New Layout.

What better way to spend an afternoon when the kids are still at school and all is quiet, I mean really quiet something I haven't had around here for a while.....it felt a little strange for a while but my ears soon adjusted to their peaceful surroundings.

Scrapbooking was on my agenda, I was hoping to use some new goodies which I thought would be in the post this morning but they didn't arrive....maybe next week. So this is what I came up with for the day....only a single layout today because I was determined to finish it before I had to go and get the kids...........and my house plummets into chaos once more....aahhhh the joy of it all.

Here it is a little closer...Here is Ryan and Megan on Wednesday morning ready for their first day of school for 2009.....I can't actually believe they put their arms around each other and smiled.......this doesn't quite feel right and I know it will only be a matter of seconds before it all ends.

I told you it wouldn't last........ and all I said was "smile".
Here is my everyday life picture for the day.......I don't know what it's called but it's chicken stuffed with camembert and marinated in a sauce consisting of honey, soy sauce, BBQ Sauce and wholegrain mustard..........it even got the OK from my husband and our offspring so maybe I'll try it again soon.

"Chicken Dinner"

That's all from me today.....see you soon.

Somebody Please!!!

Tonight I feel so weak

All the fans are on

Toss and turn as I try and sleep

And I feel the slap and the sting of the foul night air

And I know I'm slowly melting

And I can't take this much more

But tonight while I'm burning all over

Somewhere it's gotta be nice and cool.

Somebody bring me some water

Can't you see I'm burning alive

Please put an end to this suffocating heat wave

I don't know how I'm gonna survive

Somebody bring me some water

Can't you see it's outa control

Baby it's hot and the air-con just ain't workin'

Tonight this scorching heat is really taking it's toll.

When will this burning pass

When will this night be through

I want to feel the cool wind blowing

But I'm still feelin the slap and the sting of the foul night air

And I'll do anything I'm going outa my mind

I need some cool relief of the temporary kind

Tell my how will I ever get through this night

When I know this heat wave ain't going no where.

Somebody bring me some water

Can't you see I'm burning alive

Please put an end to this suffocating heat wave

I don't know how I'm gonna survive

Somebody bring me some water

Can't you see it's outa control

Baby it's hot and the air-con just ain't workin'

Tonight this scorching heat is really taking it's toll

Oh, it's taking it's toll

Somebody bring me some water

Can't you see I'm burning alive

Please put an end to this suffocating heat wave

I don't know how I'm gonna survive

Somebody bring me some water!!!!!

See how the heat has affected my mind, I'm going crazy I know it because that was a bit weird.....wasn't it?

Australia Day

Yesterday being Australia Day and all, my husband thought it was the perfect opportunity to go on one of his surprise drives.....you never know where you're gonna end up and it's a little frustrating at times, but yesterday was a nice surprise we ended up at Horton Falls which is part of the Gwyder I think.....don't ask me how we got there all I know is that we took the long scenic route as usual! Here are a few happy snaps.....
If only she looked at the camera.....oh well that's life isn't it!

Here is quite a nice picture of Ryan....did you notice the chicken drumstick in his hand?

Here's Megan being her usual cheeky self.

Here are the kids again.....did you notice Ryan is still munching on that chicken. Horton Falls is a beautiful spot.......next time I'll plan it alot better and take our swimmers and a fishing rod.

"It's too hot to move"

Here is my luscious Lulu trying to escape the heat wave we are experiencing at the moment......such a cute little kitty.

Well, I hope you are all organised for the return of school tomorrow....I'm only semi-organised at the moment just trying to make the most of the last day of holidays. Once the kids go back I have a list of "things to do" a mile long I would really like to get into.....I tend to let things go a little through the holidays, I find it a little hard to keep on top of it all when they are home and it's starting to show.

Thanks for stopping by.

Look who came to visit.

Have a look who came to visit us this afternoon.......

He was so low in the tree we could touch him.....not that I'd want to take a look at the size of the claws on him......he looks like he wants a big squishy cuddle but you'd have to be an idiot to try it!!!!!
Here is a quick and simple card I made from some more scraps today......and I have to admit this one was lifted from somewhere I just can't remember where.

"Sleepy Head"

Here is my everyday life shot for the day..........lap it up Ryan because you won't be able to take a Nanna nap like this next week.......school returns for 2009 and back into routine which will be very nice.

"Fluffy Potatoes"

I made these absolutely yummo fluffy potatoes to go with dinner last night....they were a smash hit with everyone, even the kids cleaned their plate up. This particular recipe I got from here if you are interested.

I have to go and change the ice pack on Megan's foot because she was bitten by a green ant an hour and she has only just stopped screaming.......oh what fun!

See you next time

Quick share....

Here is a quick layout I did today using supplies that were old and a few scraps....something we all have plenty of in our craft cupboard. The more I look at it I can't help but think it needs something else.
Here is today's everyday life photo.......and don't all freak out at the amount of dust on my TV it's not like this all the time.....the dust bunnies decided to move in while we were away. In the dry, windy summer months around here my TV could look like this every 7 - 10 days.....I hate having to dust my house all the time, but that's what you get for living on the land in an older house with a gap or two.....ho hum!!

"Dust Bunnies"

Yippety yip yip that's all folks!

All bugged out!!

Today we made some more cupcakes......Lady Beetles for something different. A word of warning.....don't attempt these unless you have at least 3 -4 hours spare....but if you do the end result is rather cute. I got the idea from the Martha Stewart site.

Here is one a little closer.........I haven't eaten any yet because as you can see they are positively sugar heavy and for me probably a bit sickly, but the kids love them........yes and after consuming a few not surprisingly my lounge suite became an indoor trampoline.

Here is a little more of the aftermath, whilst eating more not so good food for the day....they thought they were Master Shefu ( I think that's how it's spelt ) out of the Kung Fu Panda, I though I would use these pictures for my everyday life pictures.

"Crazy Kids""Master Shefu""No explanation" OK on to other matters, I was very excited when a friend rang me late this afternoon to let me know I had been chosen as the winner of the Cut and Paste January Comp, this is so cool because I know the Feb Double Up pack is bound to be full of some great goodies, thanks Pip!!

That's all I have to share today

Something to make you smile.

It could be one of many things but today I'm not feeling overly cheerful.........maybe it was the intense burst of house work early this morning, or the fact there is only one cupcake left and the kids said that I was allowed to have it ( I am choosing not to by the way ), I don't know.....it's just too hot around here.

Here's something that did make me smile.......nice huh!

Here are some more holiday pics.........We all had so much fun especially because we had great friends we met up with.

The kids went boogi boarding......Megan was so over the fact that she kept getting sand in her eyes that she decided to wear her goggles......what ever works I say.

I'm kinda enjoing taking pictures of everyday life so today I'm going to give you two to look at....

"Gate duty"

"Someone has been playing with mum's camera"

Here is the latest Scrapbooking Kit I purchased, I got it from Cut and Paste and I'm so looking forward to diving into it......although I have a few scraps on my desk I'd like to turn into cards first! That's about all I have for today.

Use those scraps!!

I've been scrapbooking for around 7 years now and over those 7 years I have collected so much stuff that my craft cupboard is busting at the seams....it's just like an addiction I can not stop buying more and more.......at least my addiction doesn't involve me sitting on a stool in a club smoking a cigarette and pumping loads of money through a machine.....I couldn't think of anything worse, I'd much rather look at my bursting craft cupboard. Anyhow after that little digression back onto my scrapbooking supplies......I have so many scraps it's not funny.....when I first started I was told "don't throw anything out because you can always use a scrap for something else". Just lately I'm at the point where I tell the kids " Just go for it, use what you want", I know this would truly freak alot of people out but really that bit of paper you have been saving since 2003 isn't going to get used any time soon is it? This year along with a few other changes I would like to make in my life I am going to make more of an effort to use up some scraps once I have finished my layout.....just like I did this afternoon when I made this card.......It's far cheaper and much nicer than buying a card from the shop which could cost anywhere between $5.00 and $9.00. So come on join in and recycle those scrap and see what you can come up with!!

Here is one of those other things I want to do in 2009.....take pictures of Everyday Life.....because apart from giving me extra practice with my camera which I definitely need it gives me some sort of record on what Everyday Life was like at the time......and hopefully I'll get some nice shots. I don't think I'll be so obsessed that I must take one every day of the year but I'll try and do it every time I do a post. It would be real nice if you all joined in so we could have a bit of a peek at your Everyday Life to!

"Pencils"

Now that I've gotten all that off my brain I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

Today......

Ryan was my little helper......have a look at what he helped me make.....ooh that looks scrumptious.....lickety lick yeah!! Here is another look at our lip lickin' cupcakes........and that's about all I'll be doing, lip lickin' that is........my new year is not about going on a strict eating regime.... it's about better choices.....and I chose not to eat one just like last night when I was about to choose which drumstick I was going to eat......choc chip or mint choc chip, when thank goodness the phone rang and I chose to answer that instead, all I could do was once again lick my lips while the kids got those.
Oh look here they are again, by now you might be thinking " so what it's just a cake" but hey....they are freakin yummy lookin' aren't they? Now my mouth is salivating I think it's time to change the subject!
OK, here is a bit more on our time away......in case you haven't already guessed we went to the coast. These pictures were taken on the way over at Dorrigo.......see that sign post behind the kids.......that is our last name and yes that Lane is named after my husbands family, his father and grandfather owned a large portion of the farming land around Dorrigo around 20 years ago.

The views are just like a post card in every direction....and from a few spots on a clear day you can see the ocean. Mark seems to think that we should retire here.....hey wouldn't that be funny.....the Schmitt's living on Schmitts Ln.

That's all I have time for today....call back soon.

Can you guess....

where we have been since I last posted by looking at this very pleased little face?
Happy with herself isn't she.

It's been a real busy week....today besides trying to stay comfortable during this incredible heat wave which threatens to melt me like the wicked witch of the west.....I am washing all that sand out of our luggage.......oh what a joy that is......at least when hung on the line it's dry in like 5 minutes flat!!!

OK, I had better go and drink some more water.......stay tuned for some more holiday pics and a look at some goodies I got in the mail.

More to share

Have you got this months issue of Scrapbook Creations yet? I knew this was going to happen just not sure when so it was a nice surprise to see this when looking through.......it is in the "Simply Said" section.

Now for one of those catch up things again......A few months back I had not one but two layouts published in the same issue......Scrapbooking Memories Vol 10 No 8. This one was put into the "Buttons Gallery".

This one was in the "Final Encore Gallery". I was very surprised that this one was published because the pictures were actually taken on my mobile phone.......I had no choice because it was the one and only day of the year that Mark decided he needed my camera for the day.....isn't that totally typical that something truly funny happens when you have NO CAMERA!

Here it is a little closer.
There is a real funny story attached to this last layout so if you have a minute here it is......It was sunny winter's afternoon and I was cleaning up inside the kids were outside amusing themselves, all of a sudden I could hear the most devilish laughter I had ever heard!!! Upon investigation this is what I found......Megan's head and hair was caked in mud about and inch thick. I told them ( after I took a few happy snaps on my mobile phone ) that I would have to hose them down before they could come inside to the shower. The very second I hit Megan with the hose she ran.....and because she was unable to see where she was going she ran right into the clothes line which at the time was full of nice clean dry washing!! That totally made my day.....I was really cranky at the time and I won't tell you what I said but looking back now it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, I wish I had it all on video because I'm positive it would have won Australia's Funniest Home Video.

That's all I have to share today

Take a look

........ at these beautiful sisters, aren't they gorgeous! I saw them in one of our local shops and couldn't resist taking a picture of them.
I'm thinking this one might come and live with me one day soon......still thinking.

OK, here is a layout I've been working on......loving the colours and black and white pictures.

We are all enjoying the holiday break......sleeping in til 7am and not having to rush off to town for school.......play dates with friends.....swimming......keeping busy with all sorts of activities, hope you are all enjoying the break as much as we are.

Talk soon.

Quick Share.......

Today Ryan wanted to do as many other cricket supporters around Australia did and that was to wear PINK on honor of Jane MarGrath Day. He has been watching the Test Match all day and can tell you anything about the match if asked........he loves cricket so much!

Here he is practicing his "spin bowl".

Here is how I spent one very hot and humid afternoon while Ryan watched the cricket and Megan floated around doing anything and everything.....Scrapbooking, something I have not done for what seems like forever!

A little closer.
OK, time to go and get dinner... bye for now.

Got creative today

Cute isn't it ? If it looks really familiar it probably is as I totally lifted it......Tara Scobie got an honourable mention in this years Scrapbooking Memories Masters for her calendar, a little owl just like this was part of her entry.

Here it is a little closer........ I think it took me around 3 hours to make....heaps of stitching, beading, stuffing and presto and new little friend in our house.

Here is one of those catch up things.........can you guess what it might be ?
I have noticed myself squinting when on the computer, watching TV and when reading.......so I could no longer put it off, I had to get my eyes checked. My eyes aren't that bad and I don't need to wear them all the time but I am so sick of squinting and getting a few too many headaches......the change is amazing!

OK that's all from me today....call back soon.