The weekend is almost here

Oh my god, I'm sooo tired! Rochelle and I had a marathon phone conversation last night (nothing unusual there I hear you say) that went on until 1 o'clocl this morning!! WOW, that gal can talk!! It's gonna be an early night for me tonight, Daniel goes back to work at about 5am tomorrow and so it's a girly weekend for me and Abbey.

This weekend will be filled with friends and hopefully lots of smiles and laughs. Tomorrow I'm meeting up with Mishel and Karen (the 2 girls that were my bridesmaids from my first wedding 12 yrs ago) and their kids, we're off to the park for a catch up session, trouble is, whenever Mishel and I get together the time just slips away from us in never ending chatter, there is so much to catch up on because we have only just made contact again after about 8 years.

Saturday night hhmmm not sure, probably a little scrapping and maybe a movie.

Sunday will be spent with my old pal Kylie and her brood. We're off to the park again so the kids can have a play and we can do what we do best, talk and laugh. Can't wait!!

I expect there will be lots of pics to share after the weekend, these girls aren't aware of my photo taking obsession just yet...

I'll leave you with a layout - from memory it is from a sketch by pagemaps.


My fingers are crossed for a weekend of beautiful weather and nice friends.

Until next time,
Shell xx

Quick post

Just a quick one today - I'm on the phone to Rochelle as I'm typing this ssshhh don't tell her I'm not paying full attention to her.

I took 100 photos of Abbey today (yes, that's right, 100!) blowing bubbles, she was having so much fun and looked so cute that I just had to keep clicking away.





And here is a layout I did recently of my last birthday.


Until next time
Shell xx

Book Club

Well, book club...what can I say. I had a really nice night. It was so nice to go out and be an adult for a change, especially with Daniel not getting home until the wee hours this morning after 6 nights away. All I have really done is be a Mum and go to work, there has been very little adult company in that time - other than going to work, if you can consider those that I work with adults haha. There was a really good mix of women there some that had known each other for many years, like Charmaine and I and a really good mix of young and old (er) ...what a great way to widen your circle of friends!

We have planned the next year of books, one a month and we will meet monthly to discuss them and have a lovely dinner (of course). The first book was chosen by Carol - It's a 'self help' book called The Angel Inside. I am really unsure about this book but I'm happy to give it a shot. I'm off to the book shop in a minute to see if they have it. I've already done a library search but nothing :( My choice of book - not until August - is The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble. I have already read one of her books and am reading another at the moment called The Tenko Club, not as good as the first one I read but still enjoyable. I'm looking forward to discovering new authors, my whole family are readers so it will be good to pass the books around to them as well and hear their feedback. Some classics were chose, Gone with the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird, can't wait to read those ones!

Well, I'm off now to the book store and to also meet my cousin April for a coffee. Her and I tend to get together on a Wed or Thurs afternoon for a chat because that is her 'weekend'. Not for long though, she starts her new job in a month and then it's back to normal weekend days for her so will make the most of our mid week get-togethers while they last.

No scrapping to share today, not even a card but instead I'll leave you with a photo. I have been dabbling in Photoshop, trying to teach myself for some time now and this is one creation I did a while back that I absolutely adore of Daniel and I. Eventually, this will be on a canvas on our bedroom wall.

Until next time,
Shell xx

Another night out

WOW, this never happens, another night out of the house, and on a school night too! Tonight I'm off to a new book club with my friend Charmaine. Myself, Rochelle and a couple of other people have been discussing putting a book club together for ages because we all seem to like the same sorts of books and we discuss them but not all together, and not at regular intervals so when I saw this opportunity to see how a book club should actually work I jumped at it. I have recently re-joined the local library and have been reading lots of good stuff (scrapping mags included). Not only is this a great opportunity to catch up with Charmaine and have a chat about some good books but it's at a local seafood restaurant...oh, terrible that I should have to be part of a book club that meets at such a lovely place. So, I'm dressed and ready to go, I'm just waiting on my cousin Chris to get here. He's looking after Abbey for me tonight seeing as Daniel isn't home until tomorrow morning. Chris, thank you...you're a real gem and I seriously don't know what I'd do without you xx

better run, I just heard his car
Shell xx

And more pics...

The girls sent me through a couple more pics from the concert and I couldn't resist, had to post them on here, they are too funny!



Here is the layout I did last night for yet another challenge blog (actually I combined two challenges together) one of them I had to use the word Begin and the other had to be a valentines inspired page.
I have a full day today...going to Nathan's place (my brother pays me to clean for him) and then hopefully meeting my longest friend Kylie for a cuppa. Ky and I met in kindergarten when I first moved to Barrack Heights, her and I were thick as thieves, in 4th grade we got separated because we were always giggling and talking, we used to have so much fun as kids. She is pregnant with her 5th baby and due on April 16th...both of my best friends are due on the same day! They don't have long to go now, it's very exciting.

Until next time,
Shell xx

Concert Pic

The little chicks we met at the concert took this pic of Abbey and I. Not the best one of Abbey but better than no pic at all.

Shell xx

The Veronicas concert was AWESOME!!

I am really surprised at how much I actually enjoyed it. They sounded so good and I guess because I know every word (because Abbey constantly listens to it) it made it all the more enjoyable. There was a little disappointment.....I got ditched by her! OMG, I know, my 6 year old ditched me to hang out with a group of 14 year old girls that were sitting behind us and dancing on the stairs. She was so brave and walked right up to them and said "Can I please hang with you guys?" and they were happy to hold her hand and she copied their dance moves etc. A couple of them commented to me that they couldn't believe she knew every word to their songs, I can believe it, seriously, if you knew how much she listened to them, you would understand completely! The girls had a camera with them and they were all taking pics of her and took a couple of Abbey and I together so I'm just waiting on them to email the pics to me. My cousin Chris came along with us, he is a Veronicas fan from way back and he really enjoyed the show too. There were sooooo many kids there, I don't know why I was ever worried about taking her.

At school on Friday afternoon one of Abbey's little friends was walking along side us and the girls were talking about the concert etc and they were saying how they would see each other at the WEC, I had to stop them and explain that they wouldn't see each other or sit together because there were going to be LOTS of people there and wouldn't you know it, as soon as we walked in, they spotted each other! They were so cute, they ran and squealed and hugged like they hadn't seen each other in years, too cute. I hadn't met the mum before and she didn't know Abbey either and she stood there for a second like "who on earth is that kid?!" - I had to explain they go to school together bla bla. So, a great night had by all, I will definitely go see them again.

Chris took a pic of Abbey and I before we left for the show, I'm so nuts for not getting a full length of Abbey in her outfit. She had on a red and black tartan skirt, black stockings and black boots, she sure looked the part that's for sure.

I went to the sale at Scrapbooking Delights today and picked up some bargains so I'm gonna spend my evening looking at it all and deciding what to create. I can't wait to get my order from Annas craft cupboard this week!!

Until next time...
Shell xx

TGIF!

Work is done and I'm home woooHOOO! It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be this morning, Abbey and I managed to be ready well and truly on time - it was a nice way to start the day.

So, last night after my post I rushed downstairs with drink and popcorn for Abbey and I to sit and watch Don't forget the Lyrics only to discover IT WASN'T ON, BLOODY BIGGEST LOSER WAS ON! We were very disappointed but were soon happy again because we decided to come back upstairs and get our craft stuff out and make some cards. I forgot to take a photo of the one Abbey made for my step dad's birthday but wow, it was the cutest thing ever, I HAD to take it to work to show everybody and then of course I posted it with no pic! It was a green card with little bratz stickers on it and on the front she wrote "I love my Pa" then inside she stuck 2 foam giraffes and wrote "I love my Pa because hes a nis pesin" (nice person), gorgeous huh?

Well, here's the card's I made, no earth shattering designs but still nice...

Looking forward to a night out with Abbey tonight, will post pics etc tomorrow,
shell xx

and the week drags on.....

tonight should be the end of my working week but unfortunately I have been asked to work a couple of hours tomorrow so rather than me doing things at my own pace I have to rush around and fit it all in.

Daniel is staying in Sydney tonight so that means being super organised so Abbey and I can get out of the house by 8.10 in the morning. I have reading at her school until 9, then rush off to work until about 1pm then do the grocery shopping, be back at school at 2.20 to pick Abbey up and get organised because...you guessed it....VERONICAS concert tomorrow night, only 1 more sleep for miss Abbey and she is being a very well behaved child too. Telling her that she won't be going to the Veronicas concert is worse that telling her Santa wont come, she really is being super good.

ok, that's enough of my rambling, Don't forget the Lyrics starts in 5 minutes so, here's my layouts from last night...

White with 1 challenge...complete an all white layout


Black Magic challenge was to use their sketch and the colours black, orange, purple and green - plus, there had to be some stamping on it somewhere.

I love the white one but I am still very unsure about the colours for the black magic one, I still think I could have done better but because they are colours I wouldn't normally use I just didn't have much to choose from.

Anyway, I'm off.....
Shell xx

Forgot to mention..

I have been meaning to mention for a couple of days now, I read a fantastic book last week. If you're (female and) looking for a great book give this one a shot...


If you do read it or have read it, I'd be really interested to know what you think. Leave me a comment.

Shell xx

Yippee.......

Daniel got a job today! I'm so pleased, he starts tomorrow. Pleased he will be outa my hair and pleased he is back doing what he loves...hotel management. The only draw back is it's in Five Dock (Sydney) which means either quite a bit of travel (money and time) or he has to stay up there a couple nights a week in the rooms they have available at the hotel and we will only get to see him 2 - 3 nights a week. I have prep'd Abbey for it and she seems ok. When we were living in QLD we only saw him sunday and mondays anyway so we're pretty used to it but the difference is now we won't be so lonely because we have all our family around us here. My best friend and the people I spend most of my time with have absent husbands or shift working husbands anyway so I will just be joining the crowd of part time single mums!

Abbey had a pretty fun day at school today. All the kids had to dress in crazy socks and donate a gold coin for the busfire appeal. She was pretty impressed with the socks I bought her....

Only 2 more sleeps until the Veronicas...she isn't so excited today because I have threatened her that if she doesn't behave herself and start using her ears for listening I will be taking Taylor with me to the concert, that has her thinking!!

Until next time,
shell xx

3 more sleeps....

Abbey is counting down the steps until the Veronicas concert. 3 more sleeps to go. Daniel and I went shopping while she was at school yesterday and bought her the cutest Veronicas T-shirt and hat. She is gonna look like such a little rock chick. I had it all laid out on her bed for her when she got home and she was stoked! She got dressed in it straight away and then made us sit on her bed while she sang and danced to a Veronicas song for us. too cute!

I had a really bad day at work today (my boss is not the nicest person) so came home early. so...to try and lift my mood we went to the video shop and hired a comedy and I'm really looking forward to a nice dinner with my family, pj's and popcorn. I'm not even in a scrapping mood!! Sorry to bore you with my whining....anyway, here's a layout I did a while back for an Inspired Blueprints sketch. I don't really like the layout (again, I tried something different - using the pp as a base rather than the cs - won't do that again) but I love the pictures so one day I will re-do this layout (maybe lol)

Until next time,
Shell xx

Rainy weekend...

What a lovely weekend to eat, scrap and dag around in your PJ's! That's basically what we did this weekend. Yesterday was spent having pancakes for breakfast and not getting out of our PJ's until lunchtime...how lovely! We went to Damo and Hayleys for dinner last night. Damo cooked the most comforting food ever....roast lamb and roast vegetables, delicious. Hayley and I then proceeded to scrap the night away and we didn't get home until just after midnight.

This morning was spent similarly to yesterday, we all slept a little later than normal (9.30am) after our late night the night before and then again totally enjoyed the rainy weather by showering and putting clean PJ's on...yes you read right.....we put pajamas back on!! Abbey and I then scrapped all afternoon while Daniel took a trip to Sydney for a 2nd interview for the job he is hoping to get at Five Dock (fingers crossed everyone).

So, here are the layouts I managed over the course of the weekend.....

This one is for sketch #9 at Inspired Blueprints

This one is from February sketches at pagemaps

This one is also from the Feb sketches at pagemaps

Daniel reckons he'll get punched out if anyone sees the xox on this page but I don't care, they are staying right where they are!

I hope everyone else enjoyed their weekend as much as I did!?
shell xx

Cards

I have no idea what I have done to make my text underlined so...let's just go with it.

First, (oh wow, the underlining went away) here is a card for Daniel from Abbey and I on valentines day ...I don't normally do valentines day but it seems to be a big deal for Abbey this year so - whatever makes her happy

and a card for Taya - my neice - Amanda's second daughter born last month. I know, I know, I should have given it to them already!!

As you can see, I loved this simple design and the colours so much I made 2!!

Shell xx

The end of my working week....

I now have 4 days off, and thank god for that.

Yesterday I got home from work only to hear that Daniel had been laid off work!! I didn't know what to think or what to do yesterday but I guess it's just a sign of the times. I am grateful that we have a roof over our heads and that our family is safe...right now is no time to complain, just get up and get on with it. He had an interview today in Sydney but the job is at Five Dock....it's a hell of a hike but better than no job at all huh? Very lucky for us that I have my job. I think our evening tonight will be spent searching job sites....fingers crossed he finds something fast - doesn't matter if it's casual or part time even - ANYTHING WILL DO! If anyone is reading this and knows of any positions available anywhere in warehousing, bar/cellar work (management level reached in both fields) please let me know.

Shell xx

Funny, Funny.....

Abbey comes out with the funniest things! Last week we were talking about her and I going to the Veronicas concert this month and what songs they might sing. I mentioned to her that Metro Station would also be playing that night and that we would see them and when I asked her if she was excited about that she said...."Who's petrol station?" I laughed so hard! She gets very annoyed at me when I laugh at her, she automatically gets shy and defensive...I however think she is one of the funniest people I know!

There was something else funny that I had to say about her but now I've forgotten. I was too busy re-laughing at the 'petrol station' comment! Oh well, not to worry, It'll come back to me eventually.

so...only just over a week until Veronicas and we both can't wait. Abbey and I have already talked about what she will wear and she has a little autograph page prepared for them to sign. She is hilarious, she thought that if she held it up at the concert that they would just stop what they were doing and come over and sign it for her, boy, she was disappointed when I explained how many people would be there. She is a little nervous about how loud it's going to be so I need to make a mental note to get her some ear plugs before the night.

I had a meet the teacher meeting tonight and an introduction into year 1. I am shocked at how few parents actually showed up. I understand that mid week evening meetings at your child's school can be difficult but there were only about 6 groups there out of about 22!! I must say that I don't think I would have missed out on much if I hadn't attended but it was a good opportunity to meet her teachers and have a brief chat. Both her teachers (they job share) seem to be very nice and thankfully I think they will bring Abbey up to where she needs to be. She is a clever girl but oh so slow!! I have resorted to setting the oven timer for her when she eats because she just takes her time with everything she does, there is no urgency. It's hard for me because I feel like I'm yelling and nagging her every minute between 7 and 8 am getting her ready for school and the same between 6 and 7 in the evening getting her ready for bed. The teachers explained that they really push the year 1 kids to be more independent and to take responsibility for their actions.....bring it on I say, it will do her good.

Signing off with an other recent layout. This was another blind scrap at Scrap Therapy....

Shell xx

more sadness

The death toll is rising fast. I woke this morning to hear the death toll is now at 108 with 750 homes gone in the blazes across Victoria. I will go through all of our stuff this week and give it to the local radio appeal to pass on to those that need it. There has also been an appeal set up to donate cash, I hope all those that are in a position to do so, donate either cash or goods.

I am trying to get my housework up to date today seeing as we had a lovely relaxing weekend of not doing a whole lot at all....yesterday we all slept late, went to the supermarket to get supplies and straight back home again. Daniel watched the cricket, Abbey played and watched movies and i read my book and had a nap in the afternoon...it was divine!! I'm hoping to get all the cleaning etc done before midday so I can get some scrapping done, and I have a couple of cards to make.

I leave you today with a layout I did recently of Abbey. I really love the colours on this one. I used a sketch from pagemaps (I think).







Shell xx

Sadness....

Today I am filled with sadness. Can you imagine how it must feel to lose your home, your family and everything you work so hard to protect in a bushfire? Over 35 people have tragically died in these terrible fires and many more are risking their lives to save what they can!

I was in Big W today when the news caught my eye on the television display, showing the Victoria premier reduced to tears whilst holding a press conference about the loss of lives and homes...very moving and before I knew it, there were about 12 or more families standing around all watching the telecast and I'm sure they were all feeling the same way. My heart goes out to all those that have been affected by the fires, including the fire fighters that selflessly volunteer their time to assist, travelling from everywhere just to be there to help someone...I will leave it there, wishing there was more I could do!!

shell xx

A strange morning

Well, I was woken up early this morning by a little being saying 'take my nappy off please'. I couldn't open my eyes properly because I'm not used to being woken up at 6.20AM!! When I finally got my eyes open there was Abbey and Isabelle standing beside me barking orders (in the cutest possible way).
Abbey: Isabelle wants her breakfast
Isabelle: I want my nappy off please
Abbey: Get rid of the nappy mum, it smells!
Isabelle:I want toast with vegemite and butter
Abbey: I want breakfast too
I was like....whoaaa slow down everybody, give me a chance to actually wake up! It was so strange to be woken up like that when I haven't been woken like that in so many years.

Bad news is that Nate's Christening got cancelled for this Sunday and will be held on a date in April some time (around his first birthday).
Good news is he is improving and started to eat more yesterday so fingers crossed they will take him off the drip soon and then when the antibiotics are finished, hopefully he'll be right to go home. Damo and Hayley are exhausted, I'm sure all the want to do is have their little boy home and safe and for their family to be all under the one roof and have a 'normal' night of rest and sound sleep. I know that's what I would want if I were in their situation.

The girls have had a great time together...here's a pic of them playing dress ups last night...

Abbey had her first swimming lesson on Monday afternoon and had a great time. I thought she would kick and scream and carry on but she was really REALLY good! She did everything that was asked of her and was disappointed it came to an end so soon. Thank goodness she is looking forward to next Monday, looks like that wont be as much hard work as I initially thought...wooHOOO



I'm hoping to fit some scrapping in tonight. I really have to get some studying done too but I'm thinking I might just put that off for this week and make a fresh start next week.

I'll leave you with a layout I did a little while back that I did on Scrap Therapy with Hayley. This was my first blind challenge and I loved it! I'm pretty happy with how the layout turned out too. Considering it was only the 3rd or 4th layout I ever created I think it's pretty good for a newbie.


Until next time....
Shell xx

TODAY IS THE DAY!!

Today is the day I start my new life. I promised myself this year I would do a few things differently but unlike most new years resolutions that begin on the 1st January (and are forgotten by the 10th) I thought it was a good idea to give myself time to get Abbey back to school etc and then begin.

Promise #1
Be Healthy: Today I am counting points weight watchers style. I have had a lot of success with Weight Watchers in the past and I don't know why I let my weight get out of control but I have put on 10 kilos in the last 18 months or so. I know it's not hard to get it off and it's not even hard to eat well and exercise regularly but it's soooo much easier to be lazy and eat yummy fatty sweet delicious food in abundance!

Promise #2
Socialise more: Stop being so concerned about the cleaning, washing and normal school week routine and get out and do more things. Going out for dinner or inviting friends/family every so often on a school night really isn't going to hurt anybody.

Promise #3
See more live bands: Years ago I used to go and see a lot of live bands but when we had Abbey there really wasn't enough money to use on such lavish things so that all stopped. The first live band/concert for this year for me is The Veronicas. Certainly not the music I would normally listen to but Abbey loves them and so I got her the CD. She has listened to it so much that I have grown to love it too. This will be her first ever concert (not counting the Wiggles) and to say she is excited about it is an understatement!!

Promise #4
Don't forget any birthdays: I hate when I forget someone's birthday and if your birthday was in January and I forgot it...sorry but I am only just organised for the birthdays of the year just now. I went and bought myself a diary and wrote all the birthdays in it (that i remembered) and have even put notes in there when I should start making their card and when it should be sent by.

Promise #5
Spend more time with Abbey: Thankfully she is getting to an age where she likes to do similar things to me. We both love going to the library, scrapbooking/craft, cooking etc so this year i vow to include her in as many things as I can and there is also a rule that there will be no watching movies through the week. A little bit of ABC kids of an afternoon while she is having her afternoon tea won't kill her but after that she can help me prepare dinner, set the table etc and then hopefully we will have time to sit down and read books or do some scraping together before bed. She is now in year 1 so getting her to bed at 7.30pm is becoming increasingly difficult so I told her that she will only have to go to bed at 7.30pm from now on if she is misbehaving. She is pretty happy that she is now allowed to stay up "late" until 8pm.

Promise #6
Scrapbooking: I vow to do at least 3 layouts a week. That should be enough 'me' time to keep me happy (hopefully) ;0)

I think that's all there was...if I've forgotten any I will have to add them later.

I'm off to do the housework and go for a walk before it gets too hot. Weather is going to be a top of 28 today which isn't overly hot but it is when you're walking in it.

I will sign off today with a layout I did a couple of months ago that I absolutely adore. Hayles and I did this one together, I can't remember which magazine we took the inspirtation from, sorry about that....
Until next time....
Shell xx

Day 2

I think I need a pat on the back....I have remembered to log in and blog!!

I started scrapping about a year ago but only managed 1 layout before I lost interest. When I moved back to NSW about 6 months ago I picked it up again and this time I can't seem to get enough of it. Everyday I do something scrap related...reading blogs, flicking through scrap mags, talking about it, thinking about it and recently....dreaming about it! Obsessed!?!? I think so.

Anyway, I thought I would try my hand at posting a picture of a layout I did recently. A beautiful scrap-lift from Lisa Warren. She is so very talented!!

I love the photos that were taken of us all on Australia Day. The hats certainly made a great addition to our pics. It's a shame Abbey wasn't in this pic so here's one of her that i plan to scrap soon.

On a family note: We went and spent a couple of hours with Nate in the hospital today. When we first arrived I was so sad to see him in that state but thankfully his Grandma was there putting him to sleep. After about 2 hours of sleep and a cuddle from his Mummy he perked up a little bit and was sitting up in his cot and dancing a little to one of his toys. It was short lived, he doesn't have a lot of energy right now. He is still on the drip because he isn't eating but hopefully that won't last long. It is his christening on Sunday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all will go ahead without a hitch.

The new page maps have been released for February, as has #9 sketch for Inspired Blueprints so I'm off to have a look at those and see what I can do with them and to also work on Nates Christening card. I will post pics of my creations when they're done.

Until next time,
Shell xx