Packaging

Spent today tidying my scrapping area and sorting through all the bits and pieces that I have accumulated. Did you know that if you remove everything from the packaging you can save a heck of a lot of room. So the area under my desk now has more room, just have to attack the top of the desk!

I was reading Penny's blog the other day and she has an amazing series of tutorials telling you how to use RSS feeds. These feeds are great because they notify you whenever there is an update on a blog you read, so you don't waste time checking for new posts when there aren't any. Scroll down a litttle bit if you are interested, but very definitely a timesaver and very easy to do with Penny's instructions.

First day of Spring

or is it? I have been having a discussion with a couple of fellow bloggers and the term "vernal equinox" has risen it's ugly head. I tried to give an explanation of my interpretation of what it is and ended up thoroughly confused. Somehow you can't get hand movements and facial expressions to convert into the written word very well. So I reverted to Google and found a whole bunch on "vernal equinox(es)". I learned quite a bit, equinox happens in Spring and Autumn and a solstice is what happens with Summer and Winter - exciting huh??

Been trying to find Fathers Day presents for the boys to give Andy. What do you get a guy that just goes and gets what he wants 2 days before the big event? I don't know either, so he can get the old standby - socks and pjs. Still the router he went and bought is probably much better than I could ever have chosen!

I found it

At long last, I have finally found our septic tank! Funny thing to lose huh! Well we don't have a mushroom on the top of our tank, so it really is potluck as to where it might be. The previous owners weren't being at all helpful in where the emptying point was. We had 3 different companies come and see if they could find it, but no such luck. The last guy suggested we get in a digger to find it - yeah right! The biggest problem is that we have so much volcanic rock around the place that when you test for it, you aren't sure if you have hit rock or the top of the tank. Today I found it, and the earliest anyone can come to empty it is Monday.

Supplies

Awesome morning today. Got a text from my best non-scrapping friend and she wanted to go and get some supplies so she could get into scrapping. Woohoo, I have been waiting for her to get into this forever. We went out and about to 3 different places and bought the basics of cutter, adhesives, cardstock and a couple of pieces of patterned paper. Then we headed back home to make a start on her first page. She had to leave to pick up the kids before finishing, but only needs to stick everything down and her first page will be done.

No more windows done today, we have a ski club meeting tonight and I should be doing the accounts, but scrapping is much more fun than windows and accounts.

Windows

Glorious weather, we have had for the last couple of days. I have been so inspired with it, I decided to make a start cleaning all the winter grime from my windows. Man, what a yucky job that is. Probably wouldn't be so yucky if I did it regularly, but, that's not fun. Anyway our bedroom windows are looking a heck of a lot better now.

Andy has been puddling away in the caravan readying it for the coming season and installing the new radio he bought while in Auckland.

I have been working away on my circle journal. This is basically an album that gets sent round to various people and they all contribute a page or two. The circle journal swap that I am in is with the group of girls that I met at CC06 and formed the Glam Girls. We all had so much fun together we have decided to do this circle journal as well. There are 12 of us in the group so when I send my journal off, I won't see it again for about 9months. It will be very exciting to get it back again.

Love Letters.

Here ya go Mum, finally posted my love letters. Yep, I know that if you were at CC then you have probably seen an overload of all these love letters from Donna Downey's class and probably the Stitch it, canvas from Wendy Redshaw's class too. But, I finally managed to get these hung on my wall and the photo taken so Mum can show people what they look like!

Been lots happening this week, but I am stuffed if I can remember anything to blog about. We have just got home from watching Tommy in his school cross country race, he had a huge race, totally enjoyed himself and came home 11th. We are heading down to Auckland this afternoon for the weekend. Andy is after a car stereo to put in the caravan and has spied what he wants down in Auckland. I suggested we wait until next weekend and celebrate Father's Day as well, but no, he wants the stereo now, so off we go. Anyway, that is really just to let you know that I won't be updating my blog over the weekend either, 'cos I won't be here - hope you all have a good one. 

A scrap room.

I don't know how it has happened, but since returning home from CC, my scrapping stuff seems to have tripled in mass. Now I really didn't buy that much, but with all the finished and half finished projects and all the class packs, plus my bit of shopping there just doesn't seem to be much room anymore. I mentioned this to DH as I thinned through the book shelf to try and find more room. "You need your own room", he says. My God, I nearly fell over, woohoo, he gets it, now we can do the extensions and I can get an 'art room' just like Karens, and I can have lots of shelving units and desks to spread out all over. "Yeah", he continues, "it's always gonna be a mess, and then you can just close the door on it". Oops, major deflation!

Andy took the boys over to the lake today and Ali and Nick both had a few skis. I got to stay home and potter round. I started to really look at how I could utilise the space I have a lot better than now. Trouble is everywhere I look we have stuff. I am thinking that my project over the next few weeks is to start going through things and decluttering. Didn't think we had very much stuff after all the shifts we have done, I guess it looks more cluttered now because we are in a much smaller house than the last 2 have been

Some other really good news! I have been wearing a singlet only all day today! Woohoo! Yeah, that means summer is on the way, cos I don't wear singlets in the cold weather. Don't get frightened away Summer, keep on coming - we are ready now.

Mega Crop

Didn't we look good! Thanks Debs for the awesome job in organising all our uniforms. We had so much fun at our table on Saturday night and we pretty much only met each other through emails in the two weeks leading up to CC.

The next night a few of us went out for dinner locally and then headed on up to the room that Kate and I were sharing for coffee and a chat. Our nice quiet chat that was supposed to end in an early night kind of got a bit waylaid and we had another midnighter. No wonder my eyes looked like they were hanging out of my head.


This last pic is of the hot water jug in my first room - I couldn't believe the sign on it and just had to get a photo!

Oh yeah, in my post on Monday afternoon I mentioned that my bag hadn't turned up, well it did finally turn up at 5pm when I could then show my boys all the goodies from the weekend. They were actually hanging out to see things by then - maybe the bag going missing was a good idea after all.After Tommy's welcome home I was wondering what sort of reception I was going to get from the other two. Nick was so pleased to see me and gave me a huge cuddle as soon as he jumped in the car. Ali was home when we got back and he greeted me at the door and gave me the pats on the back that mean ever so much!

CC2006 Wrap up.

OMG what a weekend, I haven't laughed or talked so much for ages! I got to meet so many people, some I have known through the forum or blogs, and others I met for the first time in Wellington. The classes were just the best - I learned something in every single one and as a real bonus got to make some amazing projects (most still needing some finishing touches). I got to meet my scrapping idols.

Donna's classes were so lively and fun. I also have the pleasure of being the only woman in New Zealand with a Fiskars drill at the moment, the cause of much hilarity.


Ali's class was my first for the weekend and what a great way to kick off, very laid back and easy going with great instructions so I could finish it off at a later date because I had too much fun in the class to get the work done. Simply beautiful projects and I am so pleased that I spent the time doing the homework to start with. It sure as heck means that I will finish the projects so I don't waste all that effort!


Cathy's classes were a lecture style of class. I have adored Cathy's style of scrapping ever since I first saw her. Certainly after her lectures my style won't change much but the pictures and the storeis that I scrap will. As she said this is a hobby it is supposed to be fun, so why not just scrap the pics that make me happy and chuck the rest of them in a photo album! Hear hear!

Didn't get photos with the other tutors, which was a bit silly really, maybe it was because they are Kiwis too. Anyways, I loved the Passport to Fun album I did with Nic, the colours are stunning and will suit my scrapping pics, Faye's mini album is such a cool idea and will be perfect for a snapshot of the year. The frame we did with Wendy was a huge learning experience for me, the first time I have used mod podge, awesome stuff and I even had to go and buy some today so I can play a bit more.

I'm Home!

Good to be here, good to have a cuddle with my big bloke. Met Tommy after school and was told I was the meanest Mum in the world 'cos I wouldn't let him play with his mate. This is the same boy who was sniffing my computer chair last night because it smelled like me! Guess he didn't really miss me after all.

Can you believe that between Auckland where I hopped on a plane this morning and Whangarei, a short 25 minute flight, they managed to lose my bag! All my projects and the bits and pieces that I wanna show everyone didn't turn up. They figured it might be on the 2.15 flight, but given it is now 3.45 and I still haven't heard anything, I guess not. Just heading into school to pick up Nick from guitar lessons, and Ali from the bus. Will post more later.

Wellington

Yay, I am in Wellington! Met up with Debs and Gwenda at the hotel this afternoon and we headed into Kiwiscraps. What an awesome place that is, it really is 'heaven'. We spent quite a while there just checking everything out and spending a bit of money. Back to the hotel and time to check out the bar -yep it works very well, in fact. Huge fun with these two girls, if everyone is as fun as these two are we are gonna have an awesome night.

In my room for an early night and turn on the TV to hear about the huge terrorist threat in the UK - scary stuff. Sure are pleased that I am out of the skies now - especially as we are oh so close to the UK!! Yeah right!

OK, now I am off to bed, a huge day tomorrow - bring it on.

Sunnies.

I got my sunnies back! Thanks Kathryn, you're my hero. Cool, Andy ordered a pile of stuff from America and Kathryn being the angel that she is posted it all over for us. The package arrived today and inside were my sunnies that I left behind after enjoying myself far to much one night.

OMG Tommy is growing up. This morning I noticed he was wearing a watch on his right arm. I asked him if he could read it alright, yep, he can, it is 8.08. Oh good, I say, most people wear their watch on their left arm. Yeah, well, he replies, "I'm right handed." Andy and I looked at each other and cracked up. This afternoon he arrives home after school and announces that he beat up on some kid on the way home because he went psycho and started attacking him. Fortunately he hasn't learned to lie yet, and his story of self defence seems to stack up.

Started packing all my bits and pieces for CC2006 today. Can't believe that it is finally here and that at 11am tomorrow I will be getting on a plane - woohoo excitement plus. I am taking my laptop with me, but who knows whether I will get to update here or if I will be too busy having lots of fun.

Blue Skies.

Sorry haven't blogged for a bit because all I can think of to write about is CC06 and that has to be getting pretty boring if you aren't involved!

Went to the gym this morning after having yesterday off, and then home to wash my car. Yay, finally we have a gorgeous day again. I love blue skies! Even managed to get 4 loads of laundry washed and half dried. Racing round with last minute CC bits and pieces and trying not to forget anything.

Have been listening to a CD I picked up in the weekend called Break it Down a compilation album with so many cool songs on it. Quite laid back and chill out music.

Stuffed.

An awesome walk! We had so much fun and talked non-stop for the whole 10k. I think it rained the whole way with periods of light drizzle. We had an awesome support crew in the way of my blokes who drove round behind us and gave us cheek and took lots of photos. I think we did pretty well for a couple of first time walkers and we finished in a time of 1hour 45mins and 8seconds!

Got home and jumped straight into the spa pool which was so appreciated, man did I need that partly to warm up and partly to soak some tired legs. After lunch I had to lie down and dozed off for a bit. My legs are beginning to ache a bit now, maybe I need another spa, or maybe just an early night.
 
  

Dedication or stupid??

It is pouring down with rain. It hasn't stopped raining all day. Watched the weather forecast tonight and there is a heavy rain warning for Northland - 200mm expected tomorrow morning in Whangarei! My 10km walk is scheduled for tomorrow morning - I guess we will get wet. Yup, we are still going to do it, well at least start out and see if we can cope with the weather. Update and probably lots of drowned rat type picture tomorrow.

Excitement.

When I turned on my computer this morning and found that CC06 will be underway this time next week, I was very excited, so much so that I had to yoohoo out to my boys and tell them that I wouldn't be here this time next week. For some reason they are not on the same excitement level as me - strange - must be a boy thing - or possibly a scrapper thing!

We got a delivery of meat today that Andy had ordered online. Very exciting, until we opened the chilly bin and the very strong smell that came out was not very pleasant. Turns out the meat was packed with ice packs on Wednesday and couriered overnight to Whangarei. Then it sat until our postie brought it round this morning. I really can't believe that when they saw it was a chilly bin and our phone number was clearly displayed under the address that they didn't ring and tell us it was there if they couldn't deliver it till today. The meat company is going to chase the couriers and send us another pack.

Telemarketers.

What is happening here? We have been hounded by telemarketers for the past few weeks. I have had enough of these guys now! Yeah, I know our 5 calls a week is a far cry from the 5 calls a night that our good friends in LA were getting, but hey this is New Zealand, and we don't do telemarketers! Great hilarity at our dinner table tonight with the caller though. Nick answered and thought the women was asking how Ali's toe was, so passed the phone to him. Ali listened to her spiel and then couldn't answer the questions so passed the phone to Andy. He listened for a bit, said "No thank you, goodbye" and hung up. Tommy nearly fell of his chair he was laughing so much.

Ali had his toenail dealt to today and is so much better already, just has to wear his sandals to school for the next couple of days. He was so not impressed when I suggested he wear socks with them.

Go Ali!

Picked up my photos for all my homework and classes today. Just a couple more pics to take and one final bit of journalling and then I can relax! Julie came round today and we went for our trial walk in preparation for Sunday. The weather didn't co-operate and we got a bit wet, sheltering under trees and verandahs with Mitchell in the pushchair. Lots of fun and the time went so much quicker with someone to talk to.

Andy took off to the gym for the second morning running - he is really getting into this and enjoying what he is doing.

Ali brought home his school report today and oh my god - what an awesome report! He received rave reviews from every teacher and ended up with a principal's award for his efforts. To cap off a great day for him he played hockey tonight and scored a goal. To make it even better this is one of his "Today You" days for my homework so I have the photos to document it now too.

That's dumb!

Is what my oldest boy told me today when I announced that we had to go to McDonalds for lunch so that I could take photos to go with my Today You journalling for CC06! Yeah ok, maybe it is getting a bit desperate, but with that pic I am that much closer to having my homework all completed. Typed up all the journalling today. Just another 2 days to do for Ali and Nick, then that is all completed. I know I don't have to do all 3 boys, but didn't want to leave anyone out, and that will be my project after the event.

Nick is crook as a dog at the moment and can hardly move with a cold/flu, we just dosed him up with a lemon and honey drink with a nip of whiskey, so he should sleep well tonight. I think he will be home tomorrow. Have to take Alistair to the foot clinic because he has an ingrown toenail that he had just let us know about and it is hugely infected. Gross! Doncha love 13 year old boys!

Skiing

We headed off to the Lake today with friends, as it was such a gorgeous still morning. The lake was like glass and just perfect for a slalom. Here is Ali having his first ski of the season. The water temp was 15 degrees, so not too cold, although he certainly appreciated a hot shower afterwards.

I went and did my 5km walk. I took Sarah's babies with me, man, I am very pleased that I will not be pushing 18mth old twins during our walk next week - what a work out!

I have been tagged by Karen thanks :-)

4 jobs I've had:
Owner and Branch Administrator U-Bix Northland
Mother
Secretary to Mayor
Typist

4 Movies I could watch over and over:
Sorry, I don't watch movies

4 TV shows I love to watch:
ER (when it is on), aside from that I don't watch TV

4 favourite foods:
Pot Roast
Bacon bone soup
Ham off the bone and avocado sandwiches
Protein shakes from the gym

4 tunes that play in my head:
At the moment, Ben Lee - Catch My Disease
Corrine Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On
James Blunt - Beautiful
and anything catchy on the radio that I start singing along to.

4 Websites I visit daily:
Kiwiscraps
Lots of blogs
V8 Supercars
American scrapbook sites

4 best scrapbooking lines:
Chatterbox
Scenic Route
Crate Paper
Maya Road

People I'm tagging:
Ruth - cos I see she hasn't done it yet :-)