A Luscious Journey

Christmas Wishes

2009-12-24T13:09:00.002+08:00

Merry Christmas and a wonderful and happy New Year.
Hope your Christmas is joyful and happy. I hope that all your dreams and more come true in the New Year.
All my love :-)
See you in 2010. Yahooooo! can't wait to see what you all get up to.

I'm back

2009-12-23T21:18:00.002+08:00

Yes I am finally back up and running... my computer that is.
More problems with it since that nasty virus. Had to send the computer off again today and its 9.19pm in Perth and I have just got back from picking it up. They were so good the computer people (PC West in Ballajura), its there last day of trading today before the holidays and they so nicely stayed back to finish my computer. Its still not perfect but they ran out of time and did a temporary fix up to tie us up over the hols. So I will be without a computer again for a little while in January but at least I have it for now (need it desperately Christmas day so that someone can download songs for their new Ipod).
Anyway enough bla bla from me. I hope you are all doing well and that you are as ready as you are going to be for Christmas. My December Daily is progressing although having no computer has meant no printing of photo's but at least I have still been taking them and keeping a record of what we did.
I will say goodnight and wish you all sweet dreams.love me :-)

She's graduated

2009-12-17T07:42:00.004+08:00

She's graduated. My little girl has finally finished Primary School. Although today is the last day of school the Year 6's had their graduation ceremony/mass last night. It was so beautiful and so very hard to take as a Mother. I am sure it was only yesterday that I dropped her off for her first day of Kindy, really, I am sure in was just yesterday. Well at least thats what it feels like. I can't get over how fast its all gone, all those ups/downs and experiences of primary school. It was an emotional day yesterday for everyone, we went and said goodbye to some of Alex's teachers from previous years and caught up on old times. And of course there was the signing of the shirt. I think this was Alex's favourite part, running around getting teachers and students to lay their final mark on her primary school life.

... sorry just had to stop for a moment, just had to wipe the little tear (okays tears) streaming down my face. Alex is still so little to me yet so grown up at the same time. You want to hold them so close but let them go, boy this parenting this is so hard at times... I know and the most rewarding.
In the years to come Alex, keep you head held high and never stop aiming for those dreams and goals.
Love you heaps, Mum
Have a great day everyone and enjoy this last day of school.
love me :-)

Who doesn't love a sale!!!

2009-12-16T17:14:00.006+08:00

Who doesn't love a sale right and who just loves to win yummy prizes. Check out Tomorrow's Memories Blog for all the info about their sale that starts tomorrow.
How cool, and for every $20 you spend you go into the draw to win the very new and amazing Sizzix Embossing Boutique.
Go on check it out you know you want to...
love me :-)

December daily 10, 11 & 12

2009-12-16T07:46:00.004+08:00

Here are some more pics of my DD. some of the pictures aren't very good but you will still get the idea.
Day 10 my photo is blurry but I had only a few seconds to catch this moment. After looking at the picture it kinda suits it blurry. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling and thats all that matters.

Day 11 my last muffin all ready for my treat swap

Day 12 this is all the lovely treats I brought home from the afternnon tea. Yummy! My family is having a huge time eating them all.

Hope your day is a good one.

love me :-)

December Daily days 7, 8 & 9

2009-12-15T07:48:00.003+08:00

I am still up to date with my DD which surprises me just as much as it surprises you. I will show the other pages soon but I am still having a few problems with my computer so please bare with me. Day 7 is all about my daughter making special little notes etc for her KK at school. I even turned the photo into a pocket to put the notes that she has received from her KK so far.

Day 8 was our school christmas concert. I made this a double page because I knew there would be a few photo's.

Day 9... me cooking my 134 choc cherry muffins. Remember to include yourself in your DD. You may not like photo's of yourself (who does) but your kids will want to know later, trust me.

Hope the build up to christmas is not getting too stressful for you. Hang in there not long to go.

have a great day

love me :-)

Muffin No. 135...

2009-12-13T21:17:00.002+08:00

As well as my computer giving me a little bit of stress I decided to add more stress by being part of a Christmas Treat Swap. One of the lovely Mum's at school organised this little swap for a small bunch of ladies (turned out to be 15 of us) as a way to get together and share in some holiday cheer.
We each had to choose a treat, make eight for each person plus 15 for a tasting plate. Then on Saturday we met for an afternoon tea where we got to chat and for some of us to meet some new Mum's and to taste some very yummy treats. When the afternoon tea was over we then took a plate of each treat. So I turned my 135 choc cherry muffins into 135 yummy treats. I needed a washing basket to put them all in to bring home. I guess I won't be starting no diet this week LOL.
Whats even funnier is that is appears that I now bake... who would have ever thought!

Very hot here in Perth today, too hot in fact so we headed off down to the river again for some more kayaking. My Mum and Dad came down to share in the fun, it was so good to get together for no particular reason.
Hope you are all well
love me :-)

Major crash...

2009-12-12T12:15:00.002+08:00

Hello everyone, sorry I haven't been around for awhile but my computer had a major crash, yes a crash. A very nasty virus and I lost everything... accept my photo's thank god.
I will be posting again shortly but I have lots of re-setting up to do with my computer so please bare with me.
If anyone has emailed me over the last week can you please email me again. I lost all my emails as well as all my contacts. So please, even if you haven't emailed me lately please email me your email address.
This was a hard lesson because nothing was backed up. Its the thing we are all going to do, time permitting but somehow it just never gets done. Thankfully as I said I managed to have my photo's saved but lost everything else. I often used to journal on my computer... you know document that cute thing one of the kids said or did, but I never put it on hard copy i.e. disk etc so alot of that information I have lost. So please, please, please take some time to copy your photo's and anything else on your computer that is important to you. As I said I could have lost all my photo's as well so I am very thankful but please just take some time to take another copy of everything... you know... just in case.
Hope you are all having a safe and happy time leading up to christmas.
I will be back soon.
love me :-)

December Daily Days 3, 4, 5 & 6

2009-12-08T07:56:00.005+08:00

Yes I am still on track with my DD. Can't believe it myself really. Whenever I do these sorts of things I usually get to about day 5 then completely bom out, and then I am always going to catch up but never do.
I am liking this little project because its kind of taking the pressure of scrapping anything in December because I am already doing it in my DD.

Sometimes when I think what will I do today (because nothing major has happened) I then stop myself and say its not supposed to be about major events but the little ones, the ones we do everyday, the ones that we will forget about. Day four is about one of our Advent calanders that we have where you change the numbers to count down the sleeps and my son, Joshua gets very upset when I don't change then quick enough so he has decided that this will be his job, along with turning on/off the christmas tree lights every day.

Day five was all about relaxing and trying to catch our breath over this busy period.

and day 6 is all about our love of Advent Calanders, the chocolate ones.

Hope you are all well and that December isn't sending you too crazing.

have a great day.

love me :-)

Christmas tags & a little relaxation

2009-12-06T20:57:00.004+08:00

Just wanted to share some little christmas tags that i made over the weekend. I was just playing really but loved how they turned out. I have used kraft cardstock (my favourite) and pink paislee (my other favourite)

I cut my cardstock 16.5cm x 5.5cm. I scored and folded my card at 9cm. You tag should be shorter at the front and longer at the back. Cut down pattern to fit front flap. Punch holes, add eyelets and string and your done. There are so many ways you can decorate these little cuties. I still might add to the front of my yet, see how we go.

Yesterday it was time to take a little R & R. Rest and relaxation time. We went down to Crawley, found a spot on the river and went kayaking. Some friends joined us and it was heaps of fun. It was so nice sitting back, watching the kids, slight breeze blowing and taking time out.

Oh and the odd glass of wine helped too.

Hope you all had a fun & relaxing weekend. I have some more DD to show tomorrow. I can't believe I am still on target. LOL

Sleep well and enjoy your week.

love me :-)

Just by chance...

2009-12-04T14:50:00.004+08:00

Sometimes you try really hard to get that perfect photo. And sometimes it doesn't seem to matter how much you try it just doesn't work.
On my daughter Confirmation Day I tried desperately to get a nice photo of her. But she carried on and in the end I said "don't worry" and her reply was "whatever"... in that split second I clicked the camera thinking she would smile. She didn't smile but I got my photo and it turned way better than I thought.

I also did some stamping which I haven't done in ages. I even stamped the white cotton fabric and then hand cut them into butterflies.

Hope you are having a great day and that you weekend will be just as great.

love me :-)

December Daily Day 2

2009-12-03T21:52:00.002+08:00

Just a quick share, day two of my DD and all is going well. It should be really we are only on day 2 LOL.
The kids are starting to go in the spa nearly every night now (they treat it like a pool)... you can tell that school hols are just around the corner.
Hope your week is going well.
love me :-)

December Daily Day 1

2009-12-02T06:45:00.003+08:00

Happy December everyone. Can you believe that we are now in December, boy hasn't the year gone fast. As busy as December gets it is still my most favourite time of the year. I love all things christmas, decorating the tree, buying presents, giving presents, the food... oh the food but most of all I enjoy watching my kids enjoy this time of year.
As December begins so does my December Daily (thanks to Ali Edwards). I am always a little unsure what to to document in my DD, cause more than one thing always happens each day. But this year I want to focus more on the little everyday things. The things we probably wouldn't remember 12 months later.
Yesterday morning after Josh got ready for school he got out his Aussie Christmas Carols and started playing them. He also listens, sings and dances to at least two/three songs before he heads off to school but as it was December, out came the christmas carols. This is such a little event but is such a big part of Joshua.

If you are doing the December Daily, enjoy the process. I am going to this year.

Check out Pink Paislee and leave a comment they are having some great giveaways through December.

Check out Making Memories, take their survey for your chance to win.

and Check out Cathly Zielski blog, leave a comment for your chance to win a spot in her new class.

Have a fab day and Happy December
Love me :-)

The first sign of summer...

2009-12-01T21:02:00.005+08:00

A couple of weekends ago we went kayaking (you probably remember me telling you about it) and you would also know that I took my new camera (cause I can't stop playing with it) to photograph the day. When Colin and Josh were out paddling I was just mucking about with my camera, you know photographing this and that to see what would happen and I took several photo's of my thongs. Later on when Colin was looking at the photo's he laughed and said what on earth did you take photo's of your thongs for. At the time I was just mucking about with the focus etc and didn't really give much thought to the fact that they were just thongs.

It wasn't till later that day when I got a blister from my thongs, that it all made sense. When I realised that I had a blister, it occured to me, that the first time I wear my thongs for the season I get a blister. Every year, never fails and it doesn't matter if they are old or new thongs. I thought I should scrap about my blister thing and then remembered I had the perfect photo.

Sometimes it pays to photograph the not so obvious. It just might turn out to be the perfect photo.

Hope your week is going super well.

Love me :-)

Note: Donna Downey has a cute giveaway, check out her blog and the oh so cute fabric ornaments here

Cardmaker of the Year 2009

2009-11-30T20:38:00.009+08:00

Most of you already know that in April this year I went along to SIA in Sydney and while there won the "Cardmaker of the Year - Individual 2009" award. As you can imagine I was totally over the moon. My fame though, was short lived as the magazine folded and it has taken some time to get my prize (which has finally come through) but sad for me the cards never got published... but I am thrilled to say that I can share them with you now.

I am you liked them and I am just so glad that I can finally get to share them with you.

Hope you are all having a super start to your week.

love me :-)

Happy Everything...

2009-11-28T21:00:00.002+08:00

Today I taught this cute little card set "Happy Everything" and I just wanted to say a big thankyou to the ladies that were in the class, you were a super bunch and it was such a pleasure to teach you.

We used some of the very cute Twiddleybitz chipboard as our stamp to stamp our image with. With a bit of paint, your chipboard piece you can stamp away. This little card set was designed to give as a little present.

After my class I met my lovely family down by the river for some more, totally fun kayaking. It was so nice down by the river, so calming, just what I needed.

Hope you are all well and enjoying a happy weekend.

love me :-)

Me Coach...

2009-11-27T07:46:00.002+08:00

I really am getting into my stash now. I just knew I had kept this paper for some reason LOL. Yes this is me every Saturday, out in amongst it all. This certainly was a huge challenge for me to take on the coaching spot, they had no one else to do it so I put my hand up. What I thought was going to be a long hard haul is turning out to be quite fun.

Its amazing isn't when something comes along that your not sure about, you jump on board because something is telling you its right, and it turns out better than you thought. A big cheer to all those parents who volenteer out there, we appreciate you very much.

Oh yes, this is another simple layout but it tells the story. My Slice was a huge help on this page.

Have a great Friday everyone, I am off to lunch with some of my besties, gotta love that.

love me :-)

Note: not only am I getting over Ali leaving CK, so is Becky... what is this world coming too? What will I do? boo hoo boo hoo

This is cool...

2009-11-26T07:52:00.003+08:00

Last Friday night I went to a craft night where I started this layout, however with all the chatting etc I just couldn't get my head around finishing it. Actually the title was my hardest part, but I am happy to say that it is now finished. When I stopped and thought about my son on the kayak I knew exactly what he said... and there was my title.

Just lately I have gone back to a more simpler style of scrapping and i must say, I am enjoy it. I have gone back to documenting the story rather than playing with product (although don't me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a good play of product LOL).

We had so much fun this day. I think its time when got out there again.

Hope you are going well.

love me :-)

Note: I am still trying to get over the fact that my favourite scrapper, Ali Edards is quiting CK. BooHoo how will I ever survive.

Oh the things I do...

2009-11-25T07:17:00.002+08:00

I know Halloween is already been and gone but I had some of my favourite paper (pink paislee)left over and I still hadn't scrapped this photo. Last year I had the super huge pleasure of organising the "Halloween Moonlight Scrap" at Tomorrow's Memories and of course I had to get into the theme. It was such a fab night and scrapping this photo just brought back of those wonderful memories. We had prizes, games and lots of fun giveaways and just lots of fun. To think I drove to work looking like this. Scary...

When the paper came into the shop I just had to have it all, yes all the paper and all the embells. Can never have too much really. Thats my story and I am sticking to it.

Have a great week everyone and enjoy the last few days of November.

love me :-)

Tag-a-licious

2009-11-24T07:35:00.005+08:00

Just thought I would share the cards from my class last night at Tomorrow's Memories and to thank the lovely ladies for making the class so wonderful. I have said it before but have to say it again, the ladies that attend not just mine classes but all the classes at Tomorrow's Memories are just such a fantastic bunch. If you get a chance check out the latest class schedule here.

Have a great Tuesday.

love me :-)

Super Hero Play

2009-11-23T17:54:00.003+08:00

I started this layout on Friday Night and our little craft night, but with way too much laughing and chatting going on it didn't get finished. So today I finished it off. I was so pleased with myself too because I used some really old papers from my stash, and some old rub-ons as well. Gotta love that!

I love these photo's of Josh playing with his latest super hero toy. He loves to play good versus evil and the good guy usually wins.

Hope your week has started okay, Josh was off sick today so I had to take the day off as well. I even got my ironing done. Wahooooo!

Enjoy the rest of your week

love me :-)

sharing craft & a layout

2009-11-22T19:47:00.006+08:00

On Friday night I went to my dear friend Linda's house for a girly scrap night. It has been so long since I got together with friends, we chatted, had the odd wine or two, ate yummy food and laughed out loud. It was fun, fun, fun. Can't wait to do it again... wink wink!

After buying our kayaks a few weeks ago I couldn't help but scrap it. This is my daughter and her smile says it all. She loved it.

Hope you are all having a fab weekend.

Sorry this is quick but Australian Idol is on and I don't want to miss a thing... especially Michael Buble yummmy.

Love me.

Documenting the everyday... Thursday

2009-11-19T21:31:00.002+08:00

Its so easy to get busy these days. We cram so much stuff in, quite often wondering if we will get it all done. At times its hard to stop, and listen. Sometimes I need to remind myself to slow down, stop, not rush and when you are listening to your little ones read, there is nothing else to do but slow down, stop and don't rush. It really is a time to... enjoy time, because when they are learning to read, you only get the one chance.
Today I reminded myself to stop and listen and cherish this wonderful piece of time.
Have a great Friday
love me :-)

Documenting the everyday... Wednesday

2009-11-18T16:37:00.003+08:00

I had a conversation with my son that went something like this.
Josh - I like Wednesdays
Me - Why is that Josh
Josh - beacause... we get to go to the computer lab, its my news day, we listen to Michael Jacksons songs and all other exciting stuff.

This is just another reason why I like documenting the everyday, the little things that make us, us.
Hope you are having a great day
love me :-)

Documenting the everyday...

2009-11-17T07:41:00.006+08:00

Many of you may have heard about Project 365. Its where you take one photo everyday to document and year in the life of you and your family. While I just love this idea to bits its, the project itself is probably a little to big for me. I still have not ruled out this project for next year, because I like the idea of documenting the everyday, the little bits that go on in the background, the things we will really want to know about in the future. So with that in mind I am giving myself a little challenge and hope that you will join me.

I am going to take a photo a day for the next five days (actually I started on Sunday but this is the first time I have had to blog about it) record it on my blog and when time permits do a layout about that photo.

Documenting the everday... Sunday

Thongs are my favourite thing to wear in Summer. I usually buy several every year in lots of different colours.

The first time I wear them for the summer I get a blister. Its kind of like a sign to me that summer has begun... new thongs and a blister

Documenting the everday... Monday

Today we got our first delivery of fruit and veg. Its a new business that has opened up to support local growers. In a fast paced world its so refreshing to be sitting down having a cuppa when the door bell rings and its your shopping LOL. gotta love that.

Documenting the everday... Tuesday

For the first time this year I have started a vegie patch. I have started very small, at the moment only tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and chives. Every few weeks I add something else. But every morning before we leave for school and work I water my little vegies. Although its just one more thing to add to my day, its kind of a nice way to start the day. I find it very relaxing to hand water. Weird I know but its just something I like to do.

I hope you will join me in this little challenge. Even if you don't want to scrap the photo it just something fun to do.

Have a great week everyone.

love me :-)