did i do that?

show and tell... (updated)

This is basically a show and tell post.

These were February's classes...

Not sure I like this one... no... actually I'm pretty confident that I think it sucks. Badly. Yuck.

Heres the journalling...

Here's the Summer 2008 album...

...and February's Product Pick...

AND!!!! After I'd picked the kids up from school on Monday, what should be sitting there waiting for me but a very cool RAK from Melinda! Lots of Love Elsie and a gorgeous card and a wonderful Christmas pic of her beautiful children! Thanks again, Melinda!

...and now I will turn my back on my beloved iMac and clear this HUGE stack of projects and challenges that are piling up...

au revoir =D

roight...

I know it's been a little longer than usual and I just know y'all miss me when I'm gone because I do too! ...miss me too that is... ;D ha!!

Ok... Here's the latest...

Friday, the kids had their swimming carnival. I'm so proud of ALL of them (students) for their impeccable sportsmanship and encouragement for those less talented swimmers. EVERY student in the Senior school swam and completed their races and for those that were a lap behind, the students/parents/teachers outside of the pool gave them all the encouragement and support they needed to finish their race. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside...

Here are quick action snaps of my kidlets during one of their races...

See... with this next one... well... the thing is... see... when your swimming cap is a little on the loose side and... well... when the 'start' siren blows...see... you kinda have to jump in the pool...see and then the 'too loose cap' comes off, see... and, well... you're about 5 strokes down the pool when you realise you've lost your cap... and, well... you just HAVE to go back and retrieve it! Then, you panic when you realise what you've done... see and then you have to make up for lost time and cope with keeping your cap in your hand at the same time, see... and... well... you get the picture... you see?

And, then you get the adults that like to have their photos taken. This is Randell, Bev's hubby. Randell took the morning away from his students to witness his children do wonderfully well at their swimming carnival. Everyone say "Hi Randell!" I snapped a few of Randell this day. Randell just LOVED that lens. He even commented on seeing my eyeball in it from his side of the lens!

And, of course the lovely Bev...

And there endeth the swimming carnival post.

Here is a snippet of my contribution for next month's 'Sketched!' class at Scrapbooks etc.

AND I have been tagged by Sue for 7 bits of trivia... There's only so much dodging you can do from the tag bullets before one sneaks up and taps you on the shoulder...

1. When I was little I used to like the feel of flannel or fleece on the back of my hand. I would rub my hand against it and make sucking sounds with my tongue to go to sleep. I still remember curling up on my uncle's knee and rubbing my hand against his tshirt.

2. I don't like creamy cocktails. Give me a margarita made with fresh lime juice any day... or any time of the day... except the day after the night before because then I'd probably yak all over your shoes...

3. I love short grass. Long grass annoys me. It grates at my gizzards. I like short, neatly manicured lawns. It's a bit of a problem now that I have 5 acres to tend to but only 3 of them have short grass. I also like my edges just "so". If they are not just "so" that too grates at my gizzards.

4. I like to 'pop' cane toads. Yes, I used to have this 'ewwwww' syndrome when it came to these nasty little critters. I do it to save the green frogs and spotted frogs and striped frogs we have around our house. Frogs are good. Cane toads are not. So I like to hold them down with my foot and then grab one leg (and let me tell you... these things are dumb! They don't move. They LET you grab them. Especially when you have your foot in the middle of their back!) Then, like a former rep softballer I take my throwing arm and I slam them down at the concrete like a possessed woman! and they 'pop'! their tongues hang out all over the shop and thats a good thing... Then I pose like 'The Hulk' when he's in a bad mood. Yeah... I'm tough!

5. If I have to get down on my knees to clean something properly... odds are... it won't get cleaned properly. Perhaps if I were 30kg lighter I'd do it. Reality is, I'm not. It's a circulatory thang... I don't "do" kneeling 'cos I can feel my pulse in my legs... like a throb... it's sad really...

6. I have a crush on Jason, a judge on SYTYCD Australia. I think he's gay but OMG! I don't think he is particularly handsome although he is good looking... but I'm in love with his personality. I hang on everything he says... every judgement, every comment, every interview radio has with him... he's my bitch... I wonder if he likes dumpy married middle-aged scrapbookers with a chronic spaz factor...

7. I have an OCD for freebee makeup/skincare. You know the stuff... "...spend $60 on any more on any perfume or skincare and receive your free bonus gift to the value of blah blah..." I have LOTS of travel pacs of makeup/skincare that will never be used.

Gawd... how boring was all of that?

Be back soon with an update...

let me...

just say I've had a hodge podge week. Li'l bit of this... li'l bit of that... hardly ANY scrapping... Li'l bit of shopping... li'l bit of working... li'l bit of socialising... lots of li'l bits of eating... bad things... Dreamy Donut things! Not my fault... I had to introduce Jilly GG to the culinary delights of Dreamy Donuts... and feed my Mum some French Vanilla Slice from Waterford Bakery.

"I LIKE THEM A LOH!" Now name that movie...

Not much to report 'tall really...

Did this...

Might have something more to report after tomorrow.

Tomorrow's class is fully booked at Scrapbooks Etc (not sure of the second class) but if any of you local girls (or not local girls) are interested in making this groovy little tabbed summer album please call the number in the side bar to secure your place. I'd love to see you!

BTW! 40% off all floor stock at Scrapbooks etc too! Sale ends Saturday. Please come... but not all at once... I will break out in a sweat and giggle and that is never pretty...

toot toot!!!!!

Yes, I'm going to toot my own horn! And there's nothing worse than someone continually tooting their horn except of course someone who's willing to ADMIT IT!!!

Yeah yeah! Get over yourself you might say... but I have to let the world know that I was publicly acknowledged by Suzy Plant on her blog by having her post a photo of ELSIE holding a message for me!

ME ME ME ME ME ME ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cracked up at first because Suzy is a funny little trickster chickster and I thought she photoshopped it (because she did) but if you look closely at the plaque Elsie is holding, very faintly beneath the photoshopped black writing is the same message in Elsie's handwriting. OK ok ok... I had to check... thanks Suzy! You are such a crack up!!!

but... not wanting to leave any doubt whatsoever in your minds... here's the same photo with the levels adjusted so there will be no doubt in your minds as to why I'm sitting on the horn!!!! haaaaah!!!

So! let me bask in self proclaimed famedom and give myself a toot! or more of a

DOOO-OOOGA!!!!!!

OK...OK ok.... I'm over myself for a little while now... but "...this is going straight to the pool room!" (Aussie joke and for any Aussies that don't 'get it' rent out "The Castle" its a classic!)

On a more serious note, I lost my Uncle Ian today to cancer/brain tumour. He was only 60 years young. My Mum has lost a brother, sister, Mother and 2 brothers-in law within a period of 5 years which is so sad. Please say a little prayer for her in this time of prolonged grief.

Anyway, without wanting to put you all in sombre moods or rather ME in a sombre mood let me toot my horn again!!!

DOOO-OOOOOOOOOGA!!!

I had a few layouts lined up for publication in this month's mags but I can only find 3 of them...

and... Donna's one which you've seen of course...

So!!! are you OVER me? Please feel free to poke me in the eye with a reality check!

haaaaah!!!! Nope! Not working!

And... for a little tease here is March's sneak peak for Product Pick at Scrapbooks etc.

Hoo Roo!

one summer mini album and Shezza's stuff

Ok! Friends, lovers and countrymen ....errr women! Here is the mini album we (you and I) will be putting together at Scrapbooks etc. this month. There are two spots left in the second class so if any of you ladies, near or far would like to partaketh (I love making up words) then please don't dilly dally (<--- I thought for sure that would be in the dictionary... oh well...) and call to secure your place.

I had a wonderful brunch at Sherryn's house today. It was her birthday. Happy birthday Sherryn!!!! She's 29 too you know... She puts on a very nice spread and presentation is always immaculate! I wish I'd taken my camera... She has 180 degree views of SE Qld out to Moreton Bay all the way to the Gold Coast. She lives in a wonderfully large house on top of a hill and has been decorating!! While I have been playing with paper Sherryn has been decorating. Wonderful colour scheme... Here is a photo I'm sure American's will find familiar but Sherryn and her darling husband Veijo have decorated in these colours...

She also keeps one of those houses that give you the feeling that you just want to curl up on the couch and relax... and if you feel like curling up on the couch to relax then you can just go right ahead and do it. Sherryn has a toy box in the corner and a high chair but she doesn't have kids. Her house is an open door to everyone. Hospitality Central! It's no wonder she will be the legal guardian to my children if I ever met a bus head on. Well, lets hope it never happens because that white wouldn't be white anymore and that great decorating probably won't look that good for much longer! No Siree! My kids... well... they kill things... like hygiene and streak free windows and a stocked refrigerator and flushed loos. I doubt I'm on my own there...

And it's sooo nice that Sherryn also landed a husband that LOVES to shop! and decorate and if it weren't for the fact that Sherryn snarls everytime he reaches for her scrapbooking stash, he would be scrapbooking right alongside us! He's a SNAG. HE buys HER clothes. HE has great taste! HE probably batted for the other team in a previous life. AND AND AND!!! He is a chef! OMG! He even CLEANS out the kitchen cupboards BY HIMSELF and he's even moved his clothes out of their wardrobe and into another so Sherryn has it to herself!

I want to live with THEM...

Hope you had a nice birthday Shezza!

UPDATE: I don't think I showed you the first two layouts I did for Scrapapple. Head on over to the Scrapapple store and forum and find yourself a bargain and some great friendships.

hhmmmppphhhh!

I wish I looked this good from behind when I do cartwheels...

Thing is see...

...when I do cartwheels...

...I don't look anywhere near as gorgeous as this...

or alight anywhere near as gracefully as this...

I look and sound more like this...

hows this

for the YUM factor...

Sherryn had this delivered to Scrapbooks etc because I had to work on my birthday. Isn't it just yummy looking?!?!?!?

It WAS just yummy looking and tasting! It had honeydew melon, strawberries (some of them choc dipped), pineapple, Ferrero Roches and Chupa Chups. And I really didn't expect those strawberries to be sweet and juicy either or the chocolate the fine swiss stuff but it was and they were... I made a deal with the kids that they could have the Chupa Chups if I could have the choc dipped strawberries. You know the calories from the chocolate cancel out if you eat it with fruit...

AND now I'm struggling to get back on the wagon after Sherryn's little nudge!

I love her regardless of her comment in the last post.

I shall forgive you for that, Sherryn. Obviously Veijo must have finally shaken that wobbly headboard loose and it's bonked you on the head... =D

introducing...

Mr Vintage MX!!!!

Surprise, Surprise!! I hardly ever post or scrap about this person. The one what shares my bed, the one what fathered my children, the one what brings home the bacon and the one what sends me around the bend with his obsession. His "put your 41 year old body on the line for 1st place" obsession! And in case you are wondering, I am well aware of my grammar. I do lapse into juvenile speak sometimes... see!

Hi Brad! (He will be loving this...) OK! OK! If I post some photos PLEASE don't stroke his ego! (I'd hate that...) after all, the bloke doesn't need any encouragement.

HOWEVER!!!! I will say this and only because I am his wife and I WILL ALLOW him to get a huge head swell, Brad is an Australian Vintage Motocross (VMX) champ. Choke! Cough! Splutter! (...it hurts Mama!...)

We had a photo shoot today way down in the back yard on his self made MX track and I got some good shots. He is even dressed for the part. Circa 1980 garb and bike.

He is even appearing on the VMX sites in the US for "Bike of the Month" with one of many in his collection.

Did I mention that he has a large collection of motorbikes? Did I mention that if it weren't for this large collection of motor bikes I would've been over to see my US friends before now? Did I mention that it's a sore point? Did you guess? Did you also guess that any acknowledgment of his obsession from me is an ego stroke for him?

I....C-C-C-CAN'T.... B-B-B-B-B-BREATHE....

Brad, you really should take up scrapbooking! It's heaps cheaper (?) ...and it's heaps funner too... and we could have the funnest talks about PHOTOs of motorbikes and you wouldn't even have to watch my lip curl. We could move paper together as a couple... it would be sooo fun!

There was this one time...