Living my dream

Feeling helpless about Ch/Ch

Alot of us in Auckland are feeling the same. It doesn't matter what we donate, how much we give, it doesn't feel enough. Not nearly enough!!!!

I want to go there. Roll my sleeves up and pitch in. But reality says they don't need the drain of more people there. So I hold myself back. Wanting to respect this.

So I sit here, reading the paper, tears rolling down my cheeks, wondering thinking dreaming of what else I can do.

And after reading and posting on the UC facebook page this morning, I had a brain wave while in the shower this morning. Well I hope so. I need to get this rolling pretty quickly if I can. I need to make some calls. Send some emails. Hope and pray that it will come off and if it does, then it will be a way I can make a small difference in a way I'm good at.

So scrapbookers, watch this space. If I can pull it off, it will not only be a great way to fundraise, but a fun day for you too.

Wish me luck.

New Prima stock is in the NZ shops!

How do I know? Because I've seen it listed. You can check it out here.

Oh be still my beating heart. I know, I know. I'm one of the lucky ones who has already had some of this gorgeous new Prima product to play with, but I always need more! After all, I've used some of it up already! Grin.

So to give you a bit of a taste of what you might find up at Scotties, here's a LO I made for CHA using the Reflections line of paper and a ton of new embellishments, like those gorgeous BIG flowers, the ribbon/SIIC (LOVE that BTW!), and the flocked rubons (YUMO).

And just to make it easy for you, the links above will help you recreate my design.

 
And of course a couple of close ups:

 

 

 
Enjoy this lovely summers evening, and wish us luck. We've got 3 of the kids cousins over for a sleep over. I see a long evening ahead. LOL.

Can you help me?

I've been looking for this stamp:

 
It was released in 2009 by Prima who no longer stock it. I think its called "Prima Collage Brick Stamp" and I'd like to get one.

Do you have one you don't use anymore? Would you be willing to sell it to me?

Does your LSS have an old one in stock that people have forgotten about?

If so can you please send me an email and we'll chat.

I'd be every so grateful!

T

Our family motto

 
(photo taken while on our annual 'camping' holiday in Jan)

This week, part of the twins homework was to write down their family motto on a piece of paper, then decorate it.

Well we didn't have one, did we. Hmmmmmm. It meant alot of thinking all week. What did the kids think? What was important to them? What was important to us? What was important to all of us as a family. And that was the hard part. Coming to a compromise on the wording. Matt was dead set on having the word nature in there somewhere, yet we didn't want to restrict our motto to 'just' nature (even though this is important to us). You'll see when you read what it is, that we came to a good compromise.

So here it is:

To grow a healthy mind, healthy relationships and attitudes. To be kind, thoughtful and show respect to all things. To try to be the best we can be.

Sarah was incredibly insightful when discussing our motto. She came up with most of this. We just rephrased it slightly.

It was one of those wonderful times in our families life. Talking together about what we want to be. What we want to show. What we want to do. Creating a motto that will build a wonderful environment in which they can grow and develop. Giving us a solid frame to build our family around.

I'm really proud of our motto. I'm sure like many things, it may change and develop as our family does. But right now it rocks! 

Ways to help if you're not in Christchurch

Speaking with everyone I come in contact with, the overwhelming feeling alot of us have is "What can we do? We're in Auckland, what can we do?"

Well a friend sent me this link and I thought I'd share it with you. There are lots of ways we can still help, even in little ways.

One of my favourites is this one - especially for all you crafty ones out there.

Or what about this one if you're in Auckland? Not only fun and yummy, but helpful too!

We may be a long way from the disaster area, but are so close in our hearts. And it makes me so smile to see what people are doing, how they are coming up with new and inventive ways to make a difference. So proud to be a NZer right now!

The struggle continues

 
Since finishing my detox, I've had the normal struggle with myself.

Me 1: No you don't want chocolate, you've just had lunch. You are NOT hungry. Just craving.

Me 2: But it tastes sooooooo good.

Me 1: But if you eat it, you'll love it for a minute then walk around like a bear with a headache cause you're so grumpy with yourself.

Me 2: I know. But I really WANT it.

Me 1: But you DON'T NEED it.

Me 2: Yes I do. I really do need it.

Me 1: NO YOU DON'T. Walk away from the kitchen.

Me 1: Put that biscuit BACK!

Me 1: Oh no.

Me 1: Not the ice-cream too!

Me 1: Gosh it does taste good.

Me 1: I'm so disappointed with myself. Again.

Do you have the same discussions with yourself? Some days I win and can walk away. Others I loose. Big time. But I've decided that each time I give in. I just need to start again. Eating something unhealthy at lunch doesn't mean I'm allowed to for the rest of the day.

Then yesterday, which was a particularly hard day after all the trauma from watching and hearing stories and descriptions of what is happening in Ch/Ch I decided to be proactive and take responsibility for what was going in my mouth....again. LOL.

I desperately wanted a burger and chips. But know how unhealthy they can be. Then somewhere in the back of my mind something came to light. I remembered a programme I'd flicked onto a while back and how they made a burger, chips and milkshake healthy. I googled it and found this:

"Cook yourself thin". Ahhhhh, just what I need. Fill the cravings healthily.

And so I made dinner. I made this receipe (without the milkshake). I had a burger. I had kumera chips. I had a coke zero. And I felt good about it.

And that, I have decided, is what I need to do. I need to feel good about what I'm eating. I need to enjoy what I'm eating. I need to stop beating myself up and just make healthy choices more easy.

You can be assured I'll be going back to that website for dinner (and maybe even lunch too!) today.

Christchurch

 

At 12.45 today I set off with Dan to go for a run. Little was I to know that a few minutes later, as I ran around my little route, a major natural disaster was happening in another part of the country.

I've sat here for a lot of the afternoon watching the news, horrified at what I've seen, at what is unfolding down there.

It just seems so wrong. This is NZ. We don't have things like this happen in our small and peaceful country. Well, not until today that is.

A little while ago it was reported that 65 people have been confirmed dead. 65 people! And they are expecting this number to grow. I can't begin to imagine the terror they went through in those last moments, or what their familes are now dealing with, or worried about, not knowing, wondering if their loved one is safe.

Being in Auckland there's not a lot I can do. But there is something that Louise is organising which I can help with.

Check out this link on facebook. Its an online auction to raise money to send to the Red Cross for helping Cantabrians through and rebuild after this huge earthquake.

I've donated a couple of things: something I've made, something I've got extra of, something fun and something I'm gonna teach. I plan to register and bid on some items as well.

If you'd like to be part of this, then contact Louise, or check out the facebook page to find out more.

My thoughts and best wishes go out to everyone in the South. May you find strength, peace and safety during this traumatic time.

Weet-Bix Tryathlon

Yesterday Matt did the St Heliers Weet-Bix Tryathlon. It was his first time. And it was wonderful.

There were over 2800 kids doing the tri, but was so well organised, so well run, that there were no issues. And from the looks of what I saw, everyone had a magical time.

We think Matt started around 9.30am, and was finished by 10am. He did all the transitions by himself as is standard in these things, and just looked so in control.

He loved it. He said the best part was the bike, but also the worst part was the bike. LOL. Still getting to the bottom of that.

Here's a couple of photos which are already on a LO! Grin.

 
If you get a chance, try and get your children involved. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I am so lucky

A couple of things recently highlighted to me how lucky I am.

One was last week. I received a box post marked from USA. I saw the sender and was excited to see what was in the parcel.

I opened it up to see these:

 
One of my fellow Prima DTers (Anabelle O'Malley) and I had been chatting about different candies our countries have (I sent her some in a parcel containing the LO I made for her). And blow me down with a feather, but I got a wonderful parcel of something I haven't tried before. Reece's peanut butter candies! A ton of them!

And I've gotta say after trying them yesterday (I had to wait for my detox to finish), they are RATHER NICE! LOL.

And don't ya just love how she went to the trouble to make a card too?! See what I mean? I sure am lucky!!!!

Thanks so much AB!

Then today I had a few of the kids friends over after school. Sarah and her friend were off playing, when Matt and his two friends came up to me. In hindsight they were kinda sneakily approaching.... Mum, we just can't agree on what to do. We've tried to think of things we'd ALL like to do, but the ONLY thing we can come up with is X-Box! Can we play?!

Nice try boys! But it's a lovely day outside, off you go! Grin.

They then sat there chatting amongst themselves, shall we do 'x' or what about 'x'? Nah, nah, nah were all the replies, then one of them said something and off they all went.

What made me feel so lucky about this little scene was how well they worked together. They weren't pressuring each other to just do what one wanted, but they talked, worked things out and decided together what they would do... all together. All wanting to.

I was so proud!

So you can see, I've got good reason to feel lucky tonight.

Hope you do too.

Scrapbook Trade Me Sale

Just to let you know I've uploaded another kit to Trade Me for sale.

70+ Junkitz patterned paper

Alphabets

Rubons

2 x Stamps

Embellishments galore

Check it out here.

And here are some pics:

 

 

 

 

 
yep, there sure is a lot of stuff there, and just a $1 reserve. Its gotta go.

Auckland craft weekend event - by Kays Company

I've just been chatting to Su Ping from Kays company. He was telling me about an awesome weekend he has coming up in Auckland for Scrapbookers.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. If you haven't heard of Kays Company, they are a NZ owned and based wholesale company for scrapbooking products. I've been lucky to work with them when buying product for my classes, and events. They are great people, but even better have an amazing range of stock which your local retailer can purchase from them, to sell to you!

So, the good news for us scrapbookers is that they are holding a craft weekend 26/27 March 2011. They will be holding workshops and demos from some pretty cool companies (I'll let you find out which ones by clicking the above link!) and even have some of the manufacturer's here as well! How cool is that?

There are sneak peeks on their website, so go and take a look and register to go along!

Join Prima on their new Facebook fan page

Prima recently filled their quote of 'friends' on facebook so would like to transr their friends to a 'fan' page.

Check it out here.

Part of it means you get to join in on a heap of competitions.

So come and become a 'fan' of Prima.

 

Happy birthday Andrew McClune

Grin. Little joke between Andy and I. He forgets he's even called Andrew (A bit like me. Did you guys know that my full name is Katrina?).

Anyway.....

Just wanted to say a huge happy birthday to my man. He's not with us today. Sad face! But we are thinking of you Andy. Love you to bits.

Here's a little something I popped in his suitcase to open today....

 
and some close up's

 
I've used a ton of stamps on here. The music, some leaves, and of course the sentiment.

 
Inside I've left plenty of room to write my message

 
But also used a Prima pebble to help give a subtle message as well.

I used two sheets from the canvas heart mini album from Donna Downey's release with Prima. They come already stitchd around the edges, but in my case, the orange wasn't going to work, so I unpicked it all and restitched it with red.

I know it's a bit OTT for a guy, but I'm hoping he realises that this is my way of saying "I love you".

Oh, and a little something from the kids...

 

T

Making the most of the day

So after my post yesterday I decided that it would be nice to do something for the kids for Valentines day. So Dan and I stopped off at the supermarket grabbed some ingredients and went to work to make a special afternoon tea for them.

 
Home made gluten free muffins (using a hand made mask to create a heart on the top)

 
Some home made chocolate hearts

 
And of course a little note for each of them to remind them how much I love them.

 
I threw it together with a red rug, red and white plates, and of course their favourite non water drink Barkers blackcurrant juice. It was a huge hit.

Matt couldn't believe his eyes, he stood there just staring for what seemed like ages, his eyes growing bigger and bigger and tears welling up in them. I started to get worried he was upset. I couldn't figure it out. But he was just extraordinarily happy.

By the time I made things, and set them out it took maybe an hour. And I made do with things (like the rug!?! grin). But it was so worth it.

Yay for simple inexpensive things to make kids days brighter.

Happy Valentines Day

Now before we get into that whole, 'we shouldn't have to have one day to say I love you to someone', or 'it's so commercial', let me just say I love the idea of Valentines day. I love the idea that we remember people we love. That we make the effort to say it. Cause sometimes we don't say it enough.

So I wanted to say Happy Valentines Day to you guys too. I hope you have a fabulous day. Valentines or not. Just have a GREAT day!

And so far some things that have made me grin this morning.

Jib Jab. Just sent Andy a valentine. Why, cause it was fun.

My shirt. I'm wearing this shirt today.

 
You can't see it all (my arms aren't long enough!) but it has a big heart on the front of it. I've had it since Nov last year, but for some unknown, unconcious reason picked it out today. Walking into school another Mum says to me "Love your valentine shirt". I was like 'huh?' and then clicked. Well, hey, why not?! And it made me smile. So here's to my Valentine shirt!

And another thing.... hearing about the serving Hone Harawhere got from a taxi driver the other day. Too funny. Was listening to the radio and they talked about it. Apparently he was sitting in the back of a taxi talking up a storm on his phone and the Maori woman taxi driver leaned over, slapped him on the hand and told him to calm down. Tooooo funny! Apparently she then went on to give him a lecture about what he should be doing for the Maori in NZ and then when all the media were waiting for him to exit the taxi when they got to his destination, she spent 5 mins giving him a blessing.

Go you wonderful taxi driver! Just had me smiling!

And yet another thing to smile about? This beautiful day. Yes, its going to be hot hot hot, but soon it will be winter and we're gonna want these days back.

And another: I'm going to sit down and watch the movie 'Valentines Day' today. Should be fun. Might not be until tonight, but why not?!

And lastly, on the way home from dropping Dan at Kindy, I saw an elderly man get out of his car, grab a tray with breakfast and red roses on it and make his way into a house. How cute is that?! Made me grin sooooo much.

So plan yourself a nice day. Even if just a 5 min break somewhere in there, and have a lovely day. . .

Remember that someone somewhere is thinking about you every single day because they love you.