Living my dream

Firsts

Today we've had a couple of firsts happening around here.

Family:

The twins started rugby today. It was the first practise. Matt has played before. This is Sarah's first year. 5 of their class are in the team, so they had a ball. All of them running around like crazy, but also listening and doing really well. I'm looking forward to their first game on Sat.

And yes, Sarah got her pink boots. Or should I say she got white boots with pink stripes....

 

In fact yesterday they got new gumboots as well as their boots and this is what I woke up to this morning....

 

Cute huh?! LOL.

Scrapbooking:

You may have seen the new SBO ezine. Yay! Love seeing this each time it comes out. In it was an ad. For a new venture I'm part of with Vicky Gibson, Lara Moss and SBO. Its called Precious Pages. Just click on that <----- link over there and you'll find out more, but lets say its been a loooooong time coming (first started talking at SENZ last year!), and is unique, fun and cheap! I think you'll love it.

Later.

A favourite

Thought I'd share my favourite pair of shoes with you. They are sandshoes, like most of the shoes I wear. They are comfy, and casual, but a little bit smart as they are leather. I love them....

 

And now they are part of my 365 photos. hehehe.

Hey, I forgot to share a wee card that I made for Heathers birthday the other night. It was very quick as I'd just about run out of time, but it was made with love....

 

 

Outta here....

Who lives in a Pineapple under the sea?

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS - commonly known as Trina......

 

What a fantastic night. Thanks and happy birthday to Heather. One of Andy's older sisters.

 

 

We really did have a great time. Andy on only 2 hours of sleep in the prior 36 hours.

And even if I did look like a total twit, it was fun and made people (including me) grin. Especially at my atrocious singing. LOL!

Oh, and hey, heres a pic of our new pineapple....

 

Its been a huge weekend for us again. Both Andy and I are exhausted. The poor kids are feeling the effects of it and I know there are going to be a few early nights/nana naps this week.

Hope you've had a good one too.

T

Saturday Sketch day

Cor blimey, Saturday has crept up on me again! So before it becomes Sunday, here's a look at this weeks sketch.

 

Can you tell I've been thinking about journaling? No? LOL! Yes, lots and lots of room to tell the story in this sketch.

And its been a hectic day as usual today. My darling hubby has been moving buildings and was awake all night setting up the server at the new office, then spending time today sorting out other bits and pieces. The kids and I hit the garden centre. I'm looking for a really cool watering can, but in the meantime we found some morning tea and a pineapple plant. Yep, you heard me right. A pineapple plant, so that was planted at our house today. Apparently they are very hardy, easy to grow, can tolerate full sun or some shade, and need next to no looking after. So we're gonna see what happens. If they fruit, it can take a year or so to get the first flower, then 6 months for it to ripen. So I'm not holding my breath, but it could be fun in the meantime. Photo tomorrow.

And I've decided that I'd like to do the 365 photo a day thing. Ok, ok, so its only taken me 4 months to get there, but hey, I can start now, and finish next April (or not). So my first photo will be of Andy and I dressed up to go to a fancy dress party in ohhhhhh, about an hour! And I can't believe what I was thinking when I chose my outfit. I guess I was in a silly mood. I'm going to be Sponge Bob. I mean really! LOL. Oh so not attractive. LOL! I don't suit yellow at the best of times, let alone, in a great big huge funny shape! ROFL! Please be kind to me when I show pics tomorrow. Andy looks pretty darn cool in his Evil Kinevil (sp?) outfit. I'll be proud to show him off!

And on that note, I'd better go off to make a card for SIL. Eeeeek. Still haven't done it. Might have to do a quick scraplift of something else I've made?

Have a great Sat night.

T

8, you say 8?

Yep 8 dirty nappies today. Ugh. LOL. Poor ole Dan. Crossing fingers this doesn't continue into the night.

However, we did have a good day. I had a wonderul visit from Tanya Greenwood who is the face of Innovation magazine and her Mum/business partner. Boy what motivated, focused people. And what an exciting time. Not only for them, but us as well. Anything that can bring more into NZ's scrapping has got to be a good thing. I can't wait to see the finished mag on the shelves. I know its going to be FANTASTIC!

Dan was so good throughout the whole meeting. Quietly playing and being a little shy. But towards the end he decided enough was enough and he went and got all the pillows off one couch, his duvet off his bed, then he came in, lay down and said "lunch now Mummy, then sleep". Cor blimey! Isn't that the cutest (and most unbeliveable?!).

Earlier in the day we'd been playing outside. He got in with the chooks, and I leant over and asked him what he was doing. He replied "playing with the chickens". It was like whateva. What do you think I'm doing Mum?! And was a really cool thing. I mean how lucky is he and his siblings to have this? It reminded me of what we've managed to build for them and how lucky I feel.

And hey, talking about luck....do you feel lucky? Go on over to SBO. Andrea has set up a whole fun new competition and the prize is pretty darn amazing. Your registration and (within reason) a way to get to Autumn Escape. I mean that is some sorta prize!!!!!! WTG Andrea.

That was a pretty smooth change of topic huh?! LOL. Not so smooth is my promotion of a friend of mines candles. Sandra used to nanny for us when the twins were little. Then she and a few friends would come over and we'd scrap together. She is now making soy candles. The cool thing about these is that once the candle burns down, you can wash the container out and start again with a new fragrance. Cool huh?! Yeah, I thought so too. So anyway, here's a link to her website.

And thats about it for me. Was going to try and put some photos in, but well, the camera hasn't been used too much lately. LOL. So maybe next time.

Later.

Another quick share

Do you have days where you are so busy you just don't know where to start? LOL. Yeah, me too. They were last week, and thankfully I just decided to do something and it all worked itself out. Funnily enough, I've realised that doing "something" (even if not quite the right choice) is better than nothing.

As far as scrapping goes, I decided to do 'something' and created this LO, even though I've got other stuff I 'should' be doing instead. LOL.

REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION 

I've used:

Hambly, Prima, and My Minds eye papers....plus I added some extra leaves to my cherryArte negative leaves ala Nic Howard style. Love how she does this, so had to give it a try myself, and it was great.

I took this photo last week when Dan and I were having lunch. He was being particularly noisy and I leaned over and grinned at him and whispered 'shhhhh' to him. He grinned back and made the above face. It was too cute, so I jumped up grabbed the camera and whala. Another LO done.

I've got another one on my desk, mostly done. Just need to put the finishing touches on it (and they're usually the hardest, bother! LOL) and then it'll be done.

So bettter get going, have a good one.

What a beautiful day

Today was stunning. Lots of blue skies and kids running around without clothes on. Gotta love it.

We were lucky enough to have another show of airplanes doing loop the loops and other fantastic displays over our house and the city. We've had them doing this for the last few days, but today's was extra special.....

 

We also got a heap more stuff done around the back too. Lots more digging and hammering. Plus we give the kids their own left over bits of wood, a couple of nails hammered half way in and a hammer. They love it. They are mostly able to keep hammering and get the nail the whole way through. 

They are also finding new bits of the land they can trapse through and pretend they are going on little adventures. Its really great to see, especially as they sing to themselves and we hear them setting up little games. They are also getting good at negotiating with each other. Its so cool to watch. And a great learning time for them (and me) LOL.

Then tomorrow at school another 8 children join their class. Matt has been moved to another table with Sarah staying at their original one. I feel nervous. They are fine. I think this is just one of those times where as a mother I'm not coping as well as they are. LOL! I have to learn to let go.

Alrighty, have a great week.

Later. 

Saturday Sketch day and other stuff

Ok, so here is this weeks sketch.....

 

This is actually sketch number 100 for me! Wow, can't believe I've done that many! It was actually based on this LO....

 

This LO was done for the new dare on at No 8 Wired - Kiwi dares. This fortnight we're daring you to do a LO with both colour and black and white on the same LO.

Here's a couple of close up's.....

 

 

This afternoon I came home from a crop pretty exhausted and with a nasty little headache. I still say it had nothing to do with the wine and late night from the evening prior! LOL, but I got on the internet and checked out the Prima blog which had announced its winner from the Frugal Scrapper contest. I was really excited to see that a fellow kiwi had won it. Huge kudos to Rachel Tucker! WTG. Her mini album was so darn cute. And I've gotta say I was pretty excited to see my LO on there along with Lesleys as something that caught their eye. Thats just darn exciting! It really did make my afternoon.

Scrapbook share

Been a while so thought I'd show you some stuff I've been working on recently.

This first one was for my friend and colleague Dawn Stan who turned 40 recently. We had a lovely birthday for her on the Fiskars ANZ blog with lots of ambassadors making her cards to celebrate. Here is my one....

 

and a close up...

 

I used the latest paper range from Ink by Steph. I also used a stamp, but with two different colours to give it a bit more dimension.

Next is a LO I finished last night. Just mucking around. Its for the March sketch on Prima's blog....

 

And here's my version, flipped on its side....

 

And a close up...

 

Having problems with this post, so gonna head off.

Later.

Weekend catch up

And yep, that includes this weeks sketch.....

 

Notice anything different? Yeah, trying out some new stuff to make it a little more 'professional'.

We had the twins friends stay on Friday night (after a picnic at the school!). It was fun, but actually quite hard. Having two Matthews and two Sarahs gets interesting when you're asking who would like a drink or whatever. LOL!

The next morning we all went to the A&P show. The show was great. Pity about the drizzle and my attitude. I really did wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Nevermind.

Got this photo and love Sarah's attitude. Its like "Mum, just put the camera away ok?!"

 

When we got home I was shattered and went to bed at the same time as the kids 5.30pm!!!!! I woke at 9.15pm and got up for an hour, then back to bed. I woke up this morning still tired. Go figure?!

Today we hung out around here. We planted some ferns we'd taken out a couple of weeks ago, plus dug a few more holes and tried to make another area a little flatter so its easier to walk along. I got a large blister on my thumb. Made me feel good, like I'd actually done some work today. LOL!

For lunch I packed up a picnic and we went down to the bottom of the section. It was lovely as the tide was just about in.

 

So we had another busy but good weekend. All that sleep put me in a much better mood and the exercise today too. But must admit I'm glad its Monday tomorrow.

Later.

Autumn Escape

Have you registered for this yet?

Why not?

Ok, was that a bit blunt? LOL.

I'm just so darn excited about this. A whole weekend away scrapbooking with friends, staying in a hotel, getting to play with goodies, away from Auckland. Bliss.

Best part hanging out with friends. You know my blog post yesterday? Yep, this counts as one of those 'looking after me' things.

I'm also lucky to be traveling down with a friend so it'll be a bit of a road trip too. LOL!

So c'mon. Get registered. Join the fun.

Here's the link......

Inspiration

"I do all I can every day to make a loving environment for all those around me, including myself".

I opened up my computer and on my google personalised start up page was the above affirmation. I really liked it so thought I'd share it with you.

As a mother I think we try and make our homes, our schools, daycares, whatever that our child attends as pleasant an experience as possible. We befriend people. Volunteer for things. We smile alot when we don't feel like it. We do the washing, look after pets, clean up an untidy house. Sometimes in amongst all of that we forget ourselves. We let ourselves get run down. We might eat too much junk food, or not get enough sleep.

Lately I've made a wee deal with myself to try and get more sleep. Not because the kids keep me/us up. They don't. But because I keep myself up. I feel cheated when I go to bed early. Like I'm wasting that precious time with my hubby/alone. I've had this conversation with alot of my friends and they think I'm crazy.

Recently I've discovered that my friends are a bit right. That having a normal nights sleep actually helps me cope with the day better and I get more done in that 'alone time' anyway.

I've made some things for me a priority now that the twins are at school and its made me feel less like a martyr and more like a human again. Ok, so maybe that's a bit dramatic. LOL. But I'm sure you Mum's know what I mean. Funnily enough, getting those things around the house done are becoming easier. Its nice.

So anyway, Donna left me a wee challenge the other day. Eeeek. I read it and just went nooooooooo! LOL. I'd just come in from a walk and well, lets just say the sight isn't pretty.

The challenge is to take a photo of yourself. Right now. No pimping or preening. Just snap a shot of you and what you're up to.

So here ya go Donna. Me the other day when I read your challenge.....

 

Later.

Our kids grew up before our eyes tonight

It was the annual street party, and with so many kids around now, its inevitable they all hang out and go play at other peoples houses and stuff. But the twins are only 5 and haven't done this type of play before. Its always been at our place or friends, supervised.

Tonights supervision was by older kids. Much older, but it really brought out the Mum in me. I knew I needed to let them go. I needed to let them experience the growing up phase that was tonight. But it scared me.

It was reassuring to see how things worked when one boy came back from school in a hurry saying one of the twins had fallen over and hurt herself. I raced off and sure enough Sarah was hurt. But one girl was carrying her, another was bringing her scooter back and all the others were hanging out making sure everything was going to plan. It was amazing. Awesome. Wonderful. It was everything we hoped for when we moved into this street.

Andy and I had a wonderful time too. We met up with new and old neighbours, had a lovely dinner, a couple of drinks and watched Dan. Actually Dan made a bit of a name for himself too. He wandered around cuddling everyone. Total strangers, or not. Anyone within reach, got a Dan hug. Then when the kids all sat down for dinner he entertained them all. Regardless of age. We've been saying for sometime now that he'll be the school clown, well tonight reinforced that even more. LOL.

All three kids did us proud. And boy were we the puffed up chested parents as we crossed the road back home. Sigh.

Overall we had a busy weekend. The boys came back happy from their fishing. They caught 12 fish. Of course most of them were tiny and had to be thrown back, but a couple were decent enough to keep for bait. LOL! Either way the boys thought they were the bees knees and it was hugely successful.

While they were away I managed to get a whole washing line washed and hung up. The kitchen, lounge/dining room, the play room, the kids room all tidied. I had just sat down when they got back and I said to Andy how shattered I was and he asked 'why, you've done nothing'. I just pointed and said look here, and here, and here and here etc. It was funny. I think he realised then my 'morning at home' wasn't quite as restful as it 'should' have been. LOL!

Sarah had a WONDERFUL time with Linn and Hayley. Man we are lucky to have the people we do in our lives. Adding volume, love, interest to the kids lives. She came home just filled with joy.

I took her and Dan for a swim down the bottom of the section. I'll show you a pic in a min. Just after this was taken she raced back and said there was a sea snake. I think she may have seen an eel? Hope not. I love that they swim down there.

 

And the little fish from last year are back! yay! Bigger than last year which is pretty cool. But we have less ducks. And found out tonight that 24 of them (the tame ones) have been taken to a farm. I don't know what we're going to tell the kids. Several of them we had given names and everything. Sigh. I guess its just part of life. But hope to find the right words to talk to them about it.

Oh, and that wind on Thurs. Blew over one of our peach trees. Bugga. It was a good one, with lots of lovely fruit. But the silver lining....we have an even better view now.

Well, I've been flat tack getting some scrapping done, so I'm gonna go now.

Hope you've had a great weekend.

Big birthday kisses to my sister Angie and nephew Callum for tomorrow.

Later.

Saturday Sketch Day

Here is this weeks sketch.

 

Just a quick post before I go clean up the house some more. Andy has taken the boys on the boat for a fish and Sarah has gone out with Linn and Hayley. All the kids are so excited by their morning plans. And it leaves a nice quiet house for me. Unfortunately its not so tidy, the washing needs doing etc. So I'm getting into that.

In between I'm trying to put a few cards together. The Fiskars ANZ blog is featuring cards this month, so if you need to make one, go check them out for some instant inspiration.

Plus putting sewing some stuff and making a mini album and and and. LOL!

Speaking of doing lots, did anyone see the article in 'canvas' this morning? Talking about stress and who has more? The wife at home or the hubby out working. Made for interesting reading! Check it out if you get a chance.

Later.

Woweeeeee

Have you checked out today? Its mighty crazy out there right now.

I know, cause I've just finished an hour long walk. And it was amazing. Really good workout as I was walking into the wind half the way. LOL!

I went along Takapuna beach and of course being an Easterly beach, it was blowing up huge waves that all the surfers, windsurfers, and kitesurfers were just chewing up! I love seeing the beach like that. I seriously thought about getting back home to take the kids down there, but knowing wee Dangerous Dan, thought he'd head straight for the water and that would be the last we saw of him. So maybe when they're a little older.

Luckily after last weeks gale our garden is all nice and safe. yay!

Hey, talking about the garden, we transplanted our strawberry plants in the weekend, they were just too hard to get to (right in the middle of the garden!) so we missed a heap of them all summer. Anyway, they are all wrapped up in newspaper, ready for someone elses garden. If you live in Auckland and want some strawberry plants, let me know. They are free to a good home!

And yet more gardening stuff..... Fiskars are well known not only for their amazing craft tools and consumbales, but for gardening products as well. See below for a cool new idea for community groups. Maybe even your very own school or group?

Calling All Green-Fingered Communities!

Project Orange Thumb launches local gardening program

Whether you’re passionate about the parish rose garden, planting a communal vegetable plot or creating a sanctuary in your local community, Project Orange Thumb is asking all community groups to step forward! The international program, run by leading garden-tool company FISKARS, comes to Australia and New Zealand for the first time in 2009 to fund gardening projects that are of benefit to the local community.

Launched in the US in 2003, Project Orange Thumb is committed to encouraging, sharing and inspiring creative expression in community gardens. Since its launch, the project has awarded more than 100 community groups with over $300,000 (AUD) worth of tools and materials to help turn their garden plans into a reality, from horticultural education and sustainable agriculture to neighbourhood beautification. The initiative is making four grants available to Australia and New Zealand communities, each of which will be worth up to $2000 (AUD) comprised of gardening-related materials.

Supporting the community is at the heart of FISKARS, the brains behind Project Orange Thumb and renowned around the world for its premium gardening products. The company, which celebrates 360 years in 2009, heralds from a small village 90km west of Helsinki of the same name. The village is famous for saving itself from extinction in the 1990s by inviting local artisans to come to live and work in Fiskars, ultimately revitalising the community. Today, the town is renowned as much for its artisans, as for its strong sense of community.

Nic Naes, Marketing Manager at FISKARS says “We undertand the importance of supporting the community and instilling a sense of pride in locals. It’s at the roots of the FISKARS philosophy. We’re excited to hear how community groups propose to use the funding. In the US, we’ve seen a range of communities win grants – anything from building a rain garden to an art centre that created flower beds as a source of inspiration for its artists!”

“We’re hoping to find some creative interpretations on community gardening projects that will make a real difference to the local area and its residents.”

To learn more about Project Orange Thumb and to apply online visit

www.projectorangethumb.com

(and

follow the links to the Australian / New Zealand grant application). Applications close on 31st March 2009.

Founded in 1649, the Fiskars Group of companies is a leading supplier of branded consumer goods. Fiskars business areas are:

Garden, Homeware, School, Office & Craft, and Outdoor Recreation. The group’s international subsidiaries and brands include

Fiskars, Iittala, Gerber, Silva, and Brunton.

- ENDS -

For further information and images, please contact Haystac:

Anna Riordan on 03 8689 2221 or 0411 836 974,

[email protected]

Emma Johnstone on 03 8689 2276 or 0431 676 037,

[email protected]

Later!