Living my dream

Ok, double, triple, quadruple excitement here....

I've just been to see our travel agent. And OH MY GOODNESS, we're booked and paid for our intrepid adventure this year.

As you guys who read my blog know. We've had to put off three trips this year. First was Mexico, then Egypt, then Ireland (not really intrepid, but the planned way was, anyway...). But this is now booked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone guess where we're going?

What if I show you this photo?

 
Oh man, I just can't hold it in.

Check out this link. We're going to have a white Xmas this year. With Santa, reindeer, husky's, ice fishing, dinner in an igloo, sleigh rides, ice hockey etc etc.

To say I'm excited is a major understatement!

So excited

I was pretty excited yesterday to see this greeting me from the Websters Ning....

 
My LO was featured as 'You inspired me' and part of it is on their header!!! WOW!!! The photo on the LO is of Sarah and when I showed her yesterday she was quite chuffed. And just quietly so was I. Grin.

Thanks so much Websters! You made my day!

Another Colour Room LO

In between writing my BPC class, I've had to break out and do some creating. Again I got inspiration from The Colour Room with this weeks palette.

 
Unfortunately due to the fog, the colour isn't quite as crisp as it should be. But I think you get the picture.

I've used some gorgeous Webster's Pages papers, Prima flowers and embellishments and Pink Paislee alphabets.

And yes, I've printed directly onto the page in orange! Oh my goodness! Grin.

Here's some close up's....

 
and

 
and

 
There is one other close up in my post in the gallery on TCR site.

Nursery Rhyme Day

Today at school the juniors had nursery rhyme day. I had forgotten. The weekend was hideously busy. My own fault, but just before the kids went to bed last night, I remembered. ARGH! Ok, Dan what nursery rhyme do you want to be? No, wait, what nursery rhyme can I make? A star. Ok, Twinkle, Twinkle.....How's that Dan? Good? Great!

 
And he was sooo proud of himself for singing it in front of his class and showing his half hour home made costume.

I even took a video, but can't get it to download. Maybe another time.

Can't believe how open and willing to try everything at school this little man is. Very cool.

Sunday Shake Up

Mmmmmmm, remember these little posts I'd do on a Sunday? I stopped those along with my Saturday Sketch day at the beginning of the year.

Well, I was sitting here today thinking about things, and thought to myself, self...I might just start again. Not promising anything, but we'll see.

Anyway. Today's shake up is to be grateful.

Look around you. And take it in.

Look at the day. Is it sunny? Then be can be thankful during winter we have a nice sunny day.

Is it raining? Then we can be grateful for the rain the plants need.

Have you read the paper today or a book? Perhaps the computer? Then we can be thankful we can read.

Maybe it's because we've spent time with the family? We can be thankful that we have this time free to do this as in some countries, work is so limited, people have to work many more hours than we do to make a living.

Thankful for our children. I'm reading a book right now where the ladies oldest son gets hit by a car and dies at the age of 9. I am SO thankful for my wonderful (if not challenging) 3 youngsters.

Grateful that I went for a walk this morning. I haven't done that in soooooo long. It was nice to do some light exercise.

Thankful that my son found enjoyment in hunting for skinks at my sisters house this morning.

Grateful that my sister had all 3 children for a sleep over last night, meaning Andy and I could go on a date.

Thankful is something we often forget to be. And if you read my blog, you'll know I've been experiencing issues with health this year. Well, today I'm most thankful that my latest issue has been negated and I have been told my 'dodgy' looking freckle is not skin cancer.

I am ever so thankful to be here, writing this, enjoying the day, the sun, the children all running around like crazy. Grateful to be me in my life.

The Colour Room palette number 72

Thought I'd have a go at The Colour Rooms latest palette since I've had a bit of a lull in actual scrapbooking the last few weeks..

 
I've used some gorgeous Websters papers and ribbon, then added in some Prima embellishments, Dusty Attic chipboard and seam binding.

 
and

 
and

 
I was a bit late with mine, but I loved the inspiration anyway. I see this week they're using lots of orange! Oh wow! One of my fav scrapping colours. Might just have to give that a go too. Grin.

Later.

I love Prima, oh yes I do!

 Prima supplies:
843229 – Pixie Glen Cornwall
843182 – Pixie Glen Pyske Cuts
550073 – Alphabet Stickers
551582 – SIIC
890797 – Resin Bird House
SA-002/1 – Mini Roses
552091 – Meredith Mer
551674 – Fleur De Lys
553227 – Flower Market Pixie Glen
551841 – Crystal Palace
552602 – Jardinere Pixie Glen

Hi, I'm Trina and today I'm sharing a post that is up on the Prima blog with you....

 
I've loved Prima for many years now. So it was with utter astonishment and joy that I accepted a position on the DT last year. To be offered another chance this year was my ultimate scrapbooking dream and I feel extraordinarily priviledged to be part of this amazing group of women.

Above is my favourite Prima LO from the recent CHA show. I just adored the prettiness of the Pixie Glen line. The colours are muted and soft. So beautiful. It's also perfect for someone like me who likes to cut and layer.

I thought since I introduced myself in THIS post last year, I'd chat more about my LO's, and how I create.

 I don't know about you, but I often need something to inspire me. A photo or story usually. I initially started this wonderful hobby as a way to record all the little things that happened as my family grew and changed (I have a terrible memory!!!) and while I often do 'pretty' pages without any journaling, you'll usually find handwritten journaling on the back hidden away, but still saved. So I start with the photo and grow from there. 
Prima Supplies:
843526 – Printery Page 4
843519 – Printery Signature
843540 – Printery Love Ledger
843489 – Printery Emperor
551100 – Antique Mirror
552770 – Carlotta Blue Pearl
SA-002/1 – Mini Roses
552688 – Sherwood Rose Truffle
551247 – Chipboard Stickers
552527 – Essentials Printery
890704 – Resin

The above couldn't be more true for this layout using the gorgeous Printery line. I'm not the best photographer, but adore these pictures of my youngest son, Daniel. 
Having the photos in front of me, sitting looking at them wondering what story I would tell, the journaling just came to me. I knew that one day I'd forget these feelings. And I knew I wanted them recorded.

Next it was a matter of putting it all together. I love to layer, and you can see through the middle I've punched and layered 5 times.

 
Then it's time to cluster....this is another way I create on my LO's and in this instance I've created a couple of smaller clusters. Because the papers are quite 'neutral' in colour, I pulled the blue from the photo and used that as a 'pop' colour. I think it also helped make this LO look masucline, even though there are flowers used.

I also love to create off the page items. I must admit I don't find it easy, but when the inspiration hits, I love the crafty feel to it.

For CHA, I created this hat using cardstock, Prima and lots of adhesive. 

Prima Supplies:
843434 – Romantique Estella
843441 – Romantique Gazette
551735 – Firefly Sandune
551704 - De Lys Almond
553180 – Gemini Latte
552947 – Melody Sepia
552329 – Nicole Blush
552251 – Powder Puff Cassie
553036 – Gillian White
553319 – Coventry Rose Pixie Glen
553302 – Coventry Rose Romantique
553227 – Flower Market Pixie Glen
553722 – Tweet Vine Quail

I had seen a hand made hat in an origami book and decided I could use the idea but zhoosh it up a bit with Prima's gorgeous papers and embellishments.  
Prima also makes the most fun mini albums. This CHA I used their canvas purse... 
Prima Supplies:
542320 – Canvas Album
843526 – Printery Page Four
843175 – Pixie Glen Garden Gate
552787 – Carlotta Parrot
552688 – Sherwood Rose Truffle
552718 – Sherwood Rose Cottage
553128 – Allure Jewel Mix
552886 – Cradle Sparrow
550790 – Cotton Tape
551162 – Tiny Treasure
551360 – SIIC
551711 – Firefly Stone
550073 – Alphabet Stickers
550004 – Mask
550035 – Mask
550059 – Mask
552008 – Twisters
552930 – Melody Rose
553562 – Splendor Maple
553593 – Splendor
552497 – Avon Rose Londonerry
890773 – Resin

I wanted to create an album that I could add to as time goes by. It's got little bits and pieces about me in it... Since having children I have this weird fear they will grow up knowing little about me, and how much I love them and their father. I hope creating albums like this will help my fear, but also should the worst happen, the memories will be there for them. 
and

and 
 

Soooo, to go along with this album, lets finish off with some random info about me....

I love cups of tea. Can't stand coffee. I wish I did as I LOVE the smell.

I have to buy mens running shoes as my feet are too big for womens sizes. Sigh.

As a teenager I was in a choir.

I am addicted to travel.

I'm really good at chopping kindling and starting a fire.

Thanks for letting me share some of my projects and a little bit about myself.

Please feel free to visit me on my blog, and/or facebook.

Andy may just have saved my life ? !

"T, this spot on your back has changed colour. I think you should get it checked out with the doctor".

A passing comment which I thought nothing of. But a couple of weeks later when I was already seeing the doctor I thought Oh, I should show her this too.

She asked me where it was, and I replied, 'not sure on my back somewhere'. That's how much interest I had taken in this 'issue'.

But she found it quite quickly, and recommended I see a specialist. It was quite unnerving, so I booked and got an appointment the following day.

He again, took one look and said, this needs to come out.

So last Friday, there I was having a 'possible melanoma' removed after just a few days of knowing that there 'might' be something wrong. It was quite quick. Quite surreal.

Standing in the specialists office with this news, I said to him...."I've had two friends my age die of melanoma in the last couple of years. What are the chances this is anything?". Thankfully he replied, after a long consideration, "about 30%, but if it is, then we've got it early enough that it's treatable".

While the prognosis was pretty good you can imagine, this last week has been quite a long one. Waiting on news of... is it, isn't it?

And today, getting half of the stitches removed, I was told the GREAT news that it's fine. Not melanoma!

I sat down and didn't even realise it, but let out a big breath. The nurse said, "yes, we don't realise how much it affects us do we", and she was right.

I thought this last week I'd been quite brave. I hadn't told too many people. I didn't need that kind of drama. I was hopeful that the doctor would be right.  And he was!

But, here's the reason I'm telling you all about this. If Andy hadn't seen this, and told me to see the doctor, I would never have seen it. It was on my back. I may not have had this checked for years or worse, until it was too late.

I feel incredibly grateful that I have someone who cares about me enough to notice when little things change and to recommend I do something about it.

And maybe through my little experience I can help remind you, my readers, to make sure you have your freckles/moles checked. Get to the doctor, get a mole map. Whatever it takes, but do it. Like with me, if caught early enough it means nothing. But left....who knows?

And in the meantime, I am again, thankful that I met and fell in love with Andy McClune.

 

 

Afternoon tea

Today in the house we have no 'snack' type food for the kids. I meant to go out this morning, but got stuck into my Big Picture Classes class and lost track of time. Whoops. Grin.

As we had one of Sarah's friends coming over for a play, I was racking my brain for something I could feed them all.

Then I suddenly remembered Lynda's 5 min chocolate cake and thought 'perfect'.

It's a fabulous receipe and literally takes 5 mins to make from start to eating. Yummo.

As it was a treat to have cake for afternoon tea, I thought why not add in some ice cream too. The kids were stoked and I was happy that they were happy. Grin.

 
(Don't ya love the new frame I got as an action from Jodi Friedman at MCP Actions blog?!!!)

I'm sure I've given the receipe here before, but why not again?

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons (or less) chocolate chips (optional)

a small splash of vanilla essence

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, mix well.

Add the egg and mix thoroughly

Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.

Add in chocolate chips and vanilla essence and mix again.

Put your mug into microwave and cook for 3 mins at 1000 watts.

Let it cool slightly then enjoy!

Tips I've learnt:

I usually make the mix in a jug, then tip into two mugs.

It goes really well with ice cream!

Enjoy!

What a nightmare

This last couple of weeks I've been in survival mode. It's been a roller coaster. But I think it's starting to slow down now.

I've gone on about my old health issues, so don't need to go into that any more. But this week is turning out to be the same as last. Nevermind. I think and hope that things are starting to get back on track now. I just need to give it all time to settle down. Cross fingers for me.

Andy was away last week, and while he was away the computer decided to pack a sad. Thankfully it still worked a little. Just not well. And it took me a while to get things done. As such I've got an inbox overflowing, and a new group of programmes to learn (I think it's easier to learn things from scratch than have to relearn changes in something you're familiar with right?! Yeah. Photoshop, and my email system are a little different ARGH! LOL.)

But it does mean that I now have two monitors to work with. At first I thought it was a little excessive, but my goodness, I LOVE it now. I get to have my email up the whole time and then work on other programmes as well. I also get to move things from one screen to the other. It's a little bit like those programmes (like NCIS) where they move things from screen to screen. It's soooooo cool. Take a look...

 
And it's even pretty tidy now. Grin.

Also because of everything that's been going on, I decided I needed a little 'treat'. So straight after one of my appointments last week while wandering past Red Currant, I spotted this little beauty and just had to bring it home.

 
As you can see it's now filled with the things that make me most happy. Family and friends. And travel pics. I brought it for my scrap room that will eventually come, but for now is at our front door. I love looking at it as I enter and leave our house. Or walk down the hallway.

Oh and before I go, if anyone is after a good book to read, check out this one..."How to climb Mount Everest in Sandals" by Rhiannon Rees.

 
You can find out more here.

Have a great day.

**waving** Hi!

Well, this last week has been interesting.

Every day I've been at one type of health professional or another. I was even back at the dentist again. Sigh. Let's hope it's the last time for a while.

This coming week I need to make an appointment to see an optometrist. I've had to face the fact that my eyes are not what they used to be.

And just cause, I thought I'd share this photo of my family playing with their lego. A huge past time in our house right now....

 

Friendship - a mothers questions

My daugher is 7.5 years old, 8 at the end of November. She has been learning about friendship these last couple of years as she started school and had a new group of people that she was exposed to.

Having a twin brother she has always had an inbuilt friend. But now she has to learn how to be a friend to other people.

Some days she comes home with stories of how wonderful her day has been and how she played with this girl or that girl or a group of girls. Stories of fun and laughter. And it makes me feel warm.

Other days it's not so easy. It's stories of how girls didn't want to do what she wanted, or had told her that she couldn't play.

If you have children you'll know what I mean when I say it breaks my heart to see and hear her on these days.

And I sit here wondering to myself, what can I say? How can I help her? What tools does she need to help her learn about being a friend. About having friends?

I wish my mother had been able to teach me what it means to have confidence enough in yourself that you could be your own person. Know that some days you just aren't going to please everyone. That sometimes the truth for you isn't going to sit right with another person.

And that is ok! That it doesn't mean you don't have to be friends with that person. That just for the moment, or for the day, or for that conversation, you can agree to disagree.

Agreeing to disagree is one of the wonderful things my Mum did teach me about. I often use it. Or try to. One time it didn't work. And I'm sad about that time. Still years later. But it is so ok to be different, to think differently. And to move on and still be friends.

Actually a very close friend of mine in Aussie and I were having this very conversation yesterday. Saying about how we place different values on money. I use it to experience life (lots and lots of travel!). She uses it to build her home. Neither way is right or wrong. Except to us. It was a really interesting conversation, especially seeing it from each others view point. And I think it helped deepen our friendship.

So back to my questions...

I would love to hear from you...

a) what do you think it means to be in a friendship?

b) What you do to keep that friendship alive.

c) What, if any expectations do you have in friends.

d) And what do you do/say to your children to help them build and maintain friends.

If you're nervous about this, that's ok. Feel free to log on annonymously to leave a message.

And if you have any other advice, feel free to pass it on.

Thanks.

PS: Just to let you know, things with Sarah are all good. No issues right now, just trying to make the most of the calm before the next storm. And get some tools to help me and her deal with things should another issue come up.

So

I saw my doctor yesterday. Decided that this flu just wasn't going away by itself. Got myself some antibiotics. Hoping they'll clear up my flu and I can get back to normal.

That is, after I see the dentist tomorrow for the filling that came out in the weekend. ARGH!

Feeling a bit like I'm on a roller coaster health wise. It's been a really tough year. And it's not getting any better any quicker.

I'm doing everything right, but it's just taking longer than I like. And I have to laugh at that last comment, as, well, if you read my blog you know that I'm not exactly the most patient person around. Grin.

So I'm waiting, some more. Again. And hoping for some health.

Part of the issue with my impatience is my weight. You guys know how much I lost last year. How excited I was to be taking control of my health again. And well, to be blunt it's pretty hard not having control over it anymore. Seeing my weight balloon. Again. I worked so hard.

But that is ok. I'm having to be kind to myself. Having to understand and be patient with myself. Having to realise that when other people get sick, they loose weight, but when I do, I gain weight. And that is just me.

Soon. Soon I will be well again. And when I am, well then. World watch out.

Dan's 5th birthday party

Hiring the kindy was the best $60 we ever spent on a party. Normally we hold the parties at home. Which of course means cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. This time was so much easier. I prepared all the food at home. Prepared all the games. Presents etc. Took them to the kindy and held the party, then cleaned up and came home. Easy peasy.

And being sick, I was concerned I wouldn't be able to do it all. But it all worked out. The kids even got to play all their sports with the help of some friends parents. Thanks guys!

So here's a glimpse of Dan's party in photos....

In our family 5th birthdays are extra special and we have something just a little more than usual for the party. This time round, Dan asked for Cornflake the clown. And I've gotta say he was OUTSTANDING!

Not only did he have the children in stitches, but the adults too. He also made a special deal of the birthday boy which was wonderful.

I mean wow. Just look at that face!

He also organised a photo opportunity of the whole party. Fantastic.

Because we were clown inspired. The food also had clowns in it...

and of course a clown cake made by moi.

(Don't ya love how I've managed to pop a Prima flower on there?!).

It was a very special day.

 

What a morning...

It's Monday. And Monday's always bring busy times....

Drop off keys and t-shirt to Kindy.

Doctors visit.

Drop off clothing to Dad's.

Shopping. Books and food.

Drop off shopping at City Mission.

Chemist for prescriptions.

Top up food shop for us.

Pick up prescriptions.

Home for lunch.

Computer seems to be holding up. Andy's fix must be working! Yay. Thanks Andy! I'll try and get my photos edited from Dan's party to show later.

See ya.