Melbourne bush fires

What absolute sadness has come over our gorgeous state - bushfires that have claimed too many lives, houses and not to mention animals, I am saddened to hear of all the devastation but cannot switch off from listening, wanting to know more, wanting to know how I can help.
One of my better traits is being empathetic, but with this comes the sadness that sometimes overwhelms me when I hear of such heartbreak.
The beautiful town of Marysville is GONE, a place that hubby and I just visited late last year for a romantic rendeavouz, I just cannot believe that it has been burnt to the ground, I intend to do a layout of our weekend away there, and I will post when it is complete.
Tonight I am grateful, grateful that the fires came nowhere near us, grateful that my extended family and friends in warragul and drouin are safe and out of danger, grateful that I have the most loving family to go home to tonight after work.
To all those who are suffering and have lost, my heart goes out to you.

girlyfriends are the best

Had the most glorious morning catching up with my dear girlfriend today Lynno - she and I hit the sale at simply scrapbooking, then onto a fabo kidswear shop Purple Patch where I bought the most gorgeous top for Nate (it's for when we go to Phillip Island) plus it is aussie made! and then onto Lillies on Brougham, a stylish, classy and yummy nursery/cafe where we sat outside had glorious snacks and coffee (all in air conditioning!) then upstairs to a fantastic 75% clothing sale where I clung tightly to a gorgeous white jacket, it's now securely in my wardrobe ready to be worn, worn and then worn again. Of course I asked the lady to wrap it in the tissue wrap I had spied which was black flourish tissue that would be just perfect for cards or inclusion on a scrap page.
Of all the days I forgot to bring along my camera *sigh* so no piccies of us having a wonderful time, just the memories.
Came home to a winning letter - absolutely love those the best, so we will take delivery in a couple of weeks of a water tank, which has been on our wish list.

All in all, today was a great day.... kids played up going to bed but now after several hours they are snug as bugs... it's still stinky humid here in melbourne... but at least our a/c is working TODAY.

ciao 4 now

winning - ah I love it!

hi y'all
I just had to add this post from Anna from Koko Vanilla Designs... I am a winner - yahhhh

go visit her at http://www.kokovanilladesigns.com.au/

gorgeous designs ;)

my winning post:

Winner of $15 Gift Voucher is....

Hi Guys,

Sorry its taken a bit long to get the winner announced but here is Melbourne we have had two consecutive days of 43 degrees and I am over it big time. There really isn' t much to do except go to the pools or shopping centres with good aircon. We have airconditioning but its only in our main family room and it's struggling to keep up. So sitting here typing this right now is pretty uncomfortable because I would say it's about 38 degrees in this room with no air flow so I can only stay on the computer and do stuff for 15 min intervals before I get too hot and have to go in the other room to cool down a bit.

Anyway thanks to the 3 ladies who commented I must say for all the lurkers on this blog I was a little disappointed there weren't more comments, but I understand that sometimes it takes courage to comment on blogs if you haven't done it before and time as well. It's just nice to get feedback especially when running a business on line because it's not as easy to gauge what customers like or don't like and often comments are a good way of getting communication back. Plus it's nice to check all your blogs and see who the circle of people that read my blog are so that I can comment on your blogs as well.

Okay so the winner was chosen by my eldest daughter, I put the 3 names in a bowl and she picked one out

The winner of the $15 gift voucher drumroll ************

Tanstar - Great tutorial, it inspires me to go home after work and try it out... the layout is gorgeous. I would love to see more of your future tutorials. Thanks for sharing.

So please contact me Tanstar at pontikis@netspace.net.au for your voucher details. woooooo i just love to win.....

need to scrap more!!!!

also if anyone needs any stampin up stuff I am here.
tan

tagging n stuff

I have been tagged by the gorgeous and talented photographer/scrappy chick Nic Finlayson.

here are the rules:

1. Go to where you store you pictures on your computer.
2. Go to the SIXTH folder and pick the SIXTH picture.
3. Post that picture on your blog along with a SHORT story about it.
4. You know the rest. Tag SIX people and leave a comment on their blog or email them letting them know you chose them.
   

so I chose

shazza
marie
michael
erika


http://nicolefinlayson.typepad.com/just_like_heaven/2009/01/crossing-stuff-off-the-list.html

The above picture is of my gorgeous son, he is about 9 \months old in this picture, wearing a top from my American cousin Kathy, he is on the toyroom floor and enjoying his fake hamburger, I remember getting down to his level and just taking heaps of photos of him, he was and still is soooo cute, he had hardly any hair at all. This was March of 2006 and we were going on holidays to phillip island, we do this every year with Michael's dad to Island Breeze Resort, I love it there, the kids love the pool and walks along the beach. This year will be Nate's 4th year of family week away with his Poppa Jon and Di... This photo makes me smile.

hello there to my hoard o fans - hehe
Life has continued to remain busy, I had fun this weekend celebrating my gorgeous girls 8th birthday, yes it has been a whole eight years since I started my journey as a mummy and Mike and I became a "family". It has been wonderful, gone fast and there have been tears (lots of them mine) and so many happy times, thank goodness I have my scrapbooking to remind me of all the adventures we have had in 8 years. My girl is healthy and happy and that's all that matters, she is loving (sometimes) to her little bro and has such a wide range of different friends.

I have been creating, not as much as I would like - LOL but that's life.

Here are some gorgeous pics from boxing day and also my latest layout...
tan

my last post no pix

I dont know why - maybe it was the universe, but my last post I could NOT post any photos, will try again.

Life has been quiet - thank goodness, although not last night because my house was a rock band, yep Hubby cannot get off Guitar Hero world tour, he loves it... if it had more bon jovi songs I'd love it too fer sure.

I have scrapbooked a page and got ready for another two, just need embells and sticking down. easy peasy.

Went to heidi swapp class the other day with my sister and best friend and it was absolutely awesome, meet up with all my talented scrappy friends and it was an absolute blast, full on - Heidi is such a gorgeous woman, she is inspirational. Oh and she got me onto distress inks from Tim Holtz - wow am I obsessed!

Have yet to complete my soulology layouts - slacker - I need to seriously knuckle down and get piccies and words onto paper. I have started taking photos of the everyday for the becky higgins 365 challenge go here for details http://kitofthemonth.blogspot.com/ you cannot get the kit at the moment, it's sold out, ah well that will save me some $$$$, but I love the concept of taking a photo every day... it is a good reminder to enjoy the little things we may forget.

Anyhoo off for my ice break fix - hugs to all.

ok so.... its 2009

This year is gunna be big - I can feel it in me waters ;) he he
I am going to become a better and bigger stampin up! consultant, a better mummy and wife (of 10 years!!!) and scrapping will be my big focus, get those pics on all my gorgeous papers I have been hoarding. LOL
I have been checking out various blogs - my friend shazzas and also Paula at Paulas Scrapbooking Place and Becky Higgins 365 challenge - woe my head is going to explode, I am so motivated if only it wasnt 4am in the morning....
I will now stop all the waffling and actually post up piccies - no organisation really just whatever tickles my fancy.
as Ned says from Ned and Stacey "sit back and enjoy the show".