Inside The Scrap Heap

Better Scrapbooking February Challenges

2012-01-28T20:58:00.000+13:00

Great prizes up for grabs!! We are really trying to get more people involved so tell your scrappy friends and neighbours!! Come on over and get busy at the Better Scrapbooking Community!!

Layout Challenge: Copy this months Layout Guide
Use this layout guide to create your layout. Either copy it exactly or let it inspire you.

Photo Challenge: Favourite Holiday photo
Share with us your favourite holiday photo from this summer. The way the weather has been it might even be a photo in the snow.

Colour Challenge: Create a layout, card or other project using this months colour combination.

Have fun and I look forward to seeing all your creations in the Gallery soon!!

Garden Toadstools

2012-01-27T09:56:00.000+13:00

Inspired by Pinterest HERE ......

I saw these and fell in love with them. I just recently found some wooden bowls hiding in my garage! Isn't it amazing what you can find if you have a clean out!!

Last year we got a massive grapefruit tree taken out of the backyard. The tree was chopped up into firewood so I grabbed a few logs and nailed the wooden bowls onto the grapefruit logs. There was one big one and 4 little ones.

Then I got the kids to work ....

First they painted (orange of course!)

They did about 4 coats before it was orange enough for our liking.

Then they added the spots

Hmmm how many spots do toadstools have anyway???

And then we let them dry. We finished them over a day.

The finished product looked awesome! The kids and I were VERY happy with them.

The problem of how they were going to stick into the ground securely was solved with drilled holes, liquid nails and wooden garden stakes. I put one stake in each of the small ones and 3 in the big one and then pressed them into the ground.

They are pretty sturdy and look awesome! This is the bones of the fairy garden corner I am in the process of making .. any suggestions of what to plant I'm all ears!!!

Check out how I inspired my friend Jennie to make some toadstools HERE. They are such a cute and easy little project!!

Art Journal

2012-01-26T10:09:00.000+13:00

So I think you have heard me talk about Art Night right? Well if not I'll give you a brief run down ...
These awesome ladies, Ruth & Janine, come around to my place once a week (usually a Wednesday) and we craft. Well that is the goal, sometimes we just eat and chat!!
Anyhow ...
Ruth is an amazing Art Journalist. She is AMAZING! She started up this Art Journal page on Facebook called Just Journal and has been doing step-by-step Art Journal page how to every week and I have been really enjoying it.

So I thought I'd share with you my pages. There have been 4 so far but since I have yet to take a photo of #4 I will just share the first 3 with you.

The journalling prompt for page #1 was the new year 2012 and we had to choose a word. My word of the year is LIVE!

The next prompt was to choose a quote or poem. Mine said ....

"Courage does not always Roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying I will try again tomorrow"

Prompt #3 was to say how we had incorporated our word into our week

Ruth is doing a fantastic job of teaching us lots of different techniques and tips and throwing me right out of my comfort zone with different materials and mediums. It's great fun! Not only that but her journal prompts are awesome.

Can't wait to see what is in store for us this week!!

Meet Holly

2012-01-25T10:20:00.000+13:00

Something Jason and I had talked about for a long time was when we had a house of our own we would buy a puppy. Jason was a major Boxer Dog fan. He had one in USA but she got stolen as a puppy. He had always wanted to replace her. I had been talking with Riley over the last little while about how when we bought our own house we would look into getting a puppy.
I have never owned a dog, never lived in a house where there was one so I decided to do a lot of research before I seriously looked into getting a dog. I researched, asked questions etc for quite some time. Just before Christmas I decided to go in and talk to the SPCA about our options and what they thought would be best for us.
We talked about how big the yard was, how active our family is, the fact that I would be a first time dog owner etc etc and then they showed me around and showed me these four little Labrador x puppies that they thought would be suitable for our family. Well of course I fell in love!! After a few adjustments to the back yard and a couple of visits to our house from the SPCA we bought our new family member home the week before Christmas!

She is adorable! And very naughty! But she is a puppy so I expect naughtiness! We named her Holly because she is a Christmas puppy. We started puppy school last week and fingers crossed I can teach her how to be a good girl!! She sure is growing like a weed, which reminds me that I need to take more photos!!

I think having a puppy was like having a new born baby again, I am sleeping better now but at the beginning man'o'man she was up so often at night! She is learning heaps, she loves going on walks and in the car. The kids ADORE her and she follows me like a shadow. Our cats, Bailey and Phoebe, pretend she isn't here, until she gets a bit close. Bailey actually chased her today, but in saying that he is still bigger than her at the moment!!!

I am very much looking forward to watching Holly grow and I know she is going to be a wonderful member of our family!

Charmed Life Challenge update

2012-01-24T10:06:00.000+13:00

Way back in September I started the Charmed Life Challenge. A list of charming things to do to make my life feel better.
So here's what I've done .....

#2 Put something beautiful on a blank bit of wall you see everyday .... My baby girl made these pics at Kindergarten (see all about it HERE) and I love love love them sooo much I had to get frames for them and hang them in her room!

#24 Hold a Baby ... My old neighbour's in Pukekohe, Sue & Brendon, had a baby so we went to visit awww she was sooo cute and I got to have cuddles ALL afternoon, got me clucking like a hen, Riley was totally in love with the beautiful little Pacey, I couldn't get over her hair!

#10 take care of a nagging life admin item ... This is the dumping box of mail and kids artwork that had been collecting up over a few months!! I Finally sorted the boxed and filed everything away! Felt sooo good to get done it!

#1.Give something broken a new life ... It wasn't exactly broken, but it was a bit rusty and I certainly gave it a new life ...

#19 Buy Flowers for your Home ... I wish I could do this every week!! I LOVE flowers, even better would be if someone else bought them for me hehehehehe

#4 Send a thank you note, for anything ... I sent one of these to My Uncle and one to a friend ... My Uncle told me it made him cry! Nawwww!!

#20 Make a recipe from a fruit, vegetable, meat or fish you've never cooked before ... over Christmas I made HEAPS of new dishes I had never made before, some were a major success some not so much!

I am hoping to get a lot more of the challenges done this year. I am going to try do one a week so wish me luck!!!

House Decorating Post #1 ~ Living Room

2012-01-23T23:17:00.000+13:00

It was VERY exciting to begin the decorating/renovating of my house the week after Christmas. My Aunt came up from Auckland to help me out for a week and boy did she teach me a lot!! We painted and sanded, and filled, and bogged and did stuff I have never done before!! It was hard and fun and after 4 weeks I have almost finished the living room!!

So here are the before pics ....

The Fireplace

Opposite the fireplace, behind the couch is a feature wall kinda a dark browny/greyish colour.

You all know about my orange obsession so I picked up a few paint samples and played around with colours and ended up with two Dulux Colours of NZ colours. The first one I chose was called Rangataua and the 2nd colour was called Kauri Cliffs half.

We washed and sanded walls, skirting, door frames, scotia, windows & frames. We painted and wallpapered. There were 5 different pots of paint and several different rollers! With drop cloths, tools, paint, sandpaper etc etc etc everywhere it was chaos!

So here are the after photos .....

There are still some window fittings that need to go back on. I am planning on giving the fireplace hearth a makeover. The telephone table and my storage chest are also going to be fancied up a bit, so watch this space for more decorating/renovating to come!!! But at least my living room is livable again!!

Better Scrapbooking December Scrap Pack

2012-01-23T19:12:00.000+13:00

I know this is SUPER late! Sorry!!!

We got an interesting range of Christmas Papers by a NZ company called Pavlova Papers. I must admit using these papers were a challenge as I wouldn't have picked them out myself, but I'm always up for a challenge and here is what I made ......

Sweet Tooth
This photo was taken when we took Riley to his very first School Gala. It was the Red Beach School Gala in Whangaparaoa at the end of 2008. Riley would have been almost 4. He was so excited when he saw the stall with the girls selling their lollie necklaces, we couldn't resist to get him one! He was good and saved some for the next day too!

Smile For Santa
Christmas 2010. The Rising Stars Drama group here in Whangarei made this AMAZING Santa's Grotto. We went along of course! They had games and activities and of course Santa! Riley and Abbey had a blast doing all the other things and then walking through the amazing grotto was awesome! But when we got to Santa Abbey was the only one who would have her picture with Him!! Oh well better luck next time Riley!

Christmas
Every year ever since Riley was a baby I have taken a Christmas photo of Riley & then Riley & Abbey and made our Christmas cards with the picture on the front. This photo was our Christmas photo for 2010. There was even a special appearance from Bear!! Bear is Abbey's special teddy she has had since she was a baby and carries around everywhere!

Christmas Love
Another Christmas 2010 photo. The kids made the awesome hand print wreath and gave it to my Mum. I just LOVE this photo of the two of them in the wreath. Gee my kids are cute!

Inspired HERE by Pinterest I made this Christmas ball ornaments. Not as sparkly as the original, might need to jazz them up a little next time!

I also made a Garland with some of the scrap pack leftovers ....

Go check out how I made these, and what the other design team members did with the scrap pack HERE

I hope you enjoyed!

Inspired by Pinterest

2012-01-07T10:49:00.000+13:00

I am really addicted to Pinterest. I can spend hours browsing through the amazing ideas and beautiful things. Today on Pinterest I have 53 Boards and 2979 pins. It sounds pretty crazy! But I love it!!

And although I haven't done half as much as I want I have actually made things that I have been inspired by through Pinterest! So here is an update on what I have made .....

Inspired by THIS, I made this for the playroom ...

I have plans to paint it all pretty but I am undecided on the colours so might wait until I renovate the playroom and make it all matching!

Inspired by THIS I made this ...

I haven't decided if I want to paint the brown board white yet, I think I will leave it until I renovate the Craft Room, make it matching! (hmmm seems to be a renovating theme going on here!)

Inspired by THIS, I made this for my Mum for Christmas (sorry about the bad picture)

The original was made on wood, my one was done on a canvas

Inspired by THIS, I made these ...

For Christmas Day I decided to try out a few new recipes. I am always happy to find new yummy foods!!

there is:
Squid Dogs, Blooming Onion Bread, 7 Layer Dip, Autumn Chopped Salad, Cranberry Bliss Bars, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, Lamb Kebabs & Crack Bread

Since I am slowly renovating/redecorating my house I am hoping that I will be able to make use of my pins a lot more!

Are you a Pinterest Junkie? Join our group on Facebook HERE and share your Pinterest inspired things!

Christmas Letter 2011

2012-01-05T21:43:00.000+13:00

I usually pop a Christmas letter in our Christmas Cards every year to let everyone know what we have been up to over the last year. Last Christmas I didn't write a letter. Not much happened I really wanted to write about but I did do a blog post about my year HERE I decided instead of a Christmas letter I would go back and do another "Year that Was" post instead, saving the environment anyway right, not having to print out the letters!

Our 2011 Christmas cards made by Riley & Abbey

So here is my 2011 .....

January
January was a real crafting month for me. I was doing stuff for Crafty Tart via their FaceBook page and I also started on the Better Scrapbooking Design Team. Here a few of my Favourite crafty projects of the month:
The Boredom Box
Love Letters
Homemade Whiteboard Monthly Planner
Grandad's Shadow Box
Of course only having been without Jason for 8months I was still struggling with living without him HERESchool Holidays were fun, we did loads of cool stuff, the kids and I.

February
February was another crafty month (in my house I would hope that EVERY month was crafty!) It also marked another one of those firsts without Jason, this one was his Birthday. The kids and I went to the Whangarei Falls and released 8 helium Balloons up to Heaven for Jase's Birthday. 8 Balloons for the 8 years we had been together. I met some AMAZING Blogging ladies who I can now call good friends. I started my I {Heart} Whangarei list. Another devastating earthquake hit Christchurch, sadly many lives were lost. I also discovered that I am not the only one obsessed with Orange!!

March
Riley turned 6! His first Birthday without his Dad. It was NZ Book Month. I stepped out of my zone and made a pretty cool canvas. I started the 30 Day Photo Project. I continued to struggle without Jase. My scrapbooking was published in the first NZ Paper Chase magazine.

April
I let go of something I had been holding onto since Jase died, and continued to use my blog to express my sense of loss without him here for 11 months. ANZAC Day is in April. I went to the Koninginnedag Festival, which is ALL about the orange! We visited the Sky Tower in the holidays.

May
May marked the one year anniversary of Jason's Death. And May is NZ Music Month!

June
It was my Birthday! I got lots of Orange Goodies. Abbey's Kindergarten celebrated Matariki. I finished a project from Riley's 5th Birthday! I discovered the Better After blog. I also got to help my good friend Hilary with her Scrap It Simple stand at SENZ!

July
It was Abbey's 4th Birthday! I discovered miniature food. Harry Potter came to an End *sniff sniff* I discovered Pinterest.

August

I found the 30 Day Mum Challenge. We had a BIG Kiwi Mummy Bloggers meet up. Abbey's Kindergarten had a Cultural Day. I got surrounded by boxes because I became a first HOME OWNER!!!

September
I got the keys to my new house! I went for a holiday to Christchurch for a Scrapbooking Retreat. I started the Charmed Life Challenge. And had to say goodbye to my very dear bloggy friend Leonie.

October
I didn't blog much from this point to the rest of the year .. opps! But I was inspired by pinterest and was loving my HOME. Riley broke his arm and Abbey's Kindergarten had an awesome fundraising Art Auction. It wasn't blogged about but we also had Halloween in our new place.

November
Bad blogging month! But I can tell you one of my good friends, Nadia, renewed her wedding vows. My Art Night buddies, Ruth, Janine & I had a stall at Art Beat, a big Artisans Market here in Whangarei. Riley started playing Cricket for his school team, and LOVES it!

December
Wow I didn't even blog in December! It was a busy month! Preparing for Christmas and doing Christmasey things like seeing Good mate Juanita's band live at the Christmas at the Park!! Having the Coroners Inquest into Jason's death was hard just before Christmas. We also got a new family member, Holly the Christmas puppy!

What a year!!!
2010 was a year of heartbreak, sleepwalking and numbness
2011 was a year of surviving
2012 will be the year I begin to LIVE again.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year I will be seeing you all again REAL soon!!

Bad Blogger

2012-01-01T18:13:00.001+13:00

I have been totally AWOL on my blog for a while opps sorry!Will be writing some posts soon ....*A re-cap on 2011*A catch up on my pinterest stuff*A catch up on My Charmed Life Challenge*House Decorating!*More Better Scrapbooking Design Team craftingand whatever else I can think of!!Happy first day of 2012 and I'll see you all soon!!

Better Scrapbooking November Scrap Pack

2011-11-08T20:50:00.009+13:00

What a stunning Scrap Pack this month!!
It was cram packed with gorgeous Jillibean Soup's Blossom paper range. Soooo pretty!!

Perfect opportunity to do some more lovely Abbey LOs!! I do love doing girls stuff!

This big photo of Abbey has been hanging around for a while. I have been wanting to scrap it for ages and these papers just worked perfectly with it! This was her first Kindergarten photo, she just got her 2nd one taken today! I can't wait to see how it turns out! I just love how the photographer has gone right away from the traditional sit on a chair pose for the Kindergartners. Abbey told me her photo taken today was a Lion in the Logs! I am very excited to see that one!

Another Kindergarten pic. This is one of Abbey's best friends at Kindy. I just LOVE this photo of the two of them!! Two gorgeous girls!

This photo was taken at my beautiful cousin Sherri's wedding. I had no idea that the photographer had the camera pointed at Abbey! But man I am glad she did I LOVE this photo!

As soon as I saw this Jillibean collection I thought about Abbey and what I want to do for her new bedroom. We are still quite a way away from decorating in there but I thought I could start with the little things so I made this lamp shade.

It was just a cheap Bunnings Warehouse lamp with a pale pink shade. I like it much better now!

To see how I made all these check out the latest Better Scrapbooking Newsletter HERE

And don't forget to go in and check out the latest Challenges!

Accidents Will Happen ....

2011-11-01T14:07:00.006+13:00

You know I always thought that out of my two Kids that Abbey would be the one to have the first major injury. She was the one who was the more adventurous, more brave and well frankly more accident prone, see HERE. So when Riley ended up with stitches in his eye brow I was surprised (see HERE) So again I was surprised when Riley was the first to break a bone.

Mum and I had put the trampoline up a couple of weeks earlier, but we hadn't managed to get the safety net up. The weather had been quite awful so the kids hadn't been on the tramp since we put it up. It was a lovely day and Mum and I were sorting some stuff out inside. Riley and Abbey were jumping on the tramp for the first time. They thought it was fun to be jumping off the tramp into the grapefruit tree. After seeing them both do this Mum and I decided it was time to get the safety net up. Half way through putting up the 3rd pole Riley jumped off and landed on his arm. He caused a fuss about it cried and was holding it gently. I told him to sit quietly while I finished putting up the net. I figured I'd keep an eye on it and see what happened. he was fine sitting for a bit, but when he tried to get up using that arm he shrieked and I knew I would have to take him to the doctor. So off to White Cross (the local A&E) we went. Several hours later we had x-rays confirming that he had fractured his wrist. A plaster cast was put on and home we went.

2 weeks later we went back to take the plaster cast off and get his more stable fibre glass one on. Riley chose a pretty blue (only because they didn't have his favourite colour yellow!)

Just before we got the new cast on

Getting his new cast on

Another 3 weeks after that we went back to the clinic to get it taken off! As soon as Riley saw the saw that gets the cast off he started freaking out. He screamed the roof down and we had to have an extra nurse to help hold him still. But we finally got there and apart from a skinnier, whiter arm from the other one, it's all good!

Now I guess I just hold my breath for the next trip to the A&E!!

Mairtown Kindergarten Art Auction

2011-11-01T13:11:00.005+13:00

On the last day of term Abbey's Kindergarten had a Fundraising Art Auction.

Several weeks earlier the teachers sent one blank canvas home with each family. The Adults in the family were to create a piece of art to put in the auction.

Being arty crafty I volunteered to do a few more canvases, and there were a few things I wanted to give a go so two birds with one stone kinda thing!! I also convinced a couple of friends to donate their time and creative flair too! Thanks Becky & Nicola!!

There was some pretty AMAZING Art Work produced by the families! It was awesome!

This is what I made .. All inspired by Pinterest of course!

Originals HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE

Many of the children also made canvas Art at Kindergarten which weren't up for Auction but were for sale on the night. Of Course Abbey made TWO canvases so I had to buy them both! Lucky they were so awesome!!
Here she is posing with them at the Auction ...

It really was a fantastic night! Every single piece of art was sold and the Kindergarten raised $1600!!! WOW!! That is FANTASTIC! The money raised is going on developing some of the outdoor area which you can read about HERE

Check out the Mairtown Blog for their version of the event HERE

Fat or is it Phat?

2011-10-06T20:28:00.012+13:00

I've come to the conclusion I am fat. Ok I've known for a while.

{illustration from here}

Not can't get up off the floor fat, or need two seats on the bus fat. But feeling uncomfy in my favourite jeans fat, bulges hanging out my clothes fat, not wearing shorts in summer fat, and too wobbly belly fat.

I like to use the excuse of 'I am a grieving widow and I am a comfort eater." This statement is true, but it's an excuse. There are three real and honest reason's I am fat and why I am going to keep getting fatter. Let me explain them to you.

#1
I love food.

I love ALL food. I like to eat. I don't like missing out on food. I am also a bit of a binge eater. I will be good for a week. Not eat any chocolate, chips, lollies or any of that "naughty" food. Then I will sit down and eat a whole packet of Tim Tams in one sitting. Or a whole packet of potato chips with a container of dip. I'm bad like that. Very bad. I am most definitely a comfort eater. I eat when I am upset. I also eat when I am bored. And the worst thing since Jason died is I eat late at night when I am lonely. Bad bad bad. It's all bad.

#2
I am lazy

I am so lazy. I love veggies. And I adore salad. I love yogurt and porridge and all that other good food that is good for you. I really do. But it is quicker and easier to grab a packet of biscuits than get all the salad stuff out and chop it up. I will ALWAYS choose the easy option if it's there. I am so very lazy. It is bad bad bad. It's all bad

#3
I hate exercise

I hate it with a passion. I hate sports. I hate running. I hate almost everything that can be called physical exertion. I don't mind walking, I do enjoy swimming. Almost anything else I avoid. I would rather sit on my couch and work in the new butt indent (which my new couch doesn't have yet)

Those three reasons are definitely why I am getting fatter by the meal.

It is time (once again) to get back on the weight loss band wagon. Or maybe they need to make me run behind it? I dunno. But I NEED to do something. I am fatter than I have ever been and I do NOT want to go up another pants size. I would however like to go down a couple. So here I am putting it out there! Any suggestions will be taken gladly. I think step number one will be actually getting off my fat butt and getting some exercise into my life. Then we will work on the bad bad food going away. And the laziness with my food preparation. Summer is so good. It is easier to eat less in Summer, although Christmas, very bad!! But we will work on it.

There I said it now it must be so!

Inspired by Pinterest

2011-10-05T08:01:00.000+13:00

How nice is it to have a roaring fire!!! We won't talk about the repairs that needed to be done before I could use my fireplace, or the fact that it is getting too hot for a fire. But ohh it's lovely!!

Ages ago I made THIS little drawer set for Abbey's hair stuff. I used 6 large matchboxes to make it which meant I had all the matches that came from those 6 boxes!! What was I going to do with them?? Don't worry Pinterest to the rescue!! Inspired by THIS (which originally came from HERE)I decided to make an orange version!

Of course it looks fabulous sitting on the hearth ... gotta love my bits of orange around the place!

And while we are on the topic of orange ....

A while back the lovely Leonie and I spent a whole morning going to every single second hand shop in Whangarei. I think there were 6 in total plus we also went to the Demolition Supermarket! It was a fantastic day and we picked up some AWESOME things! One of my bargin finds was this stool which I got for a mere $2!! Can you believe it!

I picked up some stunning orange & white fabric at a Spotlight sale and I knew that I was going to use it on my stool!!

So ....
Many coats of white spray paint, some foam, many staples from the staple gun and my beautiful fabric I now have a stool that looks like this ...

I am so very much in love with this stool!!! I am also pretty proud of my first try at upholstering! There is plenty more on the cards so I figured it would be safe to start out small!!

I still have a bit of that fabric left over so I will have to try and find a use for it!

And just because I can my first Before and After!!

Welcome Home Palmers

2011-10-04T10:16:00.001+13:00

We are finally home .. in OUR house!! What an AWESOME feeling!! When I saw that door mat I knew I HAD to have it because it sums it all up!

I don't have any photos to show you about the move or anything exciting to show yet but man how exciting!!

We spent the first night in the house on mattresses on the floor in the living room, then the trucks came and moved everything the next day.

We are still not properly unpacked, there are boxes all over the place and the garage has lots of stuff in it that will eventually come into the house but I can take my time .. I am not going anywhere for a long long time ... if ever!

Owning your own home has the downfalls too. Like the fact I have had to have the fireplace repaired before we could use it. I need jobs done by roofers, plumbers, electricians and drain layers! I have called a million trades people and had so many quotes!! This part of home owning I am not enjoying. I hate talking on the phone!!!

I have BIG plans! I have made a Home Reno Book (in orange of course!)

I am using it to write down what needs to be done, what I want to do. I am putting paint and fabric samples in there. Pinterest ideas, anything! I have promised my Mum I won't do anything until I have lived here for a few months and I am sticking by that promise. I have so many ideas and the longer I am here the more I know what I want! I can not wait to start painting and wallpapering and all the other things I am going to do!! It is sometimes hard to be patient!!

The fun part is I have bought wallpaper, curtains, new furniture. I have BIG ideas and I am going to get to do it all!! Whoop Whoop!!

So keep an eye out for my Home Reno posts!! I am gonna have lots of before and afters coming up!!

YAY!! For finally being Home!

Dinner at the Fat Camel

2011-10-04T09:50:00.001+13:00

When us Whangarei Bloggers went to the Fat Camel for Leonie's Farewell ......

This was the 2nd time I had been there. The first time was with Leonie and Becky for a lunch. I was pretty impressed with the food the first time and super impressed with both food and service when we went for dinner.

The food was sooo yummy and there was sooo much of it!

And the dessert oh my mmmmmmm

Leonie was such a sweetheart and she made us all a beautiful little crochet heart broach. And in our favourite colours!! I wish I had of got better photos of them.

And of course there were lots and lots of laughs and hugs and photo taking.

who knew that vanilla sticks made awesome mustache's!

What an awesome farewell for an amazing friend!!

And OMGoodness a bonus Orange find on the way home!!

Of course I am the last to write about this night (slack slack slack!!)
Kiwi At Heart
Paisley Jade

Bad Bad Blogger!!

2011-10-03T21:35:00.001+13:00

And it isn't like I have nothing to blog about either!!! I just have had a small unscheduled blog break, I haven't read blogs, I haven't commented on blogs and I certainly haven't written any!!

BUT .....

That is about to change right now! I will catch up on the posts I promised as well as everything else I have to blog about!! Fun times ahead fun times!!

Holiday In Christchurch

2011-09-19T10:05:00.001+12:00

Man where oh where do I begin?!?!

Well a long long time ago My friend Nicola convinced me that I needed to go down to her home town of Christchurch to attend the Scrappin' Patch Retreat in September. I though hmm well ok why not. So I booked my spot paid my deposit and didn't think too much about it.

After all that, Christchurch was devastated by some pretty horrific earthquakes, destroying many iconic buildings, losing many lives and turning the lives of many upside down. {read about it HERE} So when September suddenly appeared I was quite excited (as well as a little nervous) about heading down to Christchurch, and the South Island, for the first time.

So on Wednesday, 6 nights after I moved into my new house, I was heading to Christchurch on an airplane!

I have never flown on my own before so that was a new experience for me. But once I stepped out of the airport to see my lovely friend Nicola waiting for me I was completely at ease and totally happy to be there.

I spent 2 nights with Nicola and her family. I got to have a little look around Christchurch and witness some of the earthquake damage. It was common sight to see bricks piled up against broken walls, curbs with humps and cracks everywhere from the roads to the houses. Thankfully (for me!) there was no after shocks while I was there but the people of Christchurch have to continue to live with these constantly. I really feel for them.

Something else I got to do while in Christchurch was to visit the Scrap It Simple store that my friend Hilary owns. If you remember I helped Hilary out with her stall at SENZ in June. It was really nice to be able to see the 'real' shop and catch up with Hilary as well.

Friday afternoon Hilary picked Nic and I up and we headed to Glentui for Scrap Camp!! It was a lovely drive out there and I was very excited to see Snow on the Southern Alps!

We were the last to arrive and after taking our bags up to our room, unpacking our totes and getting settled in we were straight into our first class with our International Tutor, Steph Devlin.

Our first class was an Off the Page project on a canvas.

I really enjoyed making the little canvas and was pretty pleased with how it turned out. It was amazing how we all did the same thing but every ones looked different. It was a great night.

I shared a table with Nicola and Hilary and we were so lucky to be sat with the two most fun and lovely ladies ever! Jo and Anne. They were a blast and we have decided next retreat we are all going to bunk in together! So cool to make new friends!!

Our table was right next to the fire place and the AMAZING view out the HUGE windows.

Glentui was an amazing venue. The food was plentiful and delicious. The grounds were spectacular. It is certainly a place I would recommend to anyone!

After the class we stayed up and did some scrapping of our own and then toddled off to bed. Nothing Quite like scrapping in your PJs!!!

Saturday was an early morning and a great day filled with another class with Steph, lots of kits and free scrapping, laughs, food photo taking and snacks. Another late night (1.30) and then talking until who knows when!

Sunday came with another early start a bit of scrapping, and packing up. We had planned to have lunch and head home. While we were packing up we heard news there was a 4.5 Aftershock in Christchurch. The only quake while I was there and we didn't even feel it out at camp!!

Hilary drove us back to Nicola's place after lots of farewells and then off to the airport to head home.

It was sad to say goodbye but also really great to be heading home to my kiddies who I missed a lot!! And by their reactions to seeing me I think they missed me too!!

Such an AWESOME weekend with some AWESOME ladies. I can't wait to do it all again!!

Goodbye Leonie

2011-09-18T10:48:00.000+12:00

Quite some time ago I started reading this blog called Kiwi At Heart. I think THIS was one of the first blog posts I read. The lovely Leonie had left some very heartwarming comments on some of my more depressing posts and so I started following her blog. And boy am I glad I did.

In February the wonderful Jacksta-B organised a bloggy get together with some local bloggers. I didn't know anyone, except Paisley Jade whom I went to Primary School with 100 years before! (ok maybe over exaggerating a little there) But I was pretty nervous. I didn't realise that Leonie was going to be there. I had read about her moving back to NZ, but didn't know it was close to my home. So I was pleasantly surprised and really happy to finally meet her. Now the fame of our AWESOME bunch of Whangarei bloggers has spread far and wide (hehehe) but it is completely true that we all get on so well and everyone of those ladies I can call my friend.

Leonie is a pretty special lady and I am so so blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know her, and have her as my friend. So when things didn't work out for her family in NZ and she made the decision to go back to Australia I was pretty sad to have to say goodbye to one of my favourite people.

Us bloggy ladies had a farewell dinner for Leonie at The Fat Camel and we had a blast. It was so much fun, even though it was tinged with sadness.

{this was such a great night I'm gonna do a blog post all about it soon}

And the night I moved into my new house Leonie and two of her adorable children came and ate fish'n'chips with us on the floor! I am really glad she got to see the house (and was my very first official visitor!) and that I got to have an extra bit of time to say goodbye.

I am going to miss you Leonie but thankfully because of the Internet you will never really be that far away!

Another one of our wonderfully talented Whangarei Bloggy friends Neetz made this video clip for Leonie ...

Love and miss you loads Leonie!!!

The Charmed Life Challenge

2011-09-17T10:11:00.000+12:00

The lovely Alisa posted about this thing called The Charmed Life Challenge originally on FaceBook and then over HERE. I really loved some of the ideas that were on this list of challenges and decided that I would jump on board and give it a go.

To me this list is about making life fun and enjoyable again. It totally fits in with my New Beginnings motto of the moment

So this is my revised list of 100 Charmed Life Challenges.

1. ~~Give something broken a new life (a skirt, a squeaky wheel, scuffed shoes)~~.
2. ~~Put something beautiful on a bit of blank wall you see every day~~.
3. Wear something you love that you think “just isn’t you.”
4. ~~Send a thank you note, for anything~~.
5. Spend an afternoon reading.
6. Cook in a vintage apron.
7. Have luncheon: a slow midday meal with cloth napkins and wine.
8. Go out of your way to do something kind for a stranger (offer a seat, hold the door, leave your copy of Us Weekly on the elliptical).
9. Donate five items from your closet that don’t make you feel unstoppably gorgeous.
10. ~~Take care of a nagging life admin item (a trip to the post office, filing an insurance claim, making a doctor’s appointment)~~.
11. Buy an utterly frivolous piece of lingerie.
12. Invite friends over for cocktails, dinner, or brunch.
13. Wake up an hour early to have a leisurely morning.
14. Try something that looks like pure fun (accordion, crochet, burlesque).
15. Dance. In public, in the living room, with a partner, with yourself.
16. Flirt with a stranger. (Smiling counts.)
17. Get rid of five things in your home that don’t bring you pleasure.
18. Go to a parfumerie or department store in search of a signature scent.
19. ~~Buy flowers for your home or office~~.
20. ~~Make a recipe from a fruit, vegetable, meat or fish you’ve never cooked before~~.
21. Walk barefoot in the grass or on the sand.
22. Have a media-free day.
23. Write down everything you feel grateful for.
24. ~~Hold a baby~~.
25. ~~Pet a puppy.~~
26. Ask someone to tell you their life story.
28. Read a biography of your favorite glamorous screen star, or the bravest, most badass real life heroine.
29. Eat fresh berries, straight from the green paper pint.
30. Create an occasion to wear your most impractical pair of shoes.
31. Write down your wildest dreams.
32. Have a proper weekday coffee break: ceramic cup, idle gossip, and staring out a window.
33. Visit a playground and swing.
34. Make lemonade. (Literally or figuratively.)
35. Go to a junk or antique store; consider what your favorite object has seen in its life.
36. Jump in a body of water. Float.
37. Give someone a hug; let them let go first.
38. Look at the stars.
39. Replace one utilitarian item you use every day––a measuring spoon, a file folder, a key chain––with something really, really beautiful.
40. Pamper your body with a massage, an overdue haircut, a trip to the sauna, or a soak in the tub.
41. Research something that sparks your curiosity (Arthurian legend, photosynthesis, investing). If you’re still curious after a 15-minute google session, dive deeper.
42. Make a collage of beautiful images that resonate with you.
43. Read aloud to someone you love.
44. Forgive yourself.
45. Forgive someone else.
46. Spend an hour in silent reflection.
47. Dine by candlelight on a weeknight.
48. Take a walk after dinner.
49. Wear your no-fail, cheer-me-up lipstick.
50. Give a genuine compliment to an acquaintance.
51. Have a glass of champagne, just because.
52. Spend one day taking pictures of everything you find beautiful.
53. Describe your perfect day in writing.
54. Block out an afternoon (or day) on the calendar to make some (or all) of it real.
55. Select one drawer or surface and organize it.
56. Write a love letter.
57. Do something you loved as a child.
58. Upgrade your sleep wear, or go Marilyn-style.
59. Do the one thing you were relieved/sad wasn’t on this list.
60. Pretend for one day that you are as confident and amazing as you want to be.
61. ~~Buy fresh flowers for your home~~
62. Take 15 minutes to eat a delicious, artisan dark truffle
63. Go skinny dipping (or at least go swimming)
64. Visit the farmer’s market and inquire about the life of one farmer. Get into his/her world.
65. Tell someone exactly what you desire without shame
66. Spend a day doing nothing except relax
67. Throw a dinner party
68. Dress up to go to the grocery store (I’m talking make-the-butcher-turn-his-head dressing up)
69. Send a surprise I-think-you’re-fabulous handwritten note to someone
70. Get a massage
71. ~~Bring up an intoxicating topic with friends (anything around love or travel is always a good choice)~~
72. Choose a feeling you desire to experience and think/do/be whatever it takes to create it
73. Serve your dinner in courses and spend at least twenty minutes with each. End with a bite of something delicious.
75. Do something completely out of character (for example, if you’re shy, force yourself to say hello to a stranger)
76. Write a love note to yourself
77. Invite someone you desire to know to lunch
78. Put a trip on your calendar that you desire to take within the next 6 months
79. Learn 5 new words in a foreign language and actually use them
80. Kiss someone (even if it’s your dog)
81. Try an exotic food you’ve never tasted
82. Pretend that everyone loves you and wants you to be a huge success
83. Light candles
84. Ask more questions and talk less
85. Read a poem to someone you love
86. Teach a kid something they’ll never forget (e.g. card trick, secret handshake or a funny word like gardyloo)
87. Take one small step that frightens you
88. ~~Wear a flower in your hair~~
89. Pretend for one day that you don’t know your age
90. Watch a foreign film
91. Throw a slumber party
92. Turn a common dish into a delicacy (e.g. truffled popcorn, carmelized onion burgers, grilled brie and pear sandwiches)
93. Brag on yourself at least 5 times
94. Pay extra special attention to your posture
95. Listen to romantic, sexy music all day
96. Speak love to every animal you see, including insects
97. Send your worst enemy flowers anonymously (it really does feel good)
98. Catch moments of negativity and charge them with laughter
99. Donate $10 to your favorite charity. Every little thing matters
100. Smile a lot. Best beauty tip on the market

The plan is to print a couple of copies and try and do as many things off that list that I can. Here's hoping I can get a few marked off soon!

Watch This Space!

Better Scrapbooking September Scrap Pack

2011-09-16T20:43:00.006+12:00

This pack was ohh so pretty!!! The papers were from the Cosmo Cricket Earth Love range and I really enjoyed working with it!

I found the papers really versatile to a range of different photos.

And they were really cute too!!

For instructions on how I made all these check out the September Newsletter over at Better Scrapbooking, also check out what the other fabulous Design Team member, Jennie, has created too!

AWOL

2011-09-07T13:55:00.002+12:00

I am going to be AWOL for a wee while but when I get back I will have LOADS to blog about!!

Like:

*Better Scrapbooking Design Team Stuff
*Saying Goodbye to a dear Friend
*Moving into my house!
*Christchurch Scrapbooking Retreat
*The Charmed Life Challenge

And possibly more!!! So please stay tuned for loads of posts coming soon!!!

Happy First Day of Spring!!

2011-09-01T10:02:00.003+12:00

Today is the official first day of Spring here in the Southern Hemisphere. Spring is my favourite season. I LOVE spring flowers, the sun coming back from it's holiday in the North and it just seems to produce good feelings all around.

Spring is the season for new beginnings and I am taking that to heart this year.

Tomorrow is the day I get the keys to the very first house I own. That is exciting. I have decided that Moving into this house is going to be a fresh new start for me and my kids. A brand new chapter in a brand new book.

It's hard to be doing this without Jason. 16mths have gone by and the wound in my heart is still raw and incredibly painful. I miss him terribly. But I have decided that this new house brings us hope and I am determined to begin living my life again.

This is a huge and difficult step for me to make. Taking the first major life step without him in it. And as much as he is going to be a continuous part of our every day lives, it is time for me to stop living in the past. I need to stop with the "If Jason was still here" and the 'If Only ..." "What if ..." and "why?" Jason was, is and ALWAYS will be a part of our lives. But the hard reality is he is never coming back. Dead sadly is forever. And until I let go of my fantasy of him suddenly turning up on the doorstep I can not ever move forward and begin to live. So I am making that decision to take my first step forward. It will be a baby step but a step nonetheless.

So Spring 2011 marks the start of an incredible journey for me. Things will still be hard. I will still cry and grieve and miss my husband. I will still find it difficult to do many things without him. But the difference will be I am also going to be giving myself permission to be happy, to smile, to laugh and to have fun, all guilt free. Because it would be what Jason would want for me, for us as a family.

So HAPPY First Day of Spring!! And to New Beginnings!

Fun Spring Day ~ I {Heart} Whangarei

2011-08-29T09:09:00.000+12:00

Saturday was such an AMAZINGLY beautiful sunshiny day! We had a busy day planned.

We started out at Kensington Park to watch my 4yr old Nephew, Liam, play Rugby. Watching the little guys play is so fun and darn adorable! They have tags attached to their belts and instead of tackling to get the ball, the kids grab a tag instead. It's fun and fast and Liam LOVES it!!

And what a day to go watch him play because he got Player of the Day!! Whoop Whoop!!

We all went back to my Mums place after Rugby and had lunch then Mum, My kids, my Nephews Luke & Liam and I headed out to the opening of the new Porowini Avenue Road extension. They had the road open for the public to walk along and we thought we would take advantage of the opportunity to walk along the road!

I love how now when they build new roads and bridges etc they try to make them prettier. I really loved the designs along the bridge sides. The kids decided they looked like Doves.
We also had to stop and support Morningside Primary Netball Team by buying some food and drinks at their sausage sizzle! (The fact that my good friend Nadia and her kids were manning the stall had nothing to do with it!!)

After the road walking we headed down to the Town Basin for a good play and wander. The thing I love about the Town Basin is there is SO very much to do! The kids had a blast running around and playing. And Mum and I had a great time too!

The Playground there is one of the best in Whangarei

The sculptures and other features around the place are really amazing. Since they are doing a big revamp there were lots of new things to look at too.

The day was so stunning of course we HAD to have ice cream!!!

What an amazing day! And we were all so very tired both my kids and I slept like logs that night!!

Bring on Summer and lots more days like this one!!!

Things I'm Loving

2011-08-28T15:39:00.006+12:00

Like Paisley Jade says ....

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

I am totally loving ....

Spring Flowers .. both indoors and out!

Shorts and Sandal wearing weather

Ice Cream eating weather

Fun outings with Family (more on this day next post)

Linking up with Paisley Jade

Cultural Day

2011-08-24T13:12:00.007+12:00

Today at Abbey's Kindergarten they had a 'Cultural' Day. The teachers asked the children to dress up in an outfit that represented their culture as well as to bring in some food that represented their culture too for a shared lunch at Kindergarten. I had a think and asked around and decided that since I thought NZ was going to get quite a bit of representation I would focus on Abbey's American half.

My Mum is the best for sewing up costumes at a moments notice (LOVE my Mum!!) So we found a pattern and some fabric and turned little Miss Abbey into an American Cheerleader!

We watched a few YouTube videos of cheerleading before going to Kindergarten this morning just so Abbey knew what she was supposed to do. We were watching them flip and throw each other up in the air etc and Abbey says, with her eyes as wide as saucers, "I can't do that Mum!"

I made Mini American Hot dogs as our food and we had such a great time at Kindergarten! I totally regret not getting a photo of them because they were a HUGE hit with the kids! I think I will definitely make them again for the next party we have.

Abbey Really enjoyed having me there, showing me all the things she could do around the playground!

The Kindergarten had a raffle for a few Prizes for fundraising and WOW!!! We won the First Prize!! Totally unexpected and awesome surprise!! And what a fantastic prize too!! I can't wait to get the new books into the library at our new place!

I have said it before, and I'll say it again I absolutely LOVE Abbey's Kindergarten!! Thanks so much to all her teachers for hosting another awesome family event!

Surrounded By Boxes!

2011-08-22T18:43:00.006+12:00

This is what I am surrounded with .....

Many many of these .....

I am excited, I can't wait to get to UNPACK. Packing is incredibly frustrating! I really don't enjoy it. But to think that this will be the last time I pack up and the last time I move house for a long time (or ever!) just makes me smile. I have moved A LOT!

Jase and I lived in 9 different houses together. I sure was hoping that we would be making this leap into home ownership together but sadly it isn't to be. Moving into this house is in a way a little bitter sweet. I think about him constantly. He was an awesome packer and organiser. He would have had things sorted and arranged without hesitation. I miss him so much and it still hurts so much but Jase is always with us as long as we keep his memories alive he will always be in our hearts and in our home!

But!! I still can't wait to get into that house and start making it our home!!

I {Heart} Whangarei

2011-08-22T12:57:00.004+12:00

It's been a while since I did one of these posts! (See HERE and HERE) Winter seems to make me wanna stay inside by the heater!! I wonder why hehehe!! But Spring is just around the corner and the last few days the sun has been shining and totally lifting my spirits!

Yesterday Mum, Dad the Kids and I all drove out to Tutukaka. We went to Pacific Bay which was my 2nd home when I was growing up. This was the bay where we had our boat moored and I learnt to swim in this bay! It's an awesome little swimming beach because the water is lovely and calm. Although the main beach is stony you can walk around the rocks to a little white sandy beach. This beach has so many awesome memories for me and my family! The kids had a real blast running up and down the beach, looking for shells, throwing stones in the water and even going for a little paddle. We even found a HUGE fallen tree to climb on and some swings! It was a really awesome day out and certainly blew away a lot of my cobwebs!

Here is my list of places still to visit ... here's hoping the weather stays as stunning as this and we can cross a few more places off the list soon!

* Mount Parihaka - we have been here a few times but I haven't got many photos, gotta get the photos!!
* Abbey Caves
* Ocean Beach
* Sandy Bay
* Whale Bay
* The Quarry
* Ruakaka Beach
* The Whangarei Falls (with Riley for photos!)
* The Quarry Gardens (same as above!)
* Town Basin (again been but want more photos)
* Heritage Park
* The Observatory
* Hikurangi Lime Rocks
* Ruakaka Refinery Visitors Centre
* Waipu
* Clapham Clocks
* Riverside Reserve
* Laurie Hall Park
* Limestone Island
* Captain Percy River Cruise

How many places have you been in your home town?

Kiwi Mummy Bloggers

2011-08-21T18:09:00.017+12:00

Yesterday morning I got up incredibly early for a Saturday to get ready for what turned out to be a FANTASTIC day of fun and friends at an awesome Kiwi Mummy Bloggers lunch in Auckland.

I started off early to pick up Paisley Jade and Jacksta-B so we could meet up with Kiwi at Heart at her place. My outside temperature told me it was 2C and there was certainly a lot of frost! But the day turned out to be a stunner and certainly gave us fantastic weather to drive with!

PaisleyJade doing what she does best!

We stopped in Albany for a quick loo & coffee break, it was also good to let the kids stretch their legs (and for Riley to get his tantrums out!)

Then we carried on and arrived at The Mediterranean

Photo taken by one of my kiddies!

Bloggers started arriving and it was like meeting up with old friends! Everyone pulled out their cameras .. we are all bloggers!!!

And we got our hugs and chats and getting to know each other going!

Catalina's Cottage, Babble & Snaps & Kiwi At Heart

The restaurant was AMAZING! The had a wonderful waitress look after the kids like they were celebrities and I hardly had a peep from them! Riley & Abbey thoroughly enjoyed the attention and food and drinks and free rein of the entire restaurant!

Then the food arrived! Oh My Goodness!! I was incredibly sad when I had finished mine as it was delicious!!

I didn't hear anyone say the food wasn't devine!!

We had laughs, and more photos, name tag sharing and even prizes!! Then we all went our separate ways and us Whangarei ladies headed back home.
Thanks to ALL the amazing Ladies who I met and chatted with and had so much fun with!! What an awesome day! Times like that certainly make me incredibly happy that I decided to become a blogger!!

Crafting up a Storm! A Pinterest Storm!

2011-08-17T20:32:00.007+12:00

I have mentioned my addiction to Pinterest. So so many lovely things to look at. I have been busy making rather than pinning which I have LOVED!! I am sooo excited to be in my new house (which I own!!) in a couple weeks so I haven't been able to craft as much as I want. And today I started packing up my craft room *sob sob* So over the next little while I will have to pause my crafting until I get moved and re-setup. But I have sooo many plans when I get into the house! I have upholstering, painting, gardening, and sooo much more planned! I can't wait! But in the meantime I have managed to get a few things made which were inspired by Pinterest.

*Pin #1 Fancy Frames*

Inspired by THIS PIN I bought these frames from the Op Shop for $3 each.

The pictures were just paper copies which were kinda tricky to get off!! But I stripped all the paper off and cleaned it up, then I gave them a few coats of spray paint and added my own photos and this is what they look like now ....

I can not wait to find a home for them on the wall in the new house!! I am sooo stoked with how awesome they turned out!

*Pin #2 Fancy Lampshade*

This was actually inspired by a lamp at Abbey's Kindergarten (sadly I don't have a photo of that one) But I also have one pinned HERE

So over 300 buttons later, several lengths of wire, a fat lip and sore fingers I produced this .....

The more I look at this photo the more I think that the buttons don't match the orange of the base hmmm might have to fix that soon!!

Also I received a gorgeous Scrap Pack from Better Scrapbooking that I have been working away at .. mmm loving this paper!!

I can't show you the stuff I have been working on with this pack yet but watch out for it soon!

You may have noticed I have been orangefying a little bit .. watch out for a new Orangefying my world tab up the top after I move!

Grown Up Things

2011-08-11T21:06:00.005+12:00

Funny how when you are a teenager and you think about when you are in your 30's you think things will be so much different to the reality. I certainly never ever expected to be living the life I am. I don't feel all grown up. I certainly don't feel like I know everything, which as a teenager I thought I would! But I feel like I have finally entered the world of grown ups and I have bought myself a house!! I move at the beginning of September so am at the moment surrounded by boxes, bubble wrap and packing tape! So here is a teensy tour of my new house which I can finally call home!

None of the furniture in the photos is mine. Although they are leaving a piano in the house for me! I am so looking forward to making a house my own. Every single house Jase and I rented we would discuss what we would do if it was ours. Now I can do that! And of course it will be orangefied!! I have some ideas of what I want to do already but I have promised myself (and my Mum!!) that I will do nothing until we've lived there for a few months. I am really looking forward to blogging about the things I do in my house as well as all the cool things I make (mostly inspired from pinterest!!) to decorate my house as well!

Yay for grown up things!

Things I'm Loving

2011-08-05T11:12:00.006+12:00

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

This week is a hard week for me to feel thankful. For some reason I am having a tough week, and I also have friends around having a tough week too, which is why I am determined to do this post today, to make me think carefully about what I am thankful about.

I am still camera-less so I will 'steal' some pictures to add to my post!

I am Thankful for my BEAUTIFUL children.

nawwwww look how little they used to be!

I am thankful that I know without a doubt that my husband loved me with his entire being

nawwwwww what a cute couple!

I am thankful for My Mum

I am thankful for Music I haven't listened to in ages and it making me smile when I rediscover it.

I am thankful for:
*FANTASTIC friends to go op shopping with
*Finding AWESOME bargains while op shopping
*Pinterest for AMAZING ideas
*Trade Me for more AWESOME bargains (camera on it's way to me as I type)

Linking Up with Paisley Jade

30 Day Mum Challenge

2011-08-01T22:13:00.004+12:00

I am struggling to be a Mum. It's hard for me to admit that. Ever since Jase died I have been struggling terribly with his loss. I have had to try to learn to live without my Love and best friend. Jason was a fantastic Dad. We worked really well together as a parenting team. We had strengths and weaknesses in different areas and I think we were good parents. I am really struggling dealing with the loss of Jason, and becoming a solo parent. I am hurting very badly and so are my children. I struggle with the day to day chores and at times am so overwhelmed with my own grief I forget that the children are grieving too. This has resulted in me becoming short tempered, un-attentive, lethargic, and un-responsive to my children and it pains me so bad to know that I can not be the Mum I used to be. I used to love playing with my children, now it seems like a chore. My children used to make me laugh and smile, now they make me shout and growl. Tears are streaming down my face as I write this because I absolutely HATE the Mum I am turning into. I NEED to change for my children. I NEED to be there for them, they NEED me more than ever. The last few weeks I have been trying so very hard to turn myself around to be the Mum my kids deserve. Tonight my friend Taryn pinned this onto Pinterest

When I have finished writing up this blog post I am going to go and print this out and attach it to my bedroom mirror. I am going to do each and every one of these things this month, try to blog about it (it will be easier when I get a new camera!) and I am going to try to enjoy my children again. They are my biggest reason for living, for carrying on, for not falling into that dark abyss I am balancing on the edge of. They are my light, I just need to turn it on.

I will start by giving both of my children a kiss as I tuck them in when I go to bed.
I love you Riley
I love you Abbey
alwaysforeverandeternity xxxxx

Addicted to Pinterest

2011-07-31T08:05:00.000+12:00

I am totally addicted! There are the most amazing ideas on there! I also have lots of friends who are as addicted as me (well maybe not quite as addicted, not all of them anyway!!) A few of us were talking about how cool it would be to get together once a month and actually MAKE a lot of the stuff we have 'pinned' instead of just drooling over it!! So I started a group on FaceBook and we are hopefully going to motivate each other to make lots of amazing stuff!

Alisa is challenging herself to make more of her pins you can check her out over HERE

And I will also be updating when I make my pins here too!! So who's up for a Pinspiration Challenge!???!!??!

Come Join us on FaceBook at Pinterest Junkies!

End of an Era ...

2011-07-30T08:40:00.001+12:00

So very very sad that it is all over. There are no more books and no more movies. What am I talking about? Harry Potter of course!

Harry Potter is quite special to me. It was one of the things that Jason and I shared a passion for. When he first arrived in NZ He was reading book three, The Prisoner Of Azkaban, and I had just finished reading it. We had also both seen the first film. I'm not sure how it happened but we started reading the books to each other, out loud in bed at night we would read a chapter. Sometimes Jase read, mostly I did. It was a pretty cool bonding thing I guess!! But that is how we read books 4 - 7. So Harry Potter is special for us.

When Jase died we had seen up to movie 6 so I was pretty upset about going to the last 2 movies without him. But Oh My Goodness! What an AMAZING end to a phenomenal story. Even though, having already read the books, I knew what was going to happen seeing it live on the big screen was amazing. Loved it totally!

So in honor of my love for Harry Potter here are a few of my favourite Harry finds ....

Farewell Harry I feel like I'm saying goodbye to a good friend

Things I'm Loving

2011-07-29T08:46:00.000+12:00

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

Little Girls Birthdays

Seeing it through .. until the end.

I am NOT loving that my camera is broken but I am Loving that I am very close to perhaps becoming a home owner for the first time!! That's all I will say for now!

Linking Up with Paisley Jade

Miniture Food

2011-07-29T07:19:00.002+12:00

Ever since Jase died I have had an issue with meal portions. Didn't matter how much I made when he was around because it got eaten. Leftovers he would take to work for his lunch, if there were any leftovers! My Mum gave me this muffin tin a few weeks ago and I knew exactly how it could help me.

So I tested it out on a Maggi Potato bake

I followed the directions but divided it between the tins instead of putting it all together.

It tasted just as yummy and in a portion I could manage! After it had cooled I popped the whole tray in the freezer and in the morning I popped them out and threw them back in the freezer in a freezer bag!

Awesome!! Next I want to try Shepard's Pie, Lasagna, Casserole! Anything!! Can't wait to have loads of frozen meals in the freezer ready when I can't be bothered cooking!

Belated Happy Birthday to Abbey!!!

2011-07-28T15:40:00.012+12:00

On Tuesday my baby girl turned 4 years old!! Where did the last four years go??!!??

I can remember the day she was born like it was yesterday....

**WARNING** If you don't like birth Stories you might want to scroll down to the pictures without reading anymore **WARNING**

We knew Abbey was going to be a girl before she was born. My pregnancy was pretty straight forward. I did have to go for an extra scan at 32 weeks due to a low lying placenta but the Scan results seemed fine so no one worried anymore about it. On 26th July 2007, which was my due date, I was at home with Riley and went to the loo thinking I needed to pee but instead I just gushed a heap of blood. Having not had anything like this with Riley's birth I gave my midwife a call a little concerned. She said it could possibly be just my waters breaking and some blood in there. But just to be sure take myself off to the hospital. We were living in Gulf Harbour and the hospital was a good 30-40min Drive from us depending upon traffic. So I called Jase's work and told them to tell him I was on my way. I then called my work (Riley's Kindercare) to let them know Riley was coming in (my friend Shannon was going to be taking care of Riley and she was working that day) Then I chucked Riley in the car and started driving to Jase's work. About 1/2 way there the contractions started. And they started pretty intense. Jase was waiting on the side of the road and he took over the driving. We arrived at Kindercare and didn't even have to get out the car!! About 1/2 a dozen women ran out of the building and collected Riley and his stuff! Then off to the hospital we went. By the time we got to the hospital I was bleeding quite heavily. Jase found me a wheel chair and raced into the maternity ward. They gave me an internal exam, put the baby monitor on my tummy and within 15mins had decided Baby needed to come out NOW. So off to the emergency cesarean room we went and I was knocked out. The next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room with my midwife standing there with a Polaroid photo of Abbey. She was born at 4.07pm. She was not too well and Jason had accompanied her to the Special Care Baby Unit. She took quite some time (6mins) to breathe on her own and she needed a blood transfusion. It seems what had happened was I had had an undetected case of Placenta Previa. Placenta previa is a complication of pregnancy in which the placenta grows in the lowest part of the womb and covers all or part of the opening to the cervix. Basically when I went into labour my placenta ruptured causing the bleeding also cutting off Abbey's blood flow etc. I found out much later that we are very lucky to not have lost Abbey. Because Abbey was stressing she pooed in the womb and her poor little tummy was filled with poo and blood so not only did she need a blood transfusion (when I first saw her she looked very grey) but her little tummy needed to be drained as well. She spent the first night in the SCBU and the next morning I got to hold and feed my beautiful girl for the first time!!

**WARNING OVER**

Although a rough start it sure didn't stop Abbey from anything! She seemed to have her feet on fast forward most of the time and had FAR more injuries than Riley ever did!!! {see injuries HERE, HERE AND HERE} But she was such a breeze of a baby and toddler and so precious to boot!!

Abbey is such a girly girl, she loves her ponies, and dollies and has still got her manky 'Bear' from when she was first born. She is sweet and has a cute little squeaky voice. But she is also tough and can stick up for herself. She is a little social butterfly and LOVES going to Kindy.

My Mistress Abbey she makes me laugh, roll my eyes and shake my head everyday! She says and does and wears the funniest things. She has so much of Jason's quirky sense of humour and personality it is heartwarming. She is adorable and hilarious and I love it!

Birth Day

First Birthday

Second Birthday

Third Birthday

Fourth Birthday

Happy Birthday my big 4yr old! Mummy is loving watching you grow into a beautiful little lady and Daddy has his arms wrapped around you from heaven xxxx

Book Review - Nat Fantastic and the Brave Knights of Old

2011-07-12T18:06:00.006+12:00

I was lucky enough to get a book to review from Kiwi Mummy Blogs!!

Nat Fantastic and the Brave Knights of Old by Giles Andreae & Katharine McEwan

I was so excited to get this book because I LOVE books! Reading books when I was working as an ECE Teacher was one of my favourite things to do and my kids thankfully have inherited my love of books too.

This is totally a book you can get excited with, loud with and my favourite part you can totally get the kids involved in the reading because it has a catch phrase!! I LOVE books that have catch phrases!! This is the second Nat Fantastic book, I sadly haven't read the first one but after reading 'Nat Fantastic and the Brave Knights of Old' I really want to. My kids loved it!

So here is a little snippet of the book read by Riley and Abbey ....

So if you haven't read this to your kids already do it!! Do it NOW!!!!

Happy Birthday to me

2011-07-07T07:40:00.000+12:00

Last week it was my Birthday. I don't have an issue with age .. I turned 34. This year was the first time I am older than Jase, kinda a weird feeling. But considering all things I had a really cool Birthday.

On my actual Birthday I had a few visitors. Leonie, Nadia and my Nana & Grandad came around. I got a TON of orange presents! I can't even begin to name them all! But there was some awesome orange stuff I tell ya! And my Mum cooked me Dinner and made a Birthday cake.

Leonie also gave me a Birthday cupcake ... the kids ended up eating that one!

And on the Weekend I decided to throw myself a Birthday Party. The last Party I had for me was my 21st Birthday so it was about time! Of course the theme was .... you guessed it ORANGE! Here are a few of my favourite pics of the night ....

I have to say a HUGE thanks to Danielle who did most of the food, Taryn who did most of the cleaning up, Andrew who was the best sing star partner and Grant who manned the fire! Also Nicola who came up from Christchurch as a surprise was pretty darn awesome too!

So all in all a pretty awesome Birthday!

Matariki Celebrations

2011-07-06T09:27:00.000+12:00

Abbey's Kindergarten is so awesome!! They do some really awesome stuff. The last month they have had a focus on Matariki.

For those of you who don't know Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters; and what is referred to as the traditional Maori New Year. The Maori new year is marked by the rise of Matariki and the sighting of the next new moon. The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in the last few days of May every year and the new year is marked at the sighting of the next new moon which occurs during June.

At the beginning of June the Kindergarten had a shared Breakfast which everyone was invited to to mark the beginning of Matariki and during the month they have had lots of activities planned around the 'Matariki' theme.

Last Wednesday we had a shared dinner and closing celebration of Matariki at Kindergarten.

There was a bonfire in the middle of a ring of stools

Riley and Abbey had fun watching the fire and it sure was nice on the chilly night!

We all sat down to a lovely shared Dinner

Abbey and Riley with Abbey's Kindy Friends, Grace, Jules and Lucy May

After dinner we had a Lantern Parade where we all went for a walk around the street with glass jar candle lanterns the children had made during the week.

Grace, Abbey and Zoe

After the 'Lantern Parade' we all sat around the fire, sang songs and ate toasted marshmallows.

It was an AMAZING Night! I had fun, the kids had fun and Grandma had fun too! I am continually amazed at the effort and passion that Abbey's teachers, Kim, Christine, Zair and Donna, put into the amazing activities they do. I LOVE Mairtown Kindergarten and am so pleased Abbey goes there!

To check out Mairtown Kindergartens version of events see HERE

If you are in Whangarei I HIGHLY recommend Mairtown for your child! They are AWESOME!

Better Scrapbooking July Scrap Pack

2011-07-05T10:35:00.000+12:00

Well the July newsletter is out at Better Scrapbooking and that means I can show off what I made with this months Scrap Pack.

I stole this pic of what was in the scrap pack from fellow design team member Karen, you can check out what she did with it HERE The papers were all from the Fancy Pants Hot Chocolate range.

CRAFT TO DO BOOK

I have sooo many crafting ideas that I want to do so I decided to make a book to keep all my ideas in. I have put 6 TABS saying:

*NEED TO - for all my unfinished projects
*WANT TO - all the projects I REALLY want to do
*DESIGN TEAM - all my projects for the Better Scrapbooking design team
*SKETCHES - scrapbooking sketches I want to do
*CONTESTS - any online competitions or challenges
*MARKET - stuff I am going to make for the craft market

with the all the projects I have put in the book I have also included all the materials I need to make it all. I am hoping that I will be able to be a little more organised with my crafts by using this book!!

MAGNETIC COASTER

I wanted to do something a little different with my coaster rather than just make a coaster so I decided to turn it into an inspirational magnet! You never have too many magnets aye!!

CARDS

Now cards have never been my strong point, I really don't like making them. But I think been on the DT is making me stretch out of my comfort zone and make more cards than I have before! These ones I quite like!

LO

This paper range was PERFECT for the photos I took on our recent Holiday to Taupo and Rotorua. The kids were all rugged up and in their warm jackets which we rarely wear up here in the 'Winterless North'. I love this photo of Riley in his jacket!

If you want to know how I made these head on over to Better Scrapbooking and check out the July Newsletter, also check out what the other Design Team members have done with their packs.

Also head on over to the Better Scrapbooking Blog to see the new July Challenges! Upload your entries in the Better Scrapbooking Gallery and be in to win a monthly prize!

Happy Scrapping everyone!

SENZ 2011

2011-07-04T11:57:00.011+12:00

Quite some time ago an online friend of mine Hilary and I were talking about the fact that SENZ was in Auckland this year. SENZ is the Scrapbooking, Cardmaking and Papercrafts Expo of New Zealand. We got talking about this and that snd she asked if I could help her out with her stall at SENZ. Of course I jumped at the chance to be involved and so two weekends ago now I went to SENZ as a Scrap It Simple gal!

You can check out Hilary's Blog HERE and her Online store HERE and SENZ HERE

So on the Thursday morning I dropped my kids off at Mums when it was still dark and drove to Auckland to meet Hilary. I arrived at the Telstraclear Pacific Event Centre in Manukau at about 10.30. Hilary and I unloaded all her product and set up her Scrap it Simple Store. We left the centre for lunch and finished up around 7.30pm! Busy day! It was great to see what everyone else was setting up too and meeting lots of people as well.

Hilary's friend made us these awesome aprons to wear over the weekend and come Friday morning we were up and ready to roll!!

At 9am the VIP ladies started coming in. I got the hang of the calculator and how to take percents off prices and we had a pretty steady run on day one. I got to meet the Lovely Louise from Paper, Scissors, Chocolate, who was selling her AMAZING jewelry from her Altered Ambitions etsy store and Debbie popped in to give me an AWESOME Orange early Birthday pressie and some yummy yummy cupcakes. It was nice to finally get to meet Debbie and Louise in person! I also bumped into Jenny, Robyn and Chris, who were some of my regular ladies at the classes I tutored at Absolutely Crafty in Pukekohe. It was really great to see them again.

After dinner out with Hilary I went to bed and totally crashed for the night!!

Saturday morning I went and picked up Jenny from the airport. She had flown in from Wellington and was going to be staying with me at my Aunts place. Then we collected Hilary and went to the centre. (see Jenny's recollections of SENZ HERE)

Saturday was VERY busy!! Hilary and I got hardly any time at all to rest our feet! A 10 min shared sandwich with Jenny and back to work!! Seeing more friends was a bonus, Lisa, Janine and Ruth from Whangarei, my good friend Taryn and her sister and another one of my class ladies Ngaire. After cleaning up for the day we went out for dinner at an Irish Pub which served Indian food! It was lovely and we met up with a few of the ladies from NZ Scrapbook there. After dinner we headed back to the centre for the SENZ Crop.

Jenny, Hilary and I were the last to arrive at the crop and we sat at a table with two lovely ladies, Janelle and Tina. They were so lovely and incredibly funny! We laughed ALL night!

We all got a little dress form to decorate as one of the challenges for the crop. I won a little prize for mine!! And I even managed to get one LO done, which was more than I had anticipated!!

Sunday was another busy day in the Scrap It Simple stand as Hilary made some awesome last day of the show specials!! We had to then have the quickest pack up ever (it took us 55mins!!) to get Jenny and Hilary to the airport to fly back home.

It was such an awesome, fun, busy weekend! Thank you Hilary for letting me be a part of your team for the weekend! It was fabulous and an awesome experience for me. I certainly hope to be at the next SENZ too!!

(also thanks to Hilary who took all the photos from SENZ above)

Loads and loads and loads ....

2011-06-29T13:55:00.002+12:00

and loads and loads and loads of stuff to talk about!!!

SENZ, Birthday, Orange, Dinner at Kindy, Parties .....

ALL Coming soon!

Slack Blogger Alert!!

2011-06-20T11:23:00.009+12:00

Forgive me Blog readers for I have sinned it has been 8 days since I last did a blog post ......

Well not for lack of things to blog about for sure! But here I am catching up!

Today I want to tell you more about some of my amazing friends .. I've told you before I have some AWESOME friends right?? Well here I go again .....

First up is the Amazing Becky. Now you ALL know about my orange obsession and it is Winter here now in NZ so Becky made me this AMAZING hot water bottle cover ...

I didn't have a hot water bottle so went shopping and I even found an orange one!! Score!

Another lovely friend who has already gifted me with amazing orangeness (see HERE) is the lovely Leonie. Just recently Leonie threw a Lego Birthday Party for her son and they were making Lego cookies, see HERE, and she said she got her kids to collect all of these up for me ....

How adorable is that!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE My Friends!!!

Now the talented Becky and Leonie are getting together this Friday in Whangarei for the Night Markets. So if you are in or around Whangarei go check it out and buy their awesome crafts!!

Another AMAZING lady who I have mentioned both HERE and HERE, the Beautiful Mandy must have taken notice of a Facebook Post I did which said

"Apples are NOT a good substitute for Chocolate"

because I open the letter box a couple days after posting that comment to find this ....

And I am proud to say it is all still there hidden in the cupboard in case of an emergency!! You are naughty Mandy!! But thanks so very much xxx

I am sooo blessed with the friends I have. Not just because they give me stuff (although that is always a bonus!) But for the support, encouragement and love I get from them. And they are all so talented and FUN!!!

Procrastination & Motivation

2011-06-12T19:27:00.007+12:00

I have LOADS of stuff I should be doing .. LOADS. And How much have I done? Very little. I am the Queen of procrastination and I have ZERO Motivation. I really WANT to want to do stuff. I want to get off the couch, turn the TV and computer off and create, but it feels like too hard of a job. I want to do it but I just don't seem to be able to. I know I am a little depressed, I miss Jason like crazy and having him not here does stop me from doing a lot of things, I am very lonely, lonely for Jase, lonely for that one person I can sit and chat to about nothing after the kids go to bed. Lonely for that other person to make an effort for. Anyway enough groaning and griping ...

Today the procrastination of the day ....

We have HEAPS of wooden blocks, the kids love them and play with them often. But I wanted to make them a little more exciting. I had a 'light bulb' moment the other day and remembered I had these stamps from Stampin' Up ....

So this afternoon we spent a very long time procrastinating from what I should be doing to turning our blocks from looking like this ....

to looking like this ....

The kids enjoyed themselves and they love the new look blocks!!

Great procrastination I say!

New Obsession

2011-06-05T21:04:00.006+12:00

I have a new obsession, which has taken up much of my time over the last week. Don't worry I am still obsessed with orange! But this new obsession can incorporate my old one. Let me fill you in with a little background story first ...

There is a good possibility that this year I may become a home owner. I have looked at a few houses and am doing some serious money and bank talking this week. I am so excited about maybe owning my own home that I have been thinking about all the amazing things I could do in and for and around the house. Renting is not cool. You can't make the house your own or do anything you want. I look forward to turning a house into my home and express myself in it. Of course there will be a focus on orange in my house! But I want my house to be somewhere that people come and say wow, this is totally Tracy's home!

Anyway ....

Last week I stumbled upon this blog HERE

I spent the next two days straight looking at every single post on that blog and I have been inspired beyond my imagination! EVERYTHING I look at in my house I imagine how I can make it better and prettier! I have ideas BURSTING out of my head.

This week I also succumbed and joined up with Pinterest HERE

The thing I LOVE about Pinterest is that you can pin any picture you like and then it takes you right back to the website. No 10 foot long bookmarks page anymore! It is brilliant, and also so many AMAZING ideas and another place you can spend a lot of time looking through!

So yesterday I went to the library and came home with these ....

And I have been getting inspired and learning how to do stuff too which is awesome! So today I started my first project, just a smallish project with something that has been sitting around in my craft room willing me to do something with it for a long while. That's all I'm saying just now so you will have to look out for my before and after post on that one!

So what are your obsessions or passions at the moment??

New Challenge Blog!!

2011-06-05T16:55:00.004+12:00

This looks like it could be a fun one!! Check out Challenge Me Happy HERE and you might get a chance to win this ...

Also go check them out on Facebook HERE too!!

I LOVE me a good challenge!

Better Scrapbooking Bonanza Post

2011-06-04T17:45:00.019+12:00

Lots of Better Scrapbooking stuff to write about today!

Firstly the new June Newsletter is out check it out HERE. I did a few Off The Page projects for this months Scrap Pack. I loved the Bo Bunny Petal Pushers papers so much that I forgot to take a photo of the papers and stuff before I dug into it so sorry!!

But here is what I made ...

I made these using 6 of the large matchboxes. Abbey loves it and it looks super cute in the bathroom and keeps her hair stuff nice and tidy!

I know I was on Off the Page but a scrapbook page was screaming at me from these papers!! Abbey outside blowing 'dandy clocks' were perfect photos to go with the papers!

I have had this sitting around for a very long time. I picked it up at the hospice shop for 50c.

This is what it looks like now ....

This was the very first 'binkie' Abbey had when she was in SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) and to go with the little shadow box I made this to match ....

I am so pleased with how these turned out. And Abbey was too!!

Now onto the Cards ....

I made this card for my Mum for Mothers day. I put a magnet on the back so she could put it on the fridge. I printed the card template from HERE

'Hello' Card

Baby Shower Card

To See how I made all these go check out the June Newsletter at Better Scrapbooking HERE

Since the newsletter is out also means that there are new June Challenges!

Layout Challenge - Sketch
This is fairly easy - simply use the below layout (designed by Megan), as your guide and copy it. You are welcome to add some journalling and a title.

Photo Challenge - Change
With the change of seasons Megan thought a photo challenge of 'change' could be fun. It might be the change in the trees, or maybe your change of hairstyle/colour or even a change in the house where you have tidied/re-organised. Share your 'change' with us!

Project Challenge - The Kids Room
Create a fun off the page project for your child's bedroom. It could be a word banner, name plaque or hair bobs box. See what fun item you can come up with for your child's room and then share your finished project with us.

Card Challenge - Folded Embellishment
Create a card using an embellishment, some form of paper folding such as teabag folding or our fold-it flower template.

There is a prize for each challenge so to be in to win upload your photos to the Better Scrapbooking Gallery HERE before the end of June!

And speaking of prizes here are the winners for the May Challenges ....

Layout Challenge - Layering Embellishments

Congratulations to Cherie!

Photo Challenge - Reflections

Congratulations to Judez!

Project Challenge - Tribute to Mum

Congratulations to Jenny!!

Card Challenge - Waterfall Card

Congratulations to Jenny again!! Way to go Jenny!

Happy Scrapping everyone!!

Better Late than Never

2011-06-02T17:45:00.005+12:00

Jason and I decided when Riley was still cooking in my belly that we were not going to throw a Birthday party for our kids every year. We decided it was expensive and we were only going to throw a big party on significant ages. What we came up with was 1 ... 5 ... 10 ... 13 ... 16 ... 18 ... 21 ... achievable. In between we would still celebrate but just a cake, and perhaps do what my Mum & Dad did which was let us have one friend around for dinner or to do something special.

Anyway I am kinda procrastinating from the point of this blog post ...

The last BIG Birthday was Riley's 5th and since we don't do parties every year when we do we go ALL out. You may remember the blog post about his Robot Birthday HERE. Well in March this year Riley turned 6, so I have been 'making' a Birthday album for Riley for the last year! Today I pulled it out, dusted it off and FINALLY finished it!

I used THIS Kasiercraft wooden album and lots of Gloss Mod Podge and it turned out a little like this ....

I used cardstock, corrugated card, sequins, bling, Tim Holtz Sprockets and some little tool embellishments. I like how it turned out and so does Riley so YAY! Thank goodness it is finally finished!

Orange Goodies

2011-06-02T13:09:00.005+12:00

I have AMAZING friends ... Have I mentioned that before? Well I do!

A few weeks ago we had a bit of a crafty get together with some bloggy friends. The beautiful Leonie from Kiwi At Heart surprised me with an orange gift which I ADORE!

Kermit was lonely and totally needed a sock Monkey friend! He is so soft and adorable and I LOVE him! Check out some of Leonie's other Monkey's HERE and HERE

Then, the other evening I was falling asleep on the couch when the kids yelled at me that there was someone at the door. That someone at the door gave me a box and I was incredibly surprised, as it was so unexpected.

Thanks SO much Debbie!! You are the biggest sweetheart ever! they were yum and all of us enjoyed them!!

I totally LOVE that my friends accept and encourage my orange obsession!

30 Day Photo Project

2011-05-30T13:32:00.003+12:00

DAY 30

A picture of someone you miss

(sorry about the photo quality)

For more 30 Day Photo Projects see HERE

30 Day Photo Project

2011-05-21T21:09:00.004+12:00

DAY 29

A picture that can always make you smile.

This was a hard one because there are A LOT of photos that make me smile. But when I was going through this one jumped out at me. This is my most favourite wedding photo. I love everything about it and when I look at it it reminds me how I felt that day, how amazing and magical and fantastic. How much Jason and I loved each other then and how much more we loved each other years later.

For more 30 Day Photo Projects go HERE

Things I'm Loving

2011-05-21T09:16:00.009+12:00

As hard as this week has been I thought it would a good for me to join up with Paisley Jade this weekend because .....

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

People who go over and beyond the call of duty and then become good friends ... Thanks so much for EVERYTHING Trish xxx

More people who blow me away with love and pampering and kindness and make the BEST cake in the world that totally represents my husband. Although I still say he has too much hair!! And this amazing woman also made me cry with her blog post HERE Danielle you are a beautiful (yet slightly evil) woman!! Love you long Time xxx

Catching up with one of your favourite people in the world AND going to the zoo!!

Crafting get togethers with awesome friends!!!

I am reminded of a Maori Proverb that was spoken at Jason's Funeral ....

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!

1 Year ago Today ....

2011-05-16T11:31:00.002+12:00

I was sitting in the Hospital holding my husbands hand as I watched his chest stop moving, his heart stop beating and his life end.

Right now I am at Spring Hill Corrections Facility, where it all happened, opening a Memorial Garden that the prison has built in honor of Jason. And giving a speech.

Ever since Jason died I have let everyone speak for me in public and I thought today was the right day for me to finally speak for myself.

Here is my speech for those of you who can't make it, and for those of you who did and I cried too much for you to hear it!

Today is the mark of a very long but also quick year.

I have only been here to Spring Hill 3 times, before today.
The first time was when I came to Jason’s Graduation. I was so darn proud of him and to be honest he was pretty darn proud of himself. It was awesome to see him achieving a major goal for himself. And see him in a career job he was actually happy to be in. I watched him walk up on that stage and he gave me one of those big cheesy grins of his.
The second time I came here was the last time I saw Jason alive. The kids and I had dropped him off at work. We all got kisses goodbye, I even got an extra one. We waved and watched him walk down the path to work. I wish that my last memory of him alive and whole wasn’t one of him walking away from us. But I can still see him waving and again giving us his big cheesy grin as he walked away.
The 3rd time I came was the moment where my life changed forever. We came in the staff parking area where Jason had told us to wait for him. There were a lot of guys hanging around, not unusual I guess, having a chat after work I thought. Someone asked me who I was here for. I said “Jason’ and he said ok and then I heard him say something about Gavin and the word urgent over his radio. I thought “darn I am going to get in trouble for parking in the staff car park” and in my head I starting going over the ways I would abuse Jase when he got to the car about getting me in trouble. It didn’t register in my head that this guy seemed to know who I was talking about when I only said Jason rather than Jason Palmer. It didn’t register in my head that anything could be wrong. When I saw Louise and Gavin striding up the path I thought, ‘ gee that lady has a bag exactly the same as Jase’s how weird is that’ not once did I register it could have been his bag. My heart jumped in my throat when Gavin asked me to step out of the car, and again I started cursing Jase in my head about getting me in trouble. I didn’t even begin to imagine the amount of trouble I was really in.

The last 12 months have been very hard. Sometimes excruciatingly hard. Jason was my whole life and to suddenly have him not around I feel a little like I’m drowning. I have had 365 days of pain and sorrow and heartache. Getting through day by day and sometimes even hour by hour. All the firsts the kids and I have had to go through, birthday’s anniversaries, Christmas. Every day reminds me how much he isn’t here because he was such a vibrant and active part of our every moment. I know that Riley, Abbey and Myself were the most important things in his life. He put us first in everything. For that I am blessed and incredibly grateful.

Jason didn’t always make the best first impression. He could be arrogant, rude, pig-headed, and hardly any of his jokes were funny. But when you got to know him he was loving, kind, generous, funny and incredibly loyal. He certainly wasn’t perfect but he was perfect for me. I never quite understood the passion he showed in some things but I believe that was more of a cultural difference than a personal trait. He was fiercely American to the day he died and that was something I both loved and admired about him. I have been blessed to have had the time I had with Jase. I am a better person for having him in my life. He was a unique individual who made an impression, whether good or bad, where ever he went. I thank him for choosing me and leaving everything he knew to come to a strange and unknown place to start a new life with me. I thank him for giving me the two most beautiful children and for giving me his heart.

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. I am at a stage now where I can see those silver linings shining through the dark clouds and I am grateful for them. All of those silver linings are people. In the first few months I joked about starting a Rock Collection, the few people who came into my life who I depended, on, lent against and let take over for me.

The first people I want to thank are my Mum & Dad. You guys don’t even begin to fathom how much your continuous support and unconditional understanding and patience with me means. I love you both to the Moon and Back.

Uncle Fred, you were my eyes and ears where I couldn’t face to go, you supported me through EVERYTHING, making sacrifices I never even knew about. I can’t even begin to thank you for all you have done for me, I am incredibly grateful for you and ALL you have done.

Aunty Val, you were my first port of call on the way to the hospital and you are a continuous rock in my world. You made your home Grand Headquarters and have made huge sacrifices for us too. You became Mum to Abbey and Riley when I couldn’t and I am forever grateful for that.

Raymond, the biggest rock in my collection. I miss hearing your voice on the end of the phone everyday but am thankful that the time has come where I don’t need to. You helped me make some tough decisions, and told me a lot of stuff I didn’t want to know, but you did it and made me feel ok about it all. I can’t even begin to let you know how much I appreciate what you did for us.

Gerry and John, you guys sorted out a lot of the hard, complicated and stressful stuff for me and I just nodded most of the time. I am so blessed to have had you guys in charge of that and have you either side of me as huge supports

Gavin, You have been a constant Rock over the last year. I feel like you are a part of my family and your support through all the things we have had to deal with is amazing. I feel like you have gone over and beyond what you needed to and I can’t say thank you enough.

To the Department of Corrections, Jason’s ITC class, his Unit and all those other Corrections Officers from around the country, and overseas. Your constant support has been amazing. I have been blown away with it all. I feel like I am a part of a huge family and know that where ever I go I will have a family member dressed in green.

To the rest of my family, brothers, sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, cousins, nieces & nephews, you all know who you are and I love you ALL. I happen to have the BEST family in the world.

To all my friends, old and new. Every single one of you has helped me, or is continuing to help me get through every single day. Whether it be a phone call, email, chat, visit or meet up it is all helping me get by with the every day of living without Jason and you guys are to me like gold. I treasure you all for loving me.

I thank every one of you for been here today, to support me … again! Life without Jase is a journey - not a destination. Some roads are harder to travel, and some easier, but while I make the journey I am comforted that I am not alone.

Thank you

Here's hoping that today goes well for me, and all involved and I can walk away with another milestone in my new life without my love.

alwaysforeverandeternity baby, that's how long I will love you xxxx

The Auckland Sky Tower

2011-05-10T17:41:00.009+12:00

My kids LOVE the sky tower ... every time we drive through Auckland they get excited to see it and for the longest time I have been promising to take them up it. Well the Easter holidays I finally made true of my promise.

We met up with our good friend Taryn and her kids Adam and Madison, and away we went.
First you had to go down a BIG escalator to get to where you buy the tickets and go up the Lift. Children under 5yrs are Free so we were pleasantly surprised by that! Plus if you pay an extra $2 each Adult ticket you can go up again during the day so we did that since we were only an hour away from our booked lunch date.

The lift goes up FAST and has a bit of glass floor, plus seeing out the sides every so often. The Kids LOVED looking out the glass floor to watch the Lift go up and down.

We were lucky enough to get a spectacular day with beautiful blue skies and the view at the top was AMAZING. I've been up the tower a few times but I don't think I'd ever get bored of the views! Stunning!

The kids wandered around, looking out windows, standing and walking on the glass, I took as many photos as possible!!

We went back down the tower for lunch at the Fortuna Buffet Restaurant, which I HIGHLY recommend by the way!

I have had the pleasure of going to the Fortuna three times now, once with the wonderful Jenny and once with Beautiful Nic. All three times the food was amazing and the prices for the kids was amazing! Abbey cost $3.50 and Riley only $6 - totally worth it for the amount they ate!! (after looking for a link to this restaurant I see it has closed while they build a bigger better one!! Opening In August 2011! How exciting!)

After lunch we went back up the tower for another browse around and more photo opportunities

All in all it was a great day out! I wouldn't be doing it again in a hurry because Adult prices are $28 but you can get a years pass which is totally worth it if you were in Auckland alot or lived there. The kids had fun and so did I!!

NZ Music Month

2011-05-08T20:20:00.004+12:00

Time for an Old Classic NZ Song!! Gotta LOVE 'Poi E'

Check out what's happening in NZ Music Month HERE

May Challenges at Better Scrapbooking

2011-05-08T19:44:00.004+12:00

Not so many entries in the April Challenges, Here's hoping for more in May but there were still some winners!!

Photo Challenge - Perspective, perspective, perspective.

This was one AWESOME photo!! Congratulations Jenny!

Project Challenge - Create a fun Easter Basket

Oh Congratulations ME!!!

And now for the May Challenges

Layout Challenge - Layering Embellishments. This is one of the trends in scrapbooking at the moment, layering. You may like to layer a flower over some chipboard with a stamped imaged layered on top of the flower. Let your creativity take flight with this one and see what fun things you can layer on a layout.

Photo Challenge - Reflections. Take a photo of a reflection, it maybe in a mirror, shopping window or like April's winner in the sunglasses.

Project Challenge - Tribute to Mum. With it being Mother's day this weekend why not extend it out to the rest of the month and show how special your Mum is to you by creating a tribute to her, it might be a canvas or mini album or something else.

Card Challenge - Waterfall Card.
Create a Waterfall style card. A waterfall card has about five decorative card squares that are mounted on a sliding strip. When the tab is pulled they open like the leaves of a book.

All entries to the online gallery challenges need to be uploaded to the online gallery at Better Scrapbooking before the 31st May. If you are unable to upload your photo feel free to email it to Megan at megan@betterscrapbooking.co.nz and she will upload it for you.

All entries go into the draw for a fun scrapbooking prize from Better Scrapbooking Ltd. I look forward to seeing your entries!!!

Happy Scrapping!

30 Day Photo Project

2011-05-01T16:00:00.000+12:00

DAY 28

Something your afraid of

Bees ... to be honest this photo totally creeps me out in a major way!

I have what is called Apiphobia which is the correct term for Bee Phobia.

Years ago when I worked at Three Kings Kindercare every year we would get a swarm of bees which always seemed to settle in one of the trees close to the playground. All the kids would be banished indoors as there would be hundreds of bees swarming around until they settled in the tree in a big clump and we would have to call in the Bee Man to come take them away. I will never forget one day when I got back to work from my lunch break, the centre director Jodie was standing at the bottom of the driveway waiting for me. She said put your head down and walk with me. Confused I did what she said she put her arm around me and walked me up the drive about half way up I heard them bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz when we got into the building I looked out the window to see I had just walked under a MASSIVE swarm of bees. Jodie said she had to meet me at the drive because she knew I couldn't have come back to work if I saw them!! She was totally right!!
I'm not sure why I feel this way about bees but my brother recently informed me of an incident that happened to us as kids. I cannot remember it AT all so it must have been so traumatic I forgot!

For more 30 Day Photo Projects see HERE

May Is NZ Music Month!

2011-05-01T12:17:00.005+12:00

I LOVE music. I LOVE NZ Music!! So through out the month of May I'm going to share some of my favourite NZ Bands, Songs and Artists. Sorry to say I might actually show my age a bit throughout this as there more than likely won't be many new songs, bands or artists on my list! Yay For NZ Music Month!

This first Band is one I have been lucky enough to see Live! Yeah for Live Concerts!!

ZED

And here is my Favourite Zed song, a song that has been blasted from my stereo many many times!

What's your favourite NZ Band? Song? Artist?

Check out what's happening for NZ Music Month HERE

30 Day Photo Project

2011-04-30T20:36:00.005+12:00

DAY 27

A picture of yourself and a family member

I decided to pick two family members
Brother A and Brother B
My two big brothers, David & Tony and me on my wedding day!
My Dad is in a wheelchair, and I wanted to walk down these amazing stairs at the garden where Jase and I got married, so my brothers walked me from the car to the bottom of the stairs where my Dad was waiting for me.
They are great brothers.

For more 30 Day Photo Projects go HERE

Holland Festival - Queens Day

2011-04-30T18:15:00.010+12:00

Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day) on the 30th April is a national holiday in the Netherlands. It is one of the most extraordinary and colourful events in the world: literally a whole country turns orange and parties!

Now that's MY kind of Party!!

The Quarry Arts Centre here in Whangarei held a Holland Festival of their own and as soon as I found out about it I knew I HAD to be there!! So the kids and I dressed in our Orange finery, dragged my Mum & Nephews Luke & Liam down to the Quarry to get our Orange on!

The entry was free if you wore orange, but otherwise they had orange things for sale at the door to wear. I just HAD to get these cool shades for the kids! The money all goes back to the Quarry so to me it's a good cause to donate to!

There were orange banners, balloons and decorations EVERYWHERE!
Like These ....

The first thing we did was make some Orange Paper at the Stand run by the Paper Mill

I helped Abbey and Riley did his own.

Then the kids got orange balloon creations ...

We had a lovely time and if the weather was better we more than likely would have stayed for longer. A definite must for next year!

And I must say that I think on my to do list will HAVE to be spending Koninginnedag in Amsterdam one year!! Orange Heaven!!!

Better Scrapbooking April Scrap Pack

2011-04-29T12:43:00.008+12:00

Remember when I showed you all this back HERE
Well wanna see what I did with it????

Well I'm gonna show you anyway hehehe!

It's All About The Accessories
When I saw these papers I immediately thought about these photos of Abbey with ALL her necklaces on. She spent ages making them and then wore them ALL for days afterwards! Too darn adorable!

Fashionista
Abbey in her Tinkerbell outfit for the Fairy Festival, accessorised with wand, sunnies, flowery tights and ballet shoes ... a total Fashion Icon!!!

Abbey's Style
What does Abbey like in April 2011?
*Bear
*My Little Pony's
*Jewelery
*Tinkerbell
*Princesses
What a real GIRLY GIRL!!!

Glamour Girl
Abbey has her own Sunglasses but of course Mummy's are bigger and better!!! And look sooo much better on Abbey!

So if you would like to know how I made all these, as well as what the other Design Team members did with their Scrap Packs, pop on over to Better Scrapbooking and check out the May Newsletter

30 Day Photo Project

2011-04-29T10:30:00.001+12:00

DAY 26

Someone you can talk to for hours

This amazing woman, Taryn.
Taryn, apart from my Mum, is one of the only people I talk with on the phone. You see since Jason's death I'm not overly fond of telephones, but I always have time to talk with Taryn and we usually give the phone at least a good 2 hour workout every time we talk.
I love talking to Taryn and I love hanging out with her even more! I can talk to her about ANYTHING and know that she won't mind, I can cry, get angry, laugh, say nothing much at all and I know she won't mind. I appreciate that more than I can say. And I'm sure I've repeated myself plenty over our many conversations!!
Love ya Taz xxxxx

For more 30 Day Photo Projects see HERE

Happy Mail & a RAK

2011-04-28T13:39:00.004+12:00

My good mate Kristine has opened up her own Scrapbooking store from home called Scrap-a-Bull. I am immensely proud and jealous of her!!! She had a little Facebook competition and I won a Little prize which arrived in the post today!! YAY!!! Thanks Kristine & Scrap-a-Bull!!! Can't wait to test out my new goodies ....

Go check out her Website HERE and FaceBook HERE

And another scrappy friend is giving away a RAK on her blog! Go check it out HERE and leave a comment, the more comments she gets the more will go into the RAK! so get on over to Paper. Scissors. Chocolate.

A photo update post of the school holidays will be coming soon so watch this space!

30 Day Photo Project

2011-04-28T13:26:00.003+12:00

Gee it's been a while but ....

DAY 25

A picture of your day.

Today is such a blerk weather day. I have put the heater on for the first time this year. It has been thundering and raining and it is incredibly windy. So since Abbey hasn't been well I popped her into bed for a sleep while Riley and I chill out on the couch with chips & dip and movies!

To see more 30 Day Photo Projects go HERE

Happy Easter

2011-04-25T12:28:00.005+12:00

What does Easter mean to you?

I have mixed feelings and emotions about most Religiously based Holidays such as Easter and Christmas.

You see I right now am in complete limbo as to where my heart and beliefs stand.

I 100% believe in God, there is no doubt in my mind about that but things that have happened in my life have made me lose faith in that God I believe in. I have many unbelievable friends who have the most phenomenal Faith and I wish I could have an ounce of the Faith they have. It has been a long time coming this place where I am again "searching for answers I can't understand"

ANZAC Day 2011

2011-04-25T10:13:00.006+12:00

A Tribute to ANZAC Day
With their hair a little whiter, their step not quite so sure
Still they march on proudly as they did the year before.
Theirs were the hands that saved us, their courage showed the way
Their lives they laid down for us, that we may live today.

From Gallipoli's rugged hillsides, to the sands of Alamein
On rolling seas and in the skies, those memories will remain.
Of airmen and the sailors, of Lone Pine and Suvla Bay
The boys of the Dardenelles are remembered on this day.

They fought their way through jungles, their blood soaked desert sands
They still remember comrades who rest in foreign lands.
They remember the siege of old Tobruk, the mud of the Kokoda Trail
Some paying the supreme sacrifice with courage that did not fail.
To the icy land of Korea, the steamy jungles of Vietnam
And the heroic battle of Kapyong and that epic victory at Long Tan.

Fathers, sons and brothers, together they fought and died
That we may live in peace together, while at home their mothers cried.
When that final bugle calls them to cross that great divide
Those comrades will be waiting when they reach the other side.

Ken Bunker

For My Grandad, Arthur John Church aka Jack

Words
"To put them on to paper and send them on to you,
Is all that circumstances will so far let me do,
Words are so inadequate when written down in ink,
They don't express one-millionth part of what I really think.
But the time will come eventually, when I am back with you
And then you'll know just what I mean, what I've tried to do

In the hell that's Egypt, I first knew what friends were
When mail came in every week they always caused a stir
Friends had not forgotten that I was overseas
They wrote me cheery letters of things they'd done and seen
It was a glimpse of home to me in Egypt's sun
To get those newsy letters with such a cheery tone

The months and years have passed since then and letters still arrive
As fast and regular as the P.O can supply
to have those friends, to know their worth, is something well worthwhile
That thought alone has helped me through many a dreary mile
When I return I'll do my best to let them know how much
It means to boys from home to get that homely touch

So friends if pen and ink have not said all I meant
Be sure the time is not far off when letters won't be sent
I will call and tell you, show you then and after
How you helped me through this hell, gave me joy and laughter
Thanks on paper don't mean much, but there's years yet to come,
When I can show you without words the wonderful job you've done."

AJ Church

Slack Blogger Alert!!

2011-04-22T08:32:00.000+12:00

BIG catch up soon I promise!

11 Months

2011-04-15T20:23:00.004+12:00

11 Months ago right now I was in the Hospital sitting with my husband who I knew was going to die tomorrow.

Back then I would have thought by now things would be getting easier, less painful, less raw. But it isn't. It is still hard, harder in fact than a few months ago. Still incredibly painful and very raw still.

Last week I started going to grief counselling. So far it is helpful in the fact that I know that it is ok and normal to be feeling the way I am. But one of the first things the counsellor said to me was

"I cannot make you feel better, I cannot make the pain go away"

Next month it will be a whole year without Jason and I'm not sure how I should be feeling about that. It's going to be difficult, heart wrenching difficult. It will be the first time in a year since I have been to the Prison. I will be seeing people I haven't seen since Jason's funeral, talking with the people who were with him when it happened. I will be blessed by the fact I will also be surrounded by my family and friends but they won't be able to take away my pain either.

I will never get over this, I will get stronger and perhaps start to wear my happy mask less, and actually wake up happy one day, but for now I grieve, and I cope one day at a time.

Rick, father of Elliot wrote something on his Facebook that I have stolen and altered a little because it rang so very very true to me

Please don't tell me you know how I feel,
Unless you have lost your husband early too,
Please don't tell me my broken heart will heal,
Because that is just not true,
Please don't tell me my love is in a better place,
...Though it is true, I want him here with me,
Don't tell me someday I'll hear his voice, see his face,
Beyond today I cannot see,
Don't tell me it is time to move on,
Because I cannot,
Don't tell me to face the fact he is gone,
Because denial is something I can't stop,
Don't tell me to be thankful for the time I had,
Because I wanted more,
Don't tell me when I am my old self you will be glad,
I'll never be as I was before,
What you can tell me is you will be here for me,
That you will listen when I talk of Jase,
You can share with me my precious memories,
You can even cry with me for a while,
And please don't hesitate to say his name,
Because it is something I long to hear everyday,
Please realize that I can never be the same,
But if you stand by me, you may like the new person I have become.

Gone but never ever forgotten, my love for alwaysforeverandeternity xxx

30 Day Photo Project

2011-04-10T21:33:00.007+12:00

DAY 23

Someone who makes you laugh.

Mistress Abbey
She makes me laugh, roll my eyes and shake my head everyday! She says and does and wears the funniest things. She has so much of Jason's quirky sense of humour and personality it is heartwarming. She is adorable and hilarious and I love it!

DAY 24

Something you wish you could change.

That is easy ... If I could change anything I would have made it so Jason didn't go to work on May 15Th 2010. He would have come to the birthday party with us and still be here today.

For more 30 Day Photo Projects go HERE

April Challenges at Better Scrapbooking

2011-04-10T12:52:00.006+12:00

Lots more awesome entries for the March Challenges. And as you should know each category has a winner, so here are March's winners ....

Layout Challenge - Use Up Your Scraps
Congratulations to Clese!!

Photo Challenge - Everyday Life
Congratulations to Mummymoo!!

Project Challenge - CD Mini Album
Congratulations to Deb G!!

Card Challenge - Cupcake Card
Congratulations to Sandra A!!

If you want to have a chance of being a winner check out the April Challenges ...

Layout Challenge - Create a layout using chalks. You make like to use chalks for your title, on a border or on the edges of your photo mates. Lets see how many different techniques with chalks you can use on one layout. Have fun, and get messy.

Photo Challenge - Perspective, perspective, perspective. This has been inspired by the winning photo of March's photo challenge. Take a photo using an unusual perspective.

Project Challenge - Create a fun Easter Basket - with some lovely decorated eggs inside (these eggs could be bought chocolate eggs if you like).

Card Challenge - Create a fun pop-up card of your choice. You may like to create an interesting way for a pop-up to pop-up.

Hope to see you joining in over at Better Scrapbooking!!!

Better Scrapbooking & Basic Grey Curio Collection

2011-04-10T09:28:00.010+12:00

Last month I got some awesome goodies in the mail from Better Scrapbooking. They were from the Curio Collection by Basic Grey

Curio Cotton

Curio Heirloom

Curio Ophelia

As well as the papers I also received some Basic Grey Curio Clips

Along with the Curio Collection I also received:
Bazzill Patch cardstock
Bazzill Yam cardstock
Orange Flowers
Black Pearls

And this is what I created ....

Reflection Of Beauty
This photo was taken at the Auckland Zoo, it was just a fluke that I happened to get Abbey's reflection in the glass!

Hush
My beautiful baby boy! How fast he has grown! I sure miss my babies when they were this small.

Funny Faces
My cheeky girl!!! This was a Positive/Negative photo shoot, she was so cheeky throughout the whole sitting, some of these funny faced pics are my favourites!

Go check out the Curio Collection at Better Scrapbooking!

30 Day Photo Project

2011-04-07T20:42:00.005+12:00

DAY 21

Someone you have good memories with.

My amazing cousin Marilyn!

We were BEST friends all the way through growing up. We spent EVERY school holidays together, wrote thousands of letters to each other and had some amazingly great times together!!

I think my favourite holiday was the New Years Marilyn, My Mum & Dad & I spent in the Bay Of Islands on the boat. That was the coolest holiday ever!! I wish I could have found some photos from then!!

Love that Marilyn chick and she and I sadly had to grow up, as you do, and now she is an amazing woman instead with a beautiful family.
Love you always xxxx

DAY 22

Something you wish you were better at.

SINGING!! I LOVE singing, but I can't .. not to save myself! But I love playing Singstar, and I love singing in the car and to the kids and Jase and I used to sing duets with each other, he was a slightly better singer than me but I wouldn't have encouraged him to go on NZ Idol! I really don't think I will ever be destined to be a superstar .. but I'll carry on singing in the shower regardless!!

For More 30 Day Photo Projects check them out HERE

Better Scrapbooking April Scrap Pack

2011-04-05T21:38:00.003+12:00

Ohhhhh exciting!! Another Scrap Pack to play with arrived on my doorstep last week!! This month is going to be ALL about Abbey and this is why ....

Ohhhhhh sooo pretty!!!!

In the April Scrap Pack is:
*2 sheets Bazzill Dusty Pink cardstock
*2 sheets Bazzill Purple cardstock
*1 sheet Bazzill French Garden White Embossed cardstock
*1 sheet Bazzill Guacamole scallop circle
*2 sheets Birch Bows Glittered pattern paper
*2 sheets Birch Glamour Boarders Glittered pattern paper
*2 sheets Birch Bags and Dresses Glittered pattern paper
*2 sheets Birch Poodles, Bags, Shoes Glittered pattern paper
*3 pink Flowers
*3 yellow Flowers
*2 Imaginisce die-cut Flowers
*10 assorted Buttons
*1 Length of Ribbon
*1 Imaginisce Garden Party Snag'em Fame Acrylic stamp

I can not wait to use it ALL up! Poor Riley is going to be incredibly neglected this month! I can't show you what I'm doing with it for a bit but keep an eye out for the April Better Scrapbooking newsletter!
And if you want to get a kit of your own check out how HERE.

30 Day Photo Project

2011-04-05T13:05:00.005+12:00

DAY 20

Somewhere you'd love to travel.

The Grafton National Cemetery, West Virginia, USA
Not flashy or exciting. But the only place overseas I want to go is here to visit my husband's resting place to see it in person and lay orange gerberas at his grave stone so he knows I've been there.

For more 30 Day Photo Projects see HERE

30 Day Photo Project

2011-04-04T19:26:00.003+12:00

DAY 19

A picture from when you were little

This photo was taken at Hikurangi at my Mum's sister's house. We spent A LOT of time out their with my cousins Nicole & Bryan.

From left to right ...
Tony (my biggest brother) Bryan, Nicole, David (my other big brother) and Me!
We were all pretty cute back then and how amazing that we all grew up to be respectable adults ... well I guess we did!!!

For More 30 Day Photo Projects look HERE

End of an Era ...

2011-04-04T09:39:00.005+12:00

Jason and I were/are coke addicts, when I say coke I mean Coca Cola! Not crack cocaine lol

I drank regular or Vanilla Coke the most and then switched to Coke Zero. Jason always drank Diet Coke. He was the kind of guy who ordered an extra large combo with a Diet Coke lol. But he drank it, so he told me, because he liked the taste, and he drank it like water! Neither Jase or I are hot drink people, we are more likely to get up in the morning to a glass of coke rather than a coffee.

And Jase ALWAYS drank from the bottle. He used to just take the whole bottle to the couch with him and set it at his feet! I was, and still am, a drink out of the glass person, Jase with his coke wasn't! He would say "no one else is drinking it so what's the problem?" Honestly!! That man made me roll my eyes at times!

After Jase died there was a half empty bottle of diet coke in the fridge. I left it there. And 10 1/2 months later it was still in the fridge. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. It was such a major part of who Jason was, him and his diet coke addiction.

Yesterday I decided it was time to let the coke go. I couldn't bear to tip it down the sink so I drank it, straight from the bottle just like he did. My lips where his had been. I cried. and now it's gone.

Funny how such seemingly little things totally turn you to a mess!

Good Bye Diet Coke, I will miss you in my fridge xxx

30 Day Photo Project

2011-04-03T08:12:00.013+12:00

Bad Bad Blogger is WAY behind in her 30 Day Photo Project so here is my Loooong catch up!!!

DAY 11

Something you hate.

RENTING - I hate it. This house in the picture is for sale. Mum & I went to an open home there and I LOVE IT ... sadly I'm not quite ready to purchase a house yet. But renting is awful. I can't put picture hooks in the wall, or make the place reflect me as much as I want. You are restricted so much when you are renting. As well as all that it feels like wasted money goes out of your bank every week! I can not wait to be able to own my own home!

DAY 12

Something you love

It's not a secret my Orange Obsession!! I LOVE it! I want to fill my whole house with it. I want to Orangefy my world.

DAY 13

Your favourite band or artist

The Beatles. Their music is forever!! They are legends! I love them!!! I have all their albums and when I am down I listen to them to cheer me up! They are funny guys, have you ever seen A Hard Days Night or Help! Hilarious! And speaking of Movies check out Across The Universe, amazing story told by ONLY Beatles songs!! Stunning! John, Paul, George and Ringo you rock my world!!!

DAY 14

Someone you could never imagine your life without.

It was this guy, but now it's no one because after losing this guy I can put the worst case scenario of losing all my loved ones in my head. I don't have to imagine. It already happened.

DAY 15

Something you want to do before you die.

It's funny what death does to people. For some it makes them live life to the fullest doing things they would never have thought they could or would do. For me it has made me appreciate the simple things in life. The beauty of nature, the laughter of my children, family etc. The thing I want to do before I die is to watch these beautiful children grow up and live their lives and have a family each and be happy. A simple request many people take for granted because sadly their Dad didn't get to do that.

DAY 16

Someone who inspires you the most

These two ladies ... Ruth and Janine. Every Wednesday these two ladies come over to my house for Art Night. They are both AMAZINGLY talented and they push me to work outside my comfort zones and INSPIRE me to try harder because frankly they are WAY more talented than I am, even if they will pfffttt at that comment!! I love these ladies they rock in ALL kind of amazing ways!!

DAY 17

Someone who's made a huge impact on your life recently.

This beautiful lady is called Nadia. I only knew her from the Trade Me message boards for the longest time and this year finally met her in person. Now I see her every other day it seems! We get along like we have known each other for ever. Neither of us care if each others houses are a mess, or the dishes aren't done, and her kids and Hubby are awesome to boot! I love meeting people you just click with and Nadia is one of those amazing people! Love you chick!!

DAY 18

Someone you admire

Loads of people in the Scrapping world know this Pink haired lady nick-named Pinky. She is out there! She is Bold! She is SUPER Talented! I first came across Pinky on Fiskateers, and became a Face Book friend and followed her blog etc etc. Now the thing that I admire about Pinky is she has had some real awful awful stuff happen to her in her past, and she ain't afraid to talk about it. She scraps, and discusses and talks about what happened and she is totally inspiring in doing so. After Jason died and I got some amazing photo's of his funeral I thought I am going to scrap them, if Pinky can scrap about her stuff I can scrap about mine and I did HERE. She made me realise that craft is a form of dealing with what you are going through and I thank her SO SO much for it!! I admire this woman's guts and bravery. And how she overcome so much to become such an outstanding and positive woman!!

For more 30 Day Photo Project posts go HERE

Slack Blogger Alert!!

2011-04-01T19:40:00.008+13:00

I am ashamed to admit I have been a real slack blogger this week. So here's what I've been up to ....

We had another blogger meet up on Tuesday with the amazing Leonie, Renette, Juanita, Simone, Kristy and Becky. It was at Renettes place and we chatted lots, laughed lots and had loads of hugs! I am loving these ladies. We all have so much in common and get on amazingly well. Awesome people to know!!

I love this photo cause I'm not really in it hehehe ... I hope you don't mind me stealing it Neetz!!!

After I had been out all day Tuesday I arrived home to see these at the front door step ....

I was completely blown away because they were from a beautiful lady who I have never met in real life but chat to and talk with online. She is a fellow scrapper and her name is Mandy. I had a bit of a bad week last week and she sure put a HUGE smile on my face. Thanks so much Mandy!

On Wednesday Danielle and her GORGEOUS kids came up for the night. Now Danielle and I have met once but I feel like I've known her forever! We sat and chatted until 4am!! I got 2 hours sleep that night!! I am so so blessed to have this phenomenal woman as a friend! Oh and she makes great cake!!! Teeheehee

Today Leonie, Renette and Juanita came around to scrapbook. It was such a fun time!! It was Renette's first time scrapping and Juanita and Leonie hadn't done it in a while so it was soooo awesome seeing them working hard, while I ate and passed tools!! I can't wait to get together and craft with them again, maybe next time I might do more than just supervise! Like I said I love these ladies!!!

I Have also spent quite a bit of time with another lovely lady this week, Nadia and I have been sorting and organising for Nadia's Garage Sale tomorrow. I love spending time with Nadia, she rocks!

I have been so so blessed via this little thing sitting on my lap called the computer, and this other HUGE thing called the Internet because everyone of those ladies I have met online and I have the pleasure of calling them all TRUE friends now (except Becky who I have known forever and loved just as long!!)

Thank you Internet I surely love you too!!

30 Day Photo Project

2011-03-26T14:20:00.006+13:00

DAY 9

A person who's gotten you through the most.

I have 3 people I have to put in here ... in alphabetical order ...

Danice
Jennie
Nicola

In the worst of times after Jason died, which was after the kids went to bed and my family had gone home and I was alone quietly in the house these 3 AMAZING women were there for me. MSN chat has been a life saver for me and these ladies would talk to me and kick my butt and share things with me all night and often VERY late! And it would make me feel not so lonely, not so afraid and not so sad. I truly have no idea how I would have got through the first few months without Jason without them. They are my angels and I LOVE them dearly.
Not only that but Jennie (from Hastings) came up to be with me a few days after Jason died. Jennie and Danice(from Greymouth) came to Jason's funeral and Nicola (from Christchurch) and Danice came up to host a fundraising crop for me. I can't thank these women enough I LOVE them and they are all some of my closest and dearest friends, even though I've only met Danice and Jennie a handful of times and Nicola once! Love you guys xxxx

DAY 10

A person you do stupid things with.

This is Tracy and Amanda .. we are mental!!! Mands and I have been friends for about ummm 14 years. We have a shared love of oldies music, photo taking and craziness!! We went through a phase of getting photo booth pics taken and when we caught up last year we produced out 'own' photo booth pics. We always do silly things together. I have so many silly and crazy photos of us! Love you Mands!!!! xxx

Family Events Update

2011-03-24T19:43:00.007+13:00

Well what have I missed that has happened??

Well We got the Amazing photos back from Jason's Birthday. It was so awesome to see the amazing pics. Thanks soooo much Angela for the AWESOME job!!

Abbey had a Wheel-a-thon with her Kindergarten. They were raising money for Christchurch so the theme was Black & Red! We decorated up her bike and she had a blast riding around with all her friends!

And of course Riley's 6th Birthday! I made him a Rocket cake with sparkler candles. He got Lego, a marble run, a slinky dog and a trip to the movies for his birthday! He had a great day and so did the rest of us!!

There are a few things happening around Whangarei this weekend, weather permitting! So fingers crossed we get lots more cool pics to blog about then!!

30 Day Photo Project

2011-03-24T15:43:00.004+13:00

DAY 7

Someone you have the most fun with.

Every Wednesday night I am graced by the presence of 3 wonderful people. Janine, Ruth & Jaymin. We call Wednesday's Art Night. Mostly we craft, sometimes we just chat, every time we eat naughty food, laugh and have FUN! Last night we played Yahtzee and the week before made paper cranes! I VERY much look forward to Wednesday's Art Night with these people cause they ROCK!!!

DAY 8

A picture that makes you laugh.

Every time I look at this photo I giggle. We went to the Royal Easter Show in Auckland the month before Jase died. I was trying so hard to take a really cool pic of the kids and Jase on the Merry Go Round and Jason knew I was. So I have the camera aimed and ready to go when they come around next go *CLICK* and Mr 'I think I'm Funny' does this face! He thought it was hilarious I had to wait for the Merry Go Round to come around again for a better shot but I still love this one because it is so typically Jason being a clown!

For the rest of my 30 Day Photo Projects check them out HERE

30 Day Photo Project

2011-03-22T18:12:00.003+13:00

DAY 6

A person you would love to trade places with for a day.

I would like to trade places with this beautiful woman called Ree Drummond also known as The Pioneer Woman. This woman is my idol! She has a beautiful family and lives in the country. She cooks and crafts and home schools. She takes AMAZING photographs and has a stunning home. She is living my dream life!!! I would definitely trade my life for hers for one day.

If only I had the motivation, drive and determination I too could have a semi dream life ... minus my perfect (ok semi-perfect) husband ...

Check out the other 30 Day Photo Projects HERE

Another Fiskateer Online Crop

2011-03-21T19:38:00.007+13:00

Totally go check it out!!!! It's called The Winter Stamp Out.

I was planning to be incredibly involved in this crop but so far I have only managed to get a couple of challenges done. Mojo seems to have left me with the sunshine!!! But here is what I've done ....

WSO Challenge #1
***A Little Warm-Up for the Winter Stamp Out***
Go outside this week and take a photograph. Nature is to inspire us!

So this is the photo I took ....

This is the big tree in out front yard. The kids thought it was really funny that I asked them to peek around the trunk!

WSO Challenge #2
***Inspired by Nature***
For this challenge, take inspiration from one of the photos posted in Challenge #1 to create a stamped project. It can be from your own photo or from someone else's photo. You may be inspired by the colors, the composition, or even the subject matter of the photos. Anything is fair game. Be sure to tell us what about the photo inspired your project. I can't wait to see what you create.

Some of the photos that were posted were magnificent! I was inspired by the amazing photos that were posted of the cute birds around in the trees.

And this is what I made ...

All those trees and birds reminded me of the 'Hey Birdie' Kaisercraft papers and I used the Stampin' Up 'Funky Forest' Wheel stamp and the birds from the 'Cheap Talk' stamp set.

Fingers crossed mojo comes back and I get some more of the challenges done before they are due in!!

Hope to see you over at Fiskateers!!

Happy scrapping everyone!

30 Day Photo Project

2011-03-21T15:30:00.004+13:00

DAY 5

Your favourite memory.

Our Wedding Day

10 months ago if I was given this question I would have gone back and thought of a childhood memory or something like that. But Since Jase died my favourite memories rotate around him and of course our wedding day was a pretty darn important one! Jase and I were married in a garden in Kauri, just north of Whangarei. We had our reception at the Marist Rugby Club rooms. It was a fantastic day. We were married for 6 1/2yrs when he died. He was my whole life. I miss him terribly.

To check out my other 30 Day Photo Projects go HERE

30 Day Photo Project

2011-03-20T17:59:00.006+13:00

I am a little behind in this opps!! So this is my last few days catch up ....

DAY 2

A picture of you and the person your closest with.

This is Me and my Mum. Since Jason died she is my sounding post, the person I cry to, get angry at, have fun with, share parenting with, and go to for advice. I LOVE my Mum, she is the BEST Mum EVER! Love you to bits Mum xxx

DAY 3

A picture of the cast of your favourite show.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer. It rocks. It's the only TV show I own in entirety on DVD. I never get tired of watching it! Bit weird and crazy I know!

DAY 4

A habit you wish you didn't have

Fruit Bowl Dumping, which in turn spills over to bench dumping because the fruit bowl gets full. I wish I didn't do this, but I walk in the door and dump whatever I'm carrying. Every now and again I clear it out and the next day it gets dumped in again. Sigh. One day maybe I will break that habit!!

Check out the other 30 Projects HERE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RILEY JAY!

2011-03-18T21:16:00.011+13:00

6 Years ago tomorrow at 4.20pm, after a 2hour and 20minute labour, on a Saturday afternoon I became a Mummy for the first time!

Birth Day

Little Riley Jay was born weighing 6pounds 8ounces. He was the Apple of His Mummy and Daddy's eyes!! It was such a joy to watch him grow.

First Birthday

Second Birthday

Third Birthday

Fourth Birthday

Fifth Birthday

This year will be Riley's first Birthday without his Daddy, so as happy as an occasion it should be we will also be struggling through another First without Jase.

But ...

Happy Birthday my sweet boy. I hope you reach for the stars and have all your dreams come true xxxx

NZ Book Month

2011-03-18T11:49:00.006+13:00

Time for another book!!!

The BFG - Roald Dahl

As a kid Roald Dahl was my FAVOURITE author. I am pretty sure I have ALL of my original Roald Dahl books and that would be all of them! The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) was my all time favourite. I can't wait until my kids a little bit bigger to start reading them chapter books. To me the BFG is a story about being different, standing up for your beliefs and friendship comes in interesting packages!! LOVE love love this book!
And there is also an Animated movie made from this book too, which I thought was pretty cute.

I also found this which gave me a giggle!

Keep checking HERE for what is happening in your town/city for NZ Book Month!

Happy reading everyone!

Canvas Art & Everyday Life

2011-03-17T19:49:00.008+13:00

A few weeks ago my Art Night buddy Janine found a photo of what she called an 'Inchie Canvas' in a magazine. She decided that we needed to make one! So while she had half prepared hers earlier, I cut out lots of squares and rectangles from cardboard while watching her complete embellishing and putting together her canvas. 2 weeks later all I had done was cover my bits of cardboard with co-ordinating patterned papers and painted my canvas black! So yesterday I pulled it out and dusted it off and decided to finish it.

I am VERY pleased with how this turned out! Most of what is on it are scraps and and leftovers so I'm also pleased about using up some more of my stash! Gotta love using your stash up.

Now all I need is a nice wall to put it up on!

I also submitted a photo for the March Photo Challenge over at Better Scrapbooking.

Photo Challenge: Everyday life. Take a photo of something that represents your everyday life.

This week my everyday life has become a two lunchbox morning!! I actually really enjoy making my kids lunches!!

Don't forget to go over and check out the other challenges at Better Scrapbooking! You have until the end of March to get them in and every category wins a prize!!

Layout Challenge: Use your old one off bits left over from your stash, i.e. the last flower from a set, odd brads/eyelets, rub-ons/odd piece of chipboard, etc.

Project Challenge: Create a mini album using old Cd's

Card Challenge: Create a card with cupcakes on it

Would LOVE to see you all joining in!

Inside The Scrap Heap

Better Scrapbooking February Challenges

Garden Toadstools

Art Journal

Meet Holly

Charmed Life Challenge *update*

House Decorating Post #1 ~ Living Room

Better Scrapbooking December Scrap Pack

Inspired by Pinterest

Christmas Letter 2011

Bad Blogger

Better Scrapbooking November Scrap Pack

Accidents Will Happen ....

Mairtown Kindergarten Art Auction

Fat or is it Phat?

Inspired by Pinterest

Welcome Home Palmers

Dinner at the Fat Camel

Bad Bad Blogger!!

Holiday In Christchurch

Goodbye Leonie

The Charmed Life Challenge

Better Scrapbooking September Scrap Pack

AWOL

Happy First Day of Spring!!

Fun Spring Day ~ I {Heart} Whangarei

Things I'm Loving

Cultural Day

Surrounded By Boxes!

I {Heart} Whangarei

Kiwi Mummy Bloggers

Crafting up a Storm! A Pinterest Storm!

Grown Up Things

Things I'm Loving

30 Day Mum Challenge

Addicted to Pinterest

End of an Era ...

Things I'm Loving

Miniture Food

Belated Happy Birthday to Abbey!!!

Book Review - Nat Fantastic and the Brave Knights of Old

Happy Birthday to me

Matariki Celebrations

Better Scrapbooking July Scrap Pack

SENZ 2011

Loads and loads and loads ....

Slack Blogger Alert!!

Procrastination & Motivation

New Obsession

New Challenge Blog!!

Better Scrapbooking Bonanza Post

Better Late than Never

Orange Goodies

30 Day Photo Project

30 Day Photo Project

Things I'm Loving

1 Year ago Today ....

The Auckland Sky Tower

NZ Music Month

May Challenges at Better Scrapbooking

30 Day Photo Project

May Is NZ Music Month!

30 Day Photo Project

Holland Festival - Queens Day

Better Scrapbooking April Scrap Pack

30 Day Photo Project

Happy Mail & a RAK

30 Day Photo Project

Happy Easter

ANZAC Day 2011

Slack Blogger Alert!!

11 Months

30 Day Photo Project

April Challenges at Better Scrapbooking

Better Scrapbooking & Basic Grey Curio Collection

30 Day Photo Project

Better Scrapbooking April Scrap Pack

30 Day Photo Project

30 Day Photo Project

End of an Era ...

Charmed Life Challenge update