lens.

K, that's it for now. Take care of you!!

Christmas wishes

What are yours? Mine are simple this year - and things just aren't going to cut it. My Nan is ill - she's been diagnosed with cancer, pretty much everywhere. She has it in about 5 different organs, as well as throughout her bones, and swelling at a fracture on her spine threatening to press on nerves. They are starting treatment on the spot on her spine to try and stop the possibility or paraplegia, and are talking about chemo as a palliative care move. After losing Pa earlier in the year, she is ready to be with him again, and is coping pretty well with the dr's assessment that she has months, not years.

So our christmas wish - that her new meds help her cope with the enormous amount of pain she's in over the christmas period, so she can enjoy the time we'll have with her family ... all our family from pretty much all over the country are flying in for christmas, which is going to be awesome. That when she goes, it's with dignity. She's a lady, my Nan, and the thought of her hanging on and losing her dignity, needing people to wash her, and feed her, and having machines keep her alive, is really far more painful a thought than that of losing her. So we're praying for a wonderful, blessed, and peaceful end to an awesome life.

So, after that depressing start to a christmas post ... who's ready for santa? Not this little black duck! I've battled the Plaza three days in the past week (anyone who's been to Penrith around Christmas knows EXACTLY what I'm talking about!!) and I've had amazing luck - driven pretty much straight into a parking spot! That, dear readers, is where the luck ended though. I've wandered around aimlessly, not able to find anything that really takes my fancy. I had a run-in with one manager from a store which will remain nameless, but then was saved by another - God Bless Glenn, who saved my bacon with my DS-loving 6 year old who is desperate for a blue one off Santa! I've got to say though, she's missing out from Santa ... I decided this year I don't want some random fat guy in a red suit getting the credit for the kick-arse presents I've been slaving over, so the really good ones are coming from me and Dennis!! So that's been my dilemma, actually ... coming up with a present that looks substantial enough to be a Santa gift, but isn't going to break the bank - we didn't want to spend too much this year, and I'm trying my hardest to stick to that! We eventually found some great gifts, but there are still little bits and pieces to be sourced. My kingdom for a decent junk shop!! And I'm battling that age-old issue ... what to get our next door neighbours who I KNOW have been baking yet again, to give us a special hand-made christmas gift. Is a large box of Cadbury's Favourites a suitable enough gift in return for hours slaving over a hot stove? Probably not, but that's as good as it's going to get!! lol

I whipped this up last night. How cool are these colours! I stumbled across these papers in a LSS, that used to be a fabric store. It has the best collection of scrapping and habby stuff, omg ... I was in heaven! And a gorgeous wooden book shaped box. I've been dropping hints, but I think I'm going to have to go and buy it myself for christmas! This is Pink Paislee Vintage moon paper - the owl and branch are cut from another sheet from the range. It's officially my first non-square layout! Those of you who know me know how stressed I would be getting at the thought of how this is going to look in my album .... but I've solved that dilemma, it just needs to go back to back with a layout done on Kraft cardstock, and has no brads or stitching, etc, peeking through the back around the edges! lol Yes, I'm anal. I keep looking at this layout and thinking it needs something else, but it took less than 15 minutes, and I love the colours in the pp - every time I add something else I keep taking it off again! So it's going to stay like this. How hot are we? ROFL.

This one uses some beautiful Basic Grey papers and alphas, and Melissa Frances and Fancy Pants trims. I love how the colours of the paper match the colours in the water!

This one is from a little while ago, but it caught my eye again while I was adding pics, so I thought I'd share it too ... how big is my Kelsey girl getting? Sigh ... it makes me proud and sad all at the same time.








K, off to tell Kieran, aged 14 and waaaay too cool for his own good, that he's coming to get a Santa photo taken today. Wish me luck! PMSL.

It's my birthday and I'll whinge if I want to!!

OMG ... what kind of person subjects themselves to pain on their birthday? This kind, apparently! It was my birthday yesterday, by the way, just in case you were wondering ... happy birthday to me! lol
So, the pain - well, we had Karate. I would normally have skipped it - I'm all for a good excuse not to go to training. But Kelsey was grading. And she ROCKED!!!! She's now an orange belt with white stripe. Go you little ninja you! So since I was there, I stayed for the adults class ... they knew I was around, it was a bit hard to sneak out. OMG ... OMG ... OOOOO MMMMM GGGGGG. Who knew that there were so many kinds of push-ups? We did normal pushups. We did scorpion pushups. We did some wierd kind of yoga-like prayer pushups (I tell you, I was praying during them ... ouch!) We did the specially patented, Kumiai-Ryu, "I'm a sadistic bastard and want to inflict as much pain as is humanly possible in a 60 minute period" pushups. And do I hurt today? Yes I do. Will I hurt tomorrow? You bet your sore little butt-muscles I will! But am I proud of myself? Abso-friggin-lotuley! I kicked all my tension from work out. I did some serious kicks that I've NEVER been able to do before. And, this overweight and unfit 34 year old held her own with teenagers and black belts. Go me!!

Hmmm ... what else? Well, it's time for a message from our sponsors ... lol. Who loves scrapping? Who loves Kaiser? Well, if the answer is you, my friend, then get yourself to ScrapTherapy, where this month's MAN of the month is Kaisercraft! Such nice new ranges in - you'll love them! Plus, the beautiful new Clear albums - I can't wait to play with these! Everything is super-cheap - some of the ranges this month are reduced more than Lee-anne's usual generous 20%!

This is my favourite otp of the moment - our "Christmas wishes" hanger! Kaiser papers and bauble album - cute huh? The back of the decos have a piece of clear plastic on them, so we can write our christmas wishes, and then they can be wiped off and used again for next year. I really like this!

A layout for the Therapy monthly challenge - to scrap a layout using one of a few great christmas quotes. I love this one, it's one of my faves, and this pic from last year of my kids plus our cousin Phoenix is so nice.

This album, a Kaiser one, is part of the girls' christmas present. It's got Veronica's lyrics, pics, and concert tickets. They are just going to go nuts - they think the concert is WAAAY too expensive. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces!

K, I'd better go - I've got so many teacher presents to make, and so little time. This is the problem with making something really awesome one year - they all begin to expect it when you've established a precedent! That'll teach me ... lol.

A rarity ... a totally wonderful day, in every single way.

You know those days that are just awesome? When you feel like you've done something good, you enjoy your day, and you go to sleep content? That was yesterday. I took my senior English class to some workshops yesterday, one of them run by an old lecturer of mine from uni, and they were awesome. I learnt a lot. They learnt a lot. We had a good time, and had some really interesting thought-provoking conversations. I found a totally divine second-hand book store, and brought a couple of books, one of which I'm about half way through and LOVING. I could have done some serious damage to some of those shelves with someone else's credit card!

The big deal, though, was the workshops. They inspired me to stop just dreaming about doing some post-grad literature study, but to actually start doing it. I've decided that a PhD is probably a bit out of my ball park at the moment, so I'm researching Masters Degrees .... anyone know any good distance ed English Lit Masters courses around? I spend an hour or so searching around last night, but I'm so out of touch with academia - I don't know if I'm looking in the wrong spots, or what I'm after just simply doesn't exist!

So, after some research research last night, I did some scrapping. And I got HEAPS done!! Pretty happy with them all too, so that's a good thing. Do you wanna see? Well too bad if you don't ... go and check out someone else's blog then! lol

I finally finished a layout for Scrapping the Music in time to enter it ... amazing really! I love the song that was the prompt for this week.

This was my totally sexy hair cut, just before my current sexy hair cut! lol I seriously hardly EVER go to the hairdressers, and I'd just gotten this 'do done about 4 weeks before I shaved my head ... what a waste, huh?

Two layouts of the girls at physi this year - I didn't deliberately do them using the same things, it was a bit of a mistake, but they look really good sitting next to each other in my album.


These two are some yummy American Crafts products - still on sale at Scrap Therapy until the end of the month. The Christmas one is over in the forum as a step-by-step, if you want to have a go at it!

Well, I think my bath is ready - hot water, bubbles, a glass of red, candles, and a new old book. What could be better? Night all!!

What a MAN!!!

You know what I love about the site I am sooooo blessedly on the Design Team for? Scrap Therapy has an awesome Manufacturer of the Month thing going on ... affectionately called the MAN of the month. The forum is buzzing every month, just before the announcement, not only trying to guess the real MAN (as in scrapping manufacturer) but also coming up with a new MAN - a real life, hot, often shirtless one - that Julie will scrap into a cute little ATC each month. It seriously rocks! Check out the Scrap Therapy blog for this month's MAN ... nice, very nice!


So, the REAL MAN of the month is one of my faves ... American Crafts!! Gotta love the colours. Gotta love the variety. Gotta love the ALBUMS!!!! Gotta love the cardstock. And, most importantly - GOTTA LOVE THE THICKERS! The really exciting thing is that every month, the MAN of the Month is on sale - 20%! (hence the shirtless thing, I think. 20% off ... roughly 20% of the outfit would be a shirt ... get it? Yeah, I know, I'm grasping at straws ... shutting up now. lol) So, this month American Crafts is on sale at 20% off the prices listed in store - the reduced price will come up as you go through checkout. This applies to everything but the cardstock, which is already at the rediculously low price of 55cents, so buy up big on that anyway!


Here are a couple of MAN Creations that I've done so far - both are using the Amplified range, which is vibrant and gorgeous, but also really versatile. So many of the sheets in this range are embossed, die cut, or foiled - just beautiful! I've also used the obligatory Thickers, and the journalling blocks are done using the AC clear stickers - love them to bits!

This one isn't AC, but I wanted to share it anyway - this was a layout I did just after attending the Relay for Life in Blacktown. It was such an emotional event, and I came home finally ready to scrap this amazing man. Love ya, Pa! (Basic Grey Granola, in case you were wondering!)

Ok, that's about it for me ... I've got so much going on here at the moment I can't even see straight! Reports to write, stuff to scrap, floors to mop, kids to nurse (Kieran has tonsilitis again, Tayla has an allergic reaction to something, and I'm feeling crappy!) and at some point in all that I need to remember to breathe. So what do I do? That's right, I blog ... of course! LOL

Oh, a quick note - I haven't forgotten about the rak draw for people who donated to the head shave thing for breast cancer research ... I'm just waiting on a few names from our lovely GNI organisers, and I'll get it done.

K, all, off I go - cya later! Mwah!!