Two new layouts!

Some of you may have been wondering where my scrapbooking has got to lately...

In-between moving houses, heading to the gym, un-packing, cleaning, having fun with friends and more.... I've actually enjoyed having a break from scrapbooking.

But after rearranging my scrap area (check out Amy's blog on the 14th May where I'll be doing a guest blog post on scrapbooking organisation), I found some photo's I'd been meaning to scrap for a while, and some NEW ones too!

The first layout containts some very old photos from a family holiday in 2006 with Brad's family (the first family holiday with them). It was such a relaxing trip - and looking back at these photos - so much fun!

I decided to make a mini album to stick on the page to put more journalling and photos. I used Kaisercraft's 'Pack your bags' collection (with a bit of blue paper from Offshore too).

My next layout is one I had to scrap right now, while everything's still fresh - just a "house" page... I plan to scrap another one detailing more my feelings about moving back intogether with Brad and the whole moving process. :) Here I used a very old piece of SEI paper that I swear has been sitting in my stash collecting dust for several years!

I hope you all have a great weekend! x

NEW boots!

All I can say is....

Dianna Ferrari boots - 30% OFF - real leather...

I'm in love and that's why I bought em!! :)

Teaching at the Scrapbook and Papercraft convention!

Did you know about the Scrapbook & Papercraft Convention in Brisbane - June 12-14 this year?



If not Kaisercraft will be attending, and have a classroom there too! I'm lucky enought to be heading up there this year with Mel Kennedy and Al Hannah and have the privalage of teaching a class!!

My class is on at 2.30 - 4.30 each day and I'll be teaching a double page layout class.





Here's a lil blurb from the website:



"Everyone has hundreds of photos ready to scrap from special events. Create a double page layout with interactive elements. Scrap multiple photo layouts and pockets for extra photos, with fold out sections and embellishments".


Class is $45 and you'll get to play with Kaisercraft's popular Lilac Avenue collection.

Head to the website to check out more details..... and BOOK ;)

Electricity is really organised lightning

"Electricity is really just organized lightning".

George Carlin

"Nothing good bursts forth all at once. The lightning may dart out of a black cloud; but the day sends his bright heralds before him, to prepare the world for his coming".

Augustus Hare

"Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work".

Mark TwainWhen I lived at home one of my fondest memories is watching storms, watching the rain, lightning and thunder hammer at the earth with my dad. We'd sit on the back verandah on the 'boot box', or stand under the front verandah as the storm approached.

We'd watch the lightening crash down upon the hills and valley's around us, and count until we heard the boom of thunder - always wondering where it hit.

I love the smell of the coming rain, the smell of eucalyptus gum trees and damp earth, the sound of rustling trees in the distance and rumbling hills.

Unfortunately, I can't hear that in Geelong. But I still love it when a storm comes. Last week I rushed home from the gym watching the amazing lightning storm. I ran inside, grabbed my camera and tripod and set it up on my front porch.

These photos were taken very quickly and have not been touched up at all. I wanted to snap a few in a chance I might capture that striking lightning bolt...

But I just got a few illuminated clouds instead.

The beauty of nature is one to treasure.

Weekly fitness goals and achievements

Lets look at how I went this past week at achieving my goals:

Mon - Run 3km DONE - 214 cals burnt
Tues - Body Attack class DONE 640 cals burnt
Wed - 5.00 Gym program DONE Plus cardio - 495 cals burnt
Thurs - 5.30 gym program, NO 7.30 soccer DONE 304 cals burnt
Fri - rest day
Sat - 5km run, gym program NO
Sun - 5pm body attack NO Walk 4.34km DONE - 120 cals burnt

Calories burnt for the week = 1773

This week's goals:

Mon 26th - Gym program DONE Plus cardio - 330 cals burnt
Tues 27th - Body Attack class
Wed 28th - 5.00 Gym program
Thurs 29th - 5.30 gym program, 8.15 soccer
Fri 30th - 5.30 gym program,
Sat 1st - 5km run
Sun 2nd- 5pm body attack

A health and fitness update

Via weheartit.com

I joined Mapmyrun the other day. It's got some great features like tracking and mapping your running tracks, keeping a workout log and checking out other peoples running tracks too.

Last night I went for a quick 23 minute run (3km) - averaging 8km/hour, and buring 214 odd calories.

I mapped the run and updated my journal. I checked a 3km run I did a few weeks ago on the health/fitness page of my blog and it took me 35 minutes - averaging 5km/hour. This was just after my back had recovered - but it shows me just how much I've recovered in a few short weeks.

My workout plan for this week is:
Mon - Run 3km
Tues - Body Attack class
Wed - 5.00 Gym program
Thurs - 5.30 gym program, 7.30 soccer
Fri - rest day
Sat - 5km run, gym program
Sun - 5pm body attack

Wish me luck!!

R.I.P tazzie

"...love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."

(Kabil Gibran)

26/12/1997 - 1/4/2010

22 December 2007

24 May 2008

9 October 2009

Boxing Day 2009 - Tazzie's birthday.

My mum called last night to tell me that "Tazzie" - our family dog of 12 years and 4 months died... two weeks ago. He died the Thursday just before Easter - and hadn't wanted to tell me or my brother over the Easter break, or over the last couple of weeks because she couldn't find the right time. I thank you for that Mum.

I know how hard it must've been not telling us.

Tazzie wasn't the smartest dog at times, and certainly wasn't a cattle dog. But he did do his fair share of work around the farm 'rounding up' feral animals, looking after the cats (as much as he 'hated' them) and being a friend to our family.

You really don't realise how much pets are a part of your lives until they are gone.

Especially when you can't say goodbye...

That's what hurts they most...

R.I.P 'tazz man'.

Review vs obsession

Just a few thoughts for today on breakups....

Not the boyfriend/girlfriend kind.... but friend kind....

Of late, a few things have been happening lately making me think back on past relationships, and also realise that as much as I have not wanted to admit it, I am still thinking about that past.

An (internet)friend of mine has been thought a difficult breakup lately and I came across a blog she'd been reading. I went onto it and did a little bit of research myself. One particular post, "Review Vs Obsession" caught my eye - now it discusses the difference between healthy review (and letting go) and unhealthy obsession (holding on). It outlines that when we breakup with someone we review them and think about the relationship, and should then move on.

Now these relationships in my life had spanned 18 odd years. A long time in any kind of relationship. My thought process was - that a relationship spanning this length of time, and coming to such an upbrupt end - that I was well within my right to take my time to get over it. In one way I was right, in another, not really.
Image via weheartit

But I realised that I have been obsessing in a sense - re-thinking those relationships for no useful purpose. I was asking those same questions, will they ever contact me again? Will they regret their decisions? do they ever think about me? how could they do/say one thing one day, and do something completely different the next?
Now this has gone on for long enough - it's been around a year - and I had moved on. But certain things have surfaced lately making me ask these questions again.

This is me STOPPING. Today I stop these questions, I take action and get past it and MOVE on, I will not be tempted to see how their lives are unfolding without me, I will not contact them. I will not let them continue to hurt me.
image on weheartit

I am in a fantastic part of my life right now (apart from these niggly questions) - and I need to focus on ME, I need for me to be the best I can be. I need to stop dwelling on what was done to ME - what was done broke a part of me, and this is my way of fixing ME.

Today I close that chapter of my life and look forward to the good.
To good friends, good health, happiness, home, laughter, family and love.

on weheartit.com
on weheartit.com

a new layout

Just a quick update and a new layout. I finished this off last week (sticking stuff down) before i packed up all my scrap stuff before moving.

Five things on a friday 9 April

1. Finding the perfect present for a friend.

I found these cute photo blocks and heaps of other amazing photos from SusannahTucker's etsy store, and even better - she's based in Melbourne!

2. Interesting small spaces

I found this cute space on Whitney's blog this week! Her space is not only small, but cute also! I love the ikea shelving running down onside. :) (And her cute puppy!)

Make sure you vote for her space on Apartment Therapy's small cool contest!


3. Pretty clothes

This past week I've bought a few things.... a dress from Sportsgirl (on sale), a little cream jacket from Just Jeans and a cute top also.... I'm lusting over this inky blue tunic - this'd be great for winter layering with stockings and boots too! (wink wink mum). :)

4. Ikea

I have a love/hate relationship with ikea. I love their amazing low prices, great designs and the fact that you can get SO many things in the one place... but I hate that the place always feels rushed/frenzied, the fact that the ONE thing you go there to get is nearly always out of stock, and it's always an effort to go there.... and lastely - you always end up buying MORE than you planned.

However, this time, I'm prepared. I used their online shopping list that gives you a printable PDF of what you're going to buy (the product location, picture and details) - and best of all - a summary of how much you're going to spend. I did this, along with checking stock availability (cross your fingers for me!)

So tonight I'm heading to Ikea Richmond before they close at 9pm tonight to try and get some things for the new house.

Especially this (as we have no built in wardrobes):

5. New hair!!

I got my hair cut and coloured the other week - I decided to go from the 'red' I was (it had faded substantially), to a dark chocolate brown, and get a fringe. I like the change!

Thrifting and my first DIY furniture project

A bit under a month ago I visited the Mill Markets in Geelong. It's filled with antiques, nick nacks and bric-a-brac. It's divided up into 'stalls', where each stall has an owner who's goods are displayed to sell.

I found a cute little vintage dress that I wore the other weekend (see picture below), it fits perfect and was only $35! I knew it'd be greated teamed with my cute swallow belt!


I also searched for a cabinet for my new house to store bathroom goods in.... The next day Brad and I returned together and I bought this little baby!! She's a little worse for wear (chipped paint, a little dusty and dirty), but apart from that, was in great condition.

So I spent Monday afternoon cleaning, hammering in nails to the mesh sides for extra support, sanding and cleaning. I painted one coat of Taubans white semi-gloss paint, and then followed up with another coat last night after work.

She's not perfect, but I plan on sanding a couple of parts and adding possibly new hinges and a handle to give her that 'shabby chic' look - perfect for my house!

BEFORE:

AFTER: