I forgot

to say a big WELCOME to Sheree McGee - who has joined the creative team at One Little Aussie Word - welcome aboard Sheree !

whose bad???

Gotta be in it to win it right??? Well with that in mind I have worked my butt off over the last 48hrs to put together and entry for the Bad Girls Design Team... If you have never been over to the dark side...then have a look - the design team is truly original and innovative.. the calibre of entries will probably be way beyond my humble skills - but hey - you never never know....if you never never have a go...
oh ---and the kits are AWESOME - really eclectic and right up my street.. I will share my 4 projects (yes there has been some EXTREME SCRAPPING going on in Bundy!! and not much housework - what a shame...) as soon as Wendy makes the announcement.....
...waiting..
...............waiting..
(I'm a sagitarrius you know - waiting is not really one of my strong points....)
...umm.........
...........................
how'bout now?? no?

Okay - here's another Lo from today (While we are waiting) see I can do clean and crisp!

For Keeps

(For Keeps Creative Paper Magazine) seems to like me at the moment :)
I have this in this months magazine - a project that I did for my daughter - altering an old mirror and brush set (which was gorgeous to start with!) I got it on ebay for $6!! A layout of Zach is featured in the ad for the next issue and I think I have something in the next 4..And Up2Scrap - which is the biggest mag in NZ has picked up several of my layouts in coming months.It's nice after a publishing break to be picked up again.. (plus a little bit of extra scrapping money!)

9 Months Old

Already - how time flies...could have made another one by now..(NOT!!!) Look at those big blue eyes! We went and visited the new baby emus at the zoo this week. Emus are just hilarious to watch - as we sat there one of these babies had a "moment" and fell over on it's face when a pigeon flew too close - it was classic.

One Little Aussie Word

A great new challenge blog starts today.. Here is my layout inspired by the 1st word "BEGIN" - It's a quote I heard somewhere or other and always liked..
I am joined by some fantastic scrappers on the creative team; Agnus Kasprzak, Bec Spicer,and Carole Jansen will be joining in a little later in the year. Have a look at the new site and join in with the challenge to have a chance of winning a great prize pack from Stuff2Scrap

and a blue one

just a Layout to share..

1st Day

of Big School for Big Z- and Grade 4 for Miss T - all went well this morning - no tears (well from the kids anyway!!)

a change is in the air

So next week there are some big changes happening at my place... DS5 starts prep, DS9mths starts daycare 1 day, DD8 starts Yr4 and I start uni!
So it is the perfect time to undertake a new enormous project (not).. I have started a Kite quilt for DD - When we were on Hamilton Island she loved flying a kite they made - so I was inspired..
And being the manic, hyperactive, over committed person that I am I didn't have time to find a pattern that I liked ..so I am doing my own . I have cut all the blocks, and the first one is sewn up -plus a couple of layouts from the weekend..
So today is The Last Thursday: every Thursday for the past 3 years Zach has spent with Nanna and Poppy.
They have there own special routine, and always have a great day - so off he went with Poppy this morning for the last time..
Shame they have to grow up.

I have starting subbing again

and have a workshop featured in this months Creative Paper Magazine - how to make your own fabric brads..
I have got out of the habit of subbing last year with new baby and all - but this year I will make an effort! And I am actually now "Internationally Published" (LOL) as I have layout in an upcoming issue of New Zealands' UP2Scrap Magazine..
Don't worry if that was my 15 mins of fame, then I have had it! (and it hasn't changed me at all)

Ok

So it's time to share....
a: Some News..... I will spend the next 3 years as a full time student... Yep the Gap Year (only20 odd) has ended and I am going to University to attain a Bachelor of Learning Management (um Teaching) With my youngest child being only 9 months - I have 20 years of kids at school ahead of me - and HOLIDAYS are just a nightmare.. So I figured instead of trying to fit my kids into my job, that I would fit my job around my kids. So a BIG change ahead!
b: Congratulations to my mate Cassie for her 1st published Layout in this months Scrapbooking Memories - YAY CASS!!
c: Some Layouts - My Best of January has yet to have photos added for a once a month album..
d: A great tutorial to make this fab stationary box - thanks to Jackie Topa


I am counting down the days until school goes back -then there is 3 weeks grace to get ready for the new journey of studying.

Check out

the latest Fab Female Role Model - Zainab Salbi and her incredible work on Women for Women International -a charity helping women and children in wartorn countries. I have been flat researching ladies for my new blog - Seems to make scrapbooking seem frivolous..but I have managed a few layouts to upload tomorrow..

Small venture

I have started a blog to celebrate the lives of women and girls who can be held up as an example for our daughters. It's called Female Role Models .
I felt the need to do this after my 7 year old could only name Paris Hilton as her favourite role model. (OMG)
In this age of celebrity and fame - I hope to create a resource to teach about some amazing REAL women and girls. Pop over and have a look - and if you know of anyone who stands out as a great role model for our daughters, please send me the details and I will include her - no need to be famous - just someone who you think is inspiring..

who has time to blog???

where do the days go?? Finally re-connected my laptop so here are a few photos from Chrissy.. I have been on a scrapbooking roll while J is on hols - I have done 6 layouts in the last few days...Haven't quite got around to photographong them yet ..Happy New Year everyone -

Big Z is 5

Happy Birthday to the best little boy in the whole world!!! We have already had Z's party - before school broke up and everyone went away - so today is just a quiet celebration with Nanna and
Poppy and calls to Granny and Grandad in Ireland - he still scored 2 cakes though!!! We came home to Aus when he was 6 weeks old - I can't believe it was 5 years ago.

We have returned from a WONDERFUL, AMAZING, FAB (you get the idea) 10 days away - 7 spent on the beautiful Hamilton Island- Chrissy Day involved cocktails by the pool, swimming, prawns, more swimming, champagne and lots of time doing nothing together!!I got a v. spesh gift from here OMG and we have all arrived home rested and having had some real quality time together. (Just don't mention the cricket!)
Jeff and I have made some BIG decisions - that are going to change our lives somewhat (for the better in the long run - we hope!) although probably tougher in the short term.. So I am coming up to New Year with renewed energy and goals and priorities.... I will post some photos later - have got lots of lovely unpacking to do - and we are expecting some friends to arrive any minute from Texas - for New Years - So have a great New Years wherever you are in the world and I hope the New Year looks as exciting for you as it does for us!!!

layouts

from the last few weeks..

4 birthdays...

one graduation from pre-school, one concert and 2 hangovers later...
So much has happened in the last 2 weeks, and funnily enough, while being offline has been a complete pain in the bot... It made me realize how much time I spend online... Hmmn so one of my New Years Resolutions will be to set a limit, and stick to it!
So to catch up Big Z has finished pre-school and is all ready for Big school next year (and V. excited!0 He has also had his 5th birthday party - at the Bowling and indoor leisure centre. Which was a huge success! His birhday is not till the end of December - but it is such a hard time to organize a party with everyone away etc, that we have a Queens' birthday thing going for him!
Big C is crawling and pulling himself up, and of course has his first bump on his lovely little head "(..
T has finished grade 3 (wow) and is practically a teenager..she finished up with a beautiful school Christmas concert.
Dad, Mum and I have all turned a year older in the last week - so the less said about that the better.
and now the countdown begins to Hamilton Island!!!

man!

I was so happy to up and running and back online when...CRRRAAASSSHHH..yep my lovely Dell computer was suddenly inundated by 2 weeks worth of updates and chucked a fit - so I have dug out my old laptop until we can get through the Hellpdesk hell....
Amazing how quick this old thing is - because there is nothing on it!! I am coming back to play after baby goes to sleep..

yayayayayayayayyay

optus connected me today ...oh my, I felt like I was abandoned in a dark lonely place with no scrapbooking blogs or surfing or shopping.................
ok, breathe...
(and don't mention a certain telecommunications company who we WON'T be coming home to)

I"M BACK IN THE LAND OF THE BLOGGER>>> Our little pack arrived today from OPtus (when they said it would) and we plugged it in and it worked (like they said it would) and we got instant connection (yeah yeah you get the idea..)
what's going on?? Not quite used to service or things justing WORKING..

so here we are only 2 weeks from Christmas and I have so much to catch up on... Lots of photos and layouts to upload - will do it in a post later 2 night when all small children are asleep and not a mouse is stirring..........
have to go surf now and see what I've missed..

no internet??! what??

nope - haven't had any access for over a week- we are changing from optus to telstra - and of course the next available day to connect us is...... 12 th of December. yep. another week - I feel like I have had my air supply cut off...I am at Mums watering while she is away at Andre Reueueouoeui.....so Iam having a quick FIX online....please come back and see me ina week

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