through my eyes

not long now..

til i am off to sunny (gosh I hope so) Queensland! very excited!!! I spent the day doing lots of odd jobs and finishing off some stuff, got a haircut, took some photos and i taught an online workshop tonight at shopandcrop..think pink. 2 layouts using the new pink paisley pop fashion. fun stuff!!!..heres my samples

the shop and crop newsletter came out today and I had a couple of layouts in there, showing off the new gorgeous Fancy pants..

and the yummy lace cardstock by Ki memories..

I really should go to bed. Another big day tomorrow with a photoshoot in the morning and packing to sort out...woohooo!!! i need a holiday!! LOL!

about time

i had some scrapping to share..LOL! I tried out for the Ki memories DT and was obviously unsuccessful (or there would be alot of woohoooing and exclamation marks!LOL!) anyway..i love Ki stuff..always have. and even though it was a distant chance it was worth giving it a go. heres my 2 layouts I submitted,,

moving right along (hehee)..its upload day at shop and crop
and this week we had to scraplift our fellow dt member, Deb Godley. I always have fun doing scraplifts, but I never know if I actually did a good job! loving the bg ambrosia!!

I had a pretty good day today although I have the beginnings of the flu I think. Lucky I am going on holidays on saturday (or maybe not..my body may relax and let the bugs in with a vengeance! LOL!) I really should go to bed but the netball just came on TV(man I am a sucker for sport!) yawning..going..bye.

go aussies

i just watched the mens wheelchair basketballers win gold and now i am on tenderhooks as the mens wheelchair rugby are playing the US for gold..go aussies go!! I am very tired and should go to sleep but the lure of sport on tv is too strong..LOL! I have had the best couple of days in sydney at a photography and photoshop workshop. My mind is overflowing with ideas and information. Hopefully I can retain it all..hehee!
I booked my return flight from new orleans tonight so its good to know i can get home.(yay frequent flyer points!) They other fabulous news is that due to the amazing generosity of my mum and dad, we are now flying to the gold coast and thus avoiding a 12 hour car trip with a restless 3 year old and an emotional 4 year old....wooooooohoooooooo!!! thank you m&d!!!! that is going to make such a difference to both my state of mind and also to the mood of the kids. they will be so excited about going on a plane again!
i really should go to sleep..big plans to achieve stuff tomorrow..wish me luck..lol!!

expectations

once again, i had expectations of what i could achieve this weekend and once again, i fell rather short of the mark! LOL!...you would think i would learn! Today we filled the day with family stuff and I did some proofing. I had every intention to do some scrapbooking but somehow that didn't happen. We did get to sign Lucy up for Nippers at a local surf club. She is beyond excited and looks so cute in her swimmers and surf cap! I unfortunately will miss her first day as I will be on my way home from the states. I would give Brad my other camera to document it but I think he would tell me to bugger off as he will be busy enough trying to amuse Jack! They have all gone to grandmas tonight as I have an early start to go to Sydney for a photoshop workshop. Looking forward to sitting and soaking in some expert knowledge! Kinda looking forward to the time out too!! I am wondering what possessed me to sign up for this with only 4 days until we go to the gold coast but I am sure I will get lots out of it..well, I hope so! LOL! I should go pack and sort out my travel route. Driving to Sydney scares me sometimes..I am not confident with the city area at all..i am leaving myself heaps of time so I don't panic, which means a very very early start for me. arghhh!! best get away from the computer..seeya soon! i hope you all had a weekend filled with joy!

beautiful warm day

spring has sprung..and the weather today was glorious. For the first time in a long time I have actually let lucy wear her tshirts and shorts outside the house (my kid is hot blooded but I am a worry wort so I make her rug up!) I had a new born session this morning..check out this little cutie..
theres more over here if you are clucky!
then i popped into town as the electrical store was having a sale. i got 8GB memory cards for less then $70 (reduced from $260+!!!!) and i got a dual screen portable dvd player for the kids in a vain attempt to make the trip to the gold coast less unbearable for us all. We are going out tomorrow to try to get them headset type earphones as they both struggle to keep the ear buds in and we both are overjoyed at the possibility of listening to our music rather than "peppa pig" and the wiggles the whole way there!! This afternoon Lucy had a birthday party at a play centre.. Tonight I have scrapped my final FK Et layout. Not sure I actually like it that much (LOL) but its done. Tomorrow I want to get some scrapping done for myself which I will endeavour to share. I also have some proofing to finish off and packing cause i am going up to Sydney for 2 days on monday to attend a photography seminar/photoshop workshop. Bit excited about it!! Think I'll head to bed to watch the wheelchair rugby. nite!

he is home

I am laying here, blog surfing on my laptop while watching the paralympics. i am also soaking in the sound of his breathing as he sleeps soundly next to me. I feel calm, safe and content. Oh so glad to have him home. He is my everything.

one sleep to go

and my hubby will be home. I have a lot of counting down to do this month. 1 sleep til brad gets home, 8 sleeps til we go to the gold coast, 3 weeks and one day til i shoot my next wedding, 3 weeks and 2 days until I go to New orleans! lots to look forward to!! Lots of numbers lately in my life!
Lucky i love numbers...
It actually feels strange that the countdown is almost done. lots to achieve and finish before we go to the gold coast but it will be so much easier when Brad is home to help !! I had the best intentions over the past 10 days while he has been away. I had a long list of things I wanted to achieve without the guilt I place on myself for not spending enough time with him at night. I ticked a few things off my list but nowhere near as many as I hoped. Its funny how other stuff just crops up and always seems to unbalance my expectations. I really should just learn to let go of my expectations and take one day at a time. (oh how i wish I was programmed that way!) Today i achieved quite a bit; delivered the childcare photos, finished some design work, proofed some images, did a photoshoot at the harbour, cleaned the kitchen, fed & watered 2 children, did 4 loads of washing and drank 3 cups of decaf coffee!! I have a huge day tomorrow taking photos for my old workplace for some promotional stuff, Brad gets home and then i plan to sit on the couch and soak up his smell. I really miss his smell... and his warm body in the bed next to me. I really need to get an electric blanket when he is away as I freeze my ar*e off! I might go and make my 4th decaf coffee for the day and sit in bed and watch the paralympics for a bit. I am so inspired by these athletics..such courage and determination. I love watching with Lucy. I love that she can witness people with disabilities in such an open and inspiring way, and that she can see that it doesn't stop them from achieving and participating. I am in awe of their spirit! i can't wait to watch the wheelchair basketball tonight..they are amazing! I can't get the ball in the hoop standing upright! coffee, tv..here I come!
p.s. this weekend I am going to scrap. i really miss it. i have lots of photos and fun product to play with...and lots of stories I need to tell before i forget the details in the haze of my life right now. I really need to learn to manage my time better and also how to relax. Maybe you can help me... How do you manage your time? how do you relax? how can I find balance?

not long now

til my lovely husband is home and I gotta tell you, I cannot wait. Apart from missing him dreadfully, I am really not cut out to be a single parent! LOL! Last night i had my farewell from work which was great fun. I was spoilt with gorgeous jewelery and flowers, a lovely dinner and kind words. All good until I cam home and had a reaction to something I ate and i spent the rest of the night/morning writhing in pain and visiting the bathroom. I'll leave it at that, but suffice it to say, if I could have physically driven to the hospital I would have. Man i was in pain. Its taken me all day to get some strength back and to start to function normally. Luckily my kids spent the night at grandmas and came home tired and happy and willing to lounge around with mum all day! I really can't wait for Brad to get home just so life can get a bit of routine back into it.!!
I believe the latest For keeps is out. we don't get a contributor copy anymore and my newsagent hasn't got it in yet. The Et had a baby theme which I had fun creating a canvas of my niece for. I made this layout, trimmed it down a bit and then attached it to a lovely thick canvas so it can be displayed in her room..

I also have a Bella product showcase in there I believe but i will share that next time! Now, I am feeling very tired and think I will head to bed. I have a session booked tomorrow afternoon so I am praying for sunny weather! and i am delivering the childcare photos tomorrow..hopefully all the parents like them!! off to bed..nite!

Happy Fathers day and happy 8!

My very cute nephew turned 8 today! I cannot believe he is 8 already..man I feel old.! And of course, it is also Fathers day. I have a great Dad. Always willing to bale me out and although he has a hard time expressing his emotions sometimes, I know he loves me. Hopefully he knows I feel the same. I appreciate EVERYTHING you have done for me Dad and I hope you had a great day! He is turning 60 at the end of the month and we are heading to the gold coast for 2 weeks to relax and hang out as a family (my mum, dad, sis and her family live in melbourne so we like to holiday together as much as possible) Looking forward to that!!!
And my dear husband, miles away physically but very much in my heart. Can't wait for him to get home..we miss him dreadfully!
I am a full week planned and I am excited because Jack is feeling better and therefore behaving better, which in turn means he and Lucy are getting along better..making for a happier Mummy!! I have clean sheets on my bed (oh how I wish I was Oprah and had someone to change me sheets every 2 days..i just LOVE the feeling of clean sheets...,unfortunately it is balanced my mild hatred of making beds..LOL! .)
Off to watch some paralympics..seeya!

still here

its been a big week for me taking the school photos at my kids childcare centre. about 100 kids over the 5 days, lots of gorgeous faces and personalities! I have tried to keep on top of all my editing so that the parents don't have to wait long, hence other than a few secret squirrel scrapbook projects I haven't had much of an opportunity to play this week (that and I have been a sole parent as Brad has been in Korea this week..and thats hard enough without everything else I try to squeeze into my day! LOL!) I tried to get my kids to participate in the photos just like all the other kids. Lucy was co-operative,
jack..not so much,
(this is his stunned mullet impersonation!LOL!)
My latest challenge for the Book of Me at shop and crop is up. The kit this month is lovely and I had a great time setting the topic, which is celebrate a friendship..

Love these girls (and their willingness to do crazy things like sit in the gutter with cigar lollies just because I asked them too!!)
The kids and I went over to brig & Micks tonight for dinner, which was sensational! we all needed the company and the distraction from missing Daddy! Thanks for a great night guys! We love hanging out with you!
Tomorrow we are heading to Grandma and Grandpas for lunch and a bit of frivolity. The kids (and me) will miss seeing their Daddy on fathers day but I am sure he will call. We are on the countdown...
I am watching the paraolympic games opening ceremony on SBS..i really wish they would give it the same level of coverage as the olympic games..the athletes deserve it and I know I would love to watch it all day. The chinese team is HUGE! and one bloke just tipped another bloke out of his wheelchair..oops! I look forward to seeing some highlights of wheelchair rugby..that is one cool, tough-a*se game!
I think I'll grab some shut-eye..I have so much stuff I want to achieve tomorrow ...