True happiness ....

I have had a very social start to the day ... not usual on a thurs, i am normally at home in the office working. One of my friends was up from the coast, and 4 of us met for coffee this morning. We always talk alot when we get together, and have a good giggle too ... sometimes we don't stop and think about how many amazing people are in our lives. I feel so blessed to share my life with so many cool people. It makes life so fun and interesting having friends with different outlooks and perspectives. I guess i believe we are all here to connect with each other, and add to each others lives .... its pretty darn cool!
one of my other kind friends gave me a sweet surprise today too ... so thoughtful, and yummy - thx bront!
ok, i really should be working ... so better get something productive done. I ended up dropping into my fav shop "Petrol" and purchasing a cute red t-shirt (for wearing on the plane ok) it was cheap too ... as i have been trying really hard to save save save for my upcoming trip to USA. I'll be honest i am getting excited ... its gonna be so much fun! look out USA here i come ... LOL!
ok ... really going now.

Lucky ME ....
good morning .... another beautiful day here. I have just been let off the hook with school drop off .... lucky me! The girls have athletics training at school mon, wed and fri until the school athletics sports and this morning they decided to get into it ... it starts at 8am which means a big push to get out of here and get there on time. Gary put his hand up .... i feel so greatful, just for a different start to the day - how precious.
Also i went for a run/walk yesterday and my calf has healed - hip hip horray! I will be running again properly very soon ... that is great. I am going to try and ride once a week tho, as i think its good strength for my legs.
ok ... have some pancakes to eat - without rushing - bliss! having my hair done later today too - then dinner with some girlfriends tonight .... oh i can tell today is going to be an amazing day!
My life truely is Brilliant! ENJOY!

Happy Birthday Sis ....

today is my sisters birthday .... happy birthday to one of my best friends! We live away from each other ... which is awful and hard! and i wish we were together today to celebrate. I put together this frame for her ....

enjoyed putting this together ... Happy Birthday to Alicia .... she also shares her birthday today!

we have had friends from NZ here for the weekend. We had great fun - lots of kids in the house, swimming, playing .... all good stuff.

I have been cleaning today ... getting things back on track. Monday is one of those catch up kinda days. Better fly, not long till school pick up .... where do the days go??????

DECK OF ME - week 12

this weeks theme is :

I BELIEVE .....

Enthusiasm is Contagious!

I used Making Memories Papers, Bloom Paper, Heidi Swapp Chipboard heart, 7 Gypsies stamp, stayz on ink with making memories stamp on vellum, cool sticky wholey type green sticker (can't remember what the brand name is)

peace ....

today i am working at home in the office, i am here alone .... its quiet and there is such peace! not often is this house quiet - i am savouring it. I usually have the music pumping out of the tiny office, it usually resembles a club ... however today its just nice to have the peacefulness and quiet.

I got a jump start on the day, as Gi woke at 6am ... so i have acheived so much already - i love that, especially as lately i have been battling with myself on thurs (there are so many distractions when you work from home)

I love this photo ... i have been wanting this photo for ages - my siblings and best friends - this was taken at Blair's wedding. I have so many good photos to scrapbook from that day ... this is the first! I did this last week, but haven't gotten around to putting it up sooner.

Finished my photography course last night, i am so keen to do lots of practise ... its wonderful learning something new, filling your brain with heaps of new information, and making it work! The girls have moved back into the cubby house - Gary has completely painted it, and its so cute. They have a black board and a little school bell out there - its too cute. I will photograph them this afternoon out there ... its like their little club house! enjoy your afternoon ....

deck of me - week 11

this week the theme is "your initial" no explaination needed really ....

have had a super busy day. Totally set myself up for the week - yay! Was a good wifey today, cleaned, cooked, did groceries, folded washing .... all the chores have been completed! Its such a good feeling - do have to plan a few more meals, but will get to that tomorrow.

I did swim this morning too ~ so i am tired now. Have just watched DH with the girls .... i love monday nights.

ok - have to sleep now.

p.s. a photo of our lounge room - with the entertainment wall (for my friends and family who know our house) its coming along and looking good ... Gary is super excited!

lucky day ....

Happy St Patty's Day .... and happy birthday to my Godfather - Grant McDermott. Hope he had a fabulous day - he deserves to!

We don't usually celebrate St Patricks Day, but the Y2R class had a little homework this week ... to create a mini book. So i did do it, as I was inspired by the one heidi made - and i did try freestyling on the front cover like she did too (need to practise alot more tho) so i gave this little book to Gary today as a little gift and each of the girls wrote why they love their dad (i wrote for Gi) even Yani dog got a page - well, she is one of the family! It came out really cute, and was really simple and quick to put together. i am glad I did it - another cool project for Y2R class.
We had our Field trip this afternoon for our photography class. It was great, and I learnt alot being out and experimenting. Alot of it for me, is getting in to the habit of taking my photographs differently - actually setting up correctly and double checking everything. it was a big learning experience ... that i totally enjoyed. I am looking forward to playing alot more and experimenting with what I have learnt.







I will try and see if the girls are happy to co-operate tomorrow!

We have just got home from a joint 40th birthday party. The chocolate cake was very yummy. I bought some home for the girls - when we were little mum used to do that, bring us home cake - i used to love it, and i have carried on the tradition - i know they will be excited in the morning.
Its late, and I'm tired - i went for a ride this morning - haven't been on my bike for quiet a while - and my legs were surprisingly good - i am tired now tho, but its a good kinda tired. so its goodnight from me .... enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Grooving on ...

howdy all. so i have not really had a heap to blog about ... you know how you have days like that, i mean heaps going on - but nothing terribly exciting. I am having a great week tho, you know when you just get in that good space where you are grooving on .... thats me, i am grooving on! I am literally grooving in my office chair right now .... its my work day in the office, and i always pump the music out of here ... sounds like a club - LOL! Gary thinks i'm a nut - so, I'm a nut ... thats cool! At least i have fun! We have like the smallest office in the world, you cannot even swing a cat in here - so i need loud music to make it able to work! I have always been into music, its a big deal for me .... i need good tunes in my life.

ok ... so, had my photography class last night - i am loving it. We have our field trip this saturday ... so i'm going to do some practise this afternoon, might have to bribe the girls .... you know what kids can be like about photos. will show you my efforts later. There is so much to learn and I have a totally new appreciation for professional photographers - i am in awe. And also itching to do LOTS of practise myself.

Our DT Easter projects are up at Craftonline, here are a few of my contributions.

An easter egg tin

easter egg carton

I also made this little pin for St Patricks Day on saturday, i am going to make the girls one each (i will confess that i got this idea from making memories)

Gary is picking up the girls from school, such a treat ... to have a bit of extra time to do this

Monday, monday

i have started the week with a bang! I have powered thru today, have acheived heaps along the way - i love it when that happens! I mean you can't go hard everyday .... but sometimes its good to get a good start on the week .... and I am pleased to say we are off to a good start.

It has been really hot here again today ... nice tho, i would rather be warm than cold (apart from when we are snowboardin - that is the only exception)

Here is this weeks Deck of Me Challenge .... the topic this week is "Note to Self" .....

BIG NEWS TODAY .... I got tickets to Gwen Stefani ... i am so stoked. I got pre-sale tickets ... they are not even on sale yet! YAHOO!

she rocks, and the concert in July is going to be wikid! Another something cool to look forward to. I have so much to be thankful for!

sunday night ....

my day started out beautifully today .... i had a sleep in, and then was bought a cup of tea in bed (i love that) then omellete's cooked by Gary (he's a breaky cook) and a stunning day too ... actually really hot today - 36 i think.

I love the weekend.

We dug over the vege garden this weekend as I'm going to start planting again - after being inspired by Gary's dad huge tomatoes when we were back in NZ. Its so nice and actually very rewarding picking and eating your own veges. Will keep you up to date on the progress - i need worms before i start planting.

today Gary starting painting around our poolhouse .... its been 3 and a half years since all the render was done, it takes time to get onto all these jobs - but we are both feeling quiet motivated about it .... yay! I also had a play with my camera ... i am keen to learn, and after finding my camera manual (YES folks, i found it ... it was down the side of the filing cabinet ... so lucky to have found it) i was able to flick thru and do a bit of reading ... i am going to have to do a bit of studying to remember it all. I am amazed how much in involved in taking great photos!

Wade was here doing more work on the wall upstairs ... its going to be great once its finished. you may be able to see the drawing on the wall where the girls have left their mark before its being built in. We are putting a fake fireplace in - will be cool, we are going to fill it will candles initially as the fire we were looking at is like $2000+ hello ... we love candles! they are cheap - LOL! in the second photo you can see Gary's plasma screen (paper) he has taped up to get the feeling - LOL!

i went to the markets this morning too ... i have been doing alot of juicing and you go thru so much fruit and veges with juicing - so went and got a heap, so we are totally filled to the brim with fruit and veges - it feels good and healthy!

we have been in the pool today too with it being so hot, i love seeing the kids playing in the pool - its good, outdoor fun - makes them sleep well too - he he!

ok ... might need an after dinner snack .... have to go plan for my Monday! hope your week gets off to a wonderful start .... how cool, a new fun week ahead - yay!

friday night ....

you know, i am glad its friday night .... i love the weekends. Its so nice to be at home, and just BE! we have had such a busy busy busy few weeks - to just BE, is so nice. I was going to make a chicken curry (bill granger of course) however, my stock control is quite bad and i am out of garlic - it just won't taste the same, so we are going to get Indian Takeaway instead .... its our fav (well I love Thai too) actually I love just about all food ... its easy to please me!

I went swimming today, it was hard ... we did long stuff and quiet a big session - and i haven't been very consistant lately so my arms were like rubber .... it was good to finish tho! I had achepuncture today too - on my leg that is playing up - it sounds freaky i know, but it has worked for me for 5 years or so now, so i'm sticking with it.

The day seemed to go so fast, i did get some thank you cards made, we got the templates in our Y2R class last night .... they are very cute, and i enjoyed making them. The class is great and I will share my March Art Challenge too ... which i got totally absorbed in, when i decided what my "WORD" was going to be. The word is the focus point of the LO, and honestly it took me a week or so to decide on what one word would sum up what I am greatful for .... my word is (drumroll) E V E R Y T H I N G .... i am so greatful for everything in my life, i feel so very blessed .... we had to make our own embellishment as well from vellum - that was really cool, mine ended up quiet big, but i really love it!

The photography class was great - i mean totally HEAPS to take in, and i am in awe of how much i need to learn - but its exciting and I am so keen to learn heaps! The first thing tho is to find my camera manuel so i can work the camera properly ..... damn it i hate when i misplace something like this, its really bugging me, i just can't think of where it is. Don't worry i will let you know when i find it!

the week has gone super fast actually .... i have like 4 loads of washing to fold, which i just haven't gotten to ..... might leave it for tomorrow hey! one more day isn't going to matter ... LOL! enjoy your weekend!

brain overload ....

i have finally started to explore my love for photography .... i honestly cannot believe it has taken me so long to do it, since i was a teenager i was always the one behind the camera taking a million photos.
Good news tho, my journey has started and i'm super excited about it. My brain is completely buzzing after all the theory we have just covered .... why does it have to be 10pm and dark outside????? i want to take photos now and play with all the information that is in my head.
hope i can get to sleep tonight ..... wish me luck :-)

lots to share ... warning, seriously long post!!!!!

am happy to report that we all had SUPER big sleeps last night ... i feel 100 times better today, i was seriously falling apart yesterday! Sad!

Have had a super productive day, including taking Gi gi to swimming lessons (she didn't cry very much so that was a way big improvement - yay yay yay) grocery shopping, interview with Katya's teacher, made muffins, did 3 loads of washing, made a super yummy dinner and more stuff ... can't even remember it all - but i am pleased. Although i still haven't unpacked myself from our trip .... ahhh! that was on my list ... oh well, its been pushed till tomorrow now! he he!

do have some bad news to share, we lost 3 out of 4 goldfish when we were away ... it totally sux as i went out of my way to go to the pet shop and buy some tablets so they had food and everything - unless they just ate too much (now there's a thought) so we had sad kids .... well for some reason Emra always ends up with the fish who lives .... completely bizzar!

this is one of the photos i was telling you about with the driftwood ... i love this driftwood (did you pick up on that) hard to get a good photo of 5 kids .... super hard actually!

we had some days at the beach, it was great ... bought back alot of memories from my childhood ...

and have to share some wedding photos ... i totally love weddings, i always have. i think because they are such a happy, warm occasion ... and so exciting ... the anticipation of the bride arriving, and what will she be wearing. it always makes me all mushy! So it was 100 times worse because it was my only brother's wedding! and he was totally in awe of Lisa ... it was priceless. I managed to survive the prayers of the faithful (which only got me nervous when i saw the pulpit i had to climb up to) My lil Emra was flower girl ... and my lil sister was a bridesmaid. Gary was groomsman, so it was a full on family affair. Just as they were going to say their vows - which they had written themselves. Gianna wanted to go WEES! yes .... what great timing. I couldn't believe it ... a super BIG breath was needed at the time .... that is the sacrifice of having a 2 year old.

I also said a speech at the reception .... i guess i'm the ty

pical big sister .... i just HAD to! I shared a story from our childhood - a funny one of course, but then when i got to the "thanking him for being the best brother" part i turned to mush and choked up .... i guess i hold my emotions close to the surface. Gary's speech was funny (of course - my husband is a very funny man) It was a fabulous night ....

we had such a great time, danced the night away ....

DECK OF ME .....

i also have completed week 8 and 9 of Emily's challenge. Last week was something you miss ... well, i guess after just being back to my homeland and having such a wonderful time ... i do miss things about New Zealand ... little things that are completely personal and wouldn't mean anything to anyone else, but it is always cool going home.

this weeks challenge is :

Inspiration .... where do you find it?

Well, i'll be honest with you ... i get inspiration from all places, i have a few people who inspire me greatly, but heaps of things inspire me ... which is totally cool. there are so many cool things in this world to keep the brain ticking over ....

i used a chocolate wrapper from my favourite chocolates Lindt .... i got this cute tin and its a babushka (sp?) doll with tiny ones inside ... i totally loved it. and have been saving the wrappers for scrapbooking.

home sweet home .....

its always so nice to get home again, i am totally trashed, it has seriously been a BIG 3 weeks ....

i am too tired to blog now properly, so will wait for tomorrow when i can think straight. took about 400 photos ... so cool. the wedding was fantastic, had such a great time .... what a wikid night. Gary and I had a night in a hotel too ... that was a treat. one of my dear friends had the girls .... her and her husband are such angels ... we owe them big time.

ok .. am going to eat, then go to bed ... we are on a 3 hour time change, so its really like 10pm .... oh man! i am going to need a big sleep tonight!

one photo ... me and my sister on the piece of driftwood ....

hi from new zealand ....
tomorrow my lil brother gets married ... we are all here to celebrate the big occassion! weddings are such wonderful times - it always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Makes me realise how much i love the people in my life, and just how cool marriage is (not saying its not hard work .... i think its damn hard work - LOL! but its worth it)
all my family have come back home to NZ - its so cool to all be together. I am one of 4 ... the eldest of course ... hehe! can you tell? i can be a bit bossy .... LOL! that is what first borns are brought up to be ... the ones who organise stuff. its so nice having time to spend with my siblings, and nephews who i don't get to see very often. our kids are all playing so well ... its really priceless.
we did a quick trip down to visit Gary's family yesterday ... they live a couple of hours south of here, so good to see them.
we are going to take the kids to the beach now, there is this really cool peice of drift wood on the beach i am going to photograph the kids in front of ... i am hoping that what i see in my mind i can capture on my camera ... will be really cool if i pull it off. will show you the results next week
(am missing the deck of me challenge ... will catch up next week :-) )