Thats the end of that one

Yay - both girls are finished exams and must say they are very relieved about it all. Alexia is all for burning her years geography work as she is not taking it next year. Now for the waiting game until January. They should both be OK though.

Its the end of another busy week and am exhausted. Am fed up with running kids here, there and everywhere. Am glad that we haven't got anything on this weekend but are off to the Santa Parade on Sunday - one of our family traditions that luckily everyone is still into. Just trying to think of a new angle for taking photos so that my scrapbook pages year after year for this are different.

Am putting up the tree tomorrow and kids very excited about it especially Aaron. Advent calender starts and this year they all want the goodies in my fabric one rather than the chocolate ones from the shops.

Rebeccas job is going well and she has her first pay under her belt but bit reluctant to spend it. Told her that everyone is allowed to spend their first one but she's a bit of a saver so this could be difficult for her!!! Not like her mother at all. One of the bonuses of her working is that now Alexia gets to do the babysitting and she thinks that is really cool. Although we did check up on her on Thursday and she didn't answer her phone. Bit of a worry and we had threatened to come round if that happened but turned out she was reading stories and didn't hear it.

Aaron has just got home from the school disco. No dancing with girls for my boy - he's just interested in playing with the glow sticks and seeing which of his friends can drink the most cans of coke. Six by the way and not feeling too good with it. Five for his friend Tom, and he was as high as a kite. Told his mother good luck as we were leaving!

Off to check what Tanya has been up to seeing as she has challenged herself to blog every day in December! SE December Kit revealed tomorrow - can't wait.

Dog Album Photos

This album is now finished and ready to wrap up for Andrew for Christmas. Was a bit sad doing it but feel good about it now. Hopefully he will feel the same.

And thats half of it but you get the idea.

Not Again

Yes, I've been fiddling with my settings again but seem to manage to "practice" on Julies Blog. Was trying to get rid of the spam in the comments so thought I would alter the settings in the comments so clicked on something in the dashboard but Tanya told me what it was saying and it seemed kinda rude so have deleted that. Now have found the thing where you have to type in the letters that I have come across on everyone elses so that is much better.

Also wanted it to send me emails of peoples comments (on my blog) but somehow on Julies blog I was getting sent emails of everyones comments to her blog. Not what was supposed to happen!!!! LOL.

I think I'm happy with it now and perhaps should leave things well alone. But in saying that want to have the thing where I get notified of people posting on their blogs so that I don't spend ages blog hopping to see if anyone has written anything new. Any suggestions? I think this is what I mucked up on Julies first time round.

Busy day ahead getting photos, scrapping, shopping and a Stamping Up party tonight. Was supposed to be aquajogging today but Judy can't go and its really really boring doing it by yourself so will have a day off from it. Will add some photos here later as have finished the album for Andrew for Christmas.

I Love Billy...!!!

Look what I got today!! Another pair of Billy shoes in my favourite colour. Thanks Tanya for feeding my addiction. I love them.

Well another week closer to Christmas - loving it already. Had Andrews work "do" on Saturday night at Twiggers. It was nice but we were packed in like sardines and it got really hot. Left just as the fireworks were going off from Christmas in the Park so got to see them as well. Next up for us is the Santa Parade at the weekend followed by BBQ/Noahs birthday the following one and the work picnic.

Have signed up for the 52 Pieces of Me at Country Papercraft in Australia but are already 3 weeks behind so will have some serious scrapping to do to catch up. This weeks layout is all about your friends. A good opportunity to scrap Tanya's favourite photo methinks!!! She did challenge us to use it. She has also passed on Beverleys CJ to do before next week and its a lovely bright one all about colour so just have to print off some photos which I will get onto tomorrow.

The girls are on their last week of exams and studying hard. Will be glad when its all over as just seem to be the taxi at present.

Yay - I actually think summer is here. Will whisper it in case I jinx it though. Lots of beautiful weather and hayfever with it! Yep, its summer.

November Layouts

Congratulations to the new DT team at SE - Megan, Neen, Hannah and Janine. Looking forward to what they come up with over the next year. Also picked up the latest For Keeps today and guess who I "found" in there - congratulations Hannah. Its one of my favourite magazines.

Have done a couple of layouts for the November Layout Competition at SE. Had to do a scraplift of one of the "old" DT layouts. The Christmas one is a scraplift of Jo's. I did it because it was simple and used up one of the many Santa photos I have. This is the one being entered. The "Cute" layout is one of Neens. I loved all the circles and it was so easy to do. Am not entering it as it is not exactly as she did. She had stamped the background with circles as well - I tried that but it didn't look right. Used up some of my scraps as well. Yahoo!


Now for a ramble of thoughts.

Tanya left today for Invercargill so "good cropping" ladies and have fun. I'm sure you will. Rebecca is currently in her English exam. Poor thing - its a stinking hot day here and she has to go through to 5pm. Alexia is having a day off study today as her next 2 are both on Wednesday. I have been scrapping finishing the above layouts and also ducked out to the shops to get some rhinestones - me who would never once have thought about including them on a page let alone going out specially to buy them for one!! Aaron has just come home from school absolutely starving - why is it that - there is no hello or anything its just "I'm hungry, whats to eat?" Still tossing up whether or not to go to the Christmas in the Park rehearsal tonight. Can't be bothered with the huge crowds tomorrow and its a lot more relaxed at the rehearsal and you get to sit right up front. Will see what the weather is going to do.

Customer Service - Yeah Right!!!

After working for Bakers Delight for 3 years and meeting their standards for excellent customer service (scoring a couple of 99/100 for mystery shops - just blowing my own trumpet here - LOL), it has really opened my eyes to customer service everywhere. Boy, did we cop it at Spotlight today. After not receiving our discount on an advertised item we waited for about 20 minutes to receive a refund of $1.20. In this day and computer age to have to have them handwrite it all out is archaic. First of all the lady argued that the items I bought were not included, then she had to go and check in the aisle, then had to check with someone else, then the catalogue and finally the refund. I got the giggles as my friend was having the same issue but her saleslady was muttering under her breath about customers wanting refunds and she kept mucking it up while trying to do two customers for refunds at the same time. Meanwhile the queue behind us is getting longer and longer. It will be a while before we venture back there and it definitely pays to check your receipts.

Good luck to those who have entered for the new Design Team at SE. It closes today and can't wait to see what everyone has done and who the new team will be.

Have finally finished my doggie album for Andrew for Christmas so thats one thing off the list. Have just bought some of the Figgy Pudding papers to make crackers this year with - boy are they going to be flash this year!! Have collected bits and pieces to put in them and just need to come up with some new corny jokes. Finished Janines CJ pages and all ready for the courier tomorrow. My first entry for the Kiwi Jack Me Up is also done and posted here. Now just have to sort out a layout from one of the "old" design team to copy for the November layout competition.

Rebecca had her first day on the job on Saturday and had a really good shift. Mostly packed and had a bit of training on the till. Seems like she can pick up some more shifts once the exams are over. She really liked it and keen to go again. Yes, we did sneak a look at her working but she didn't see us. Wondered how she was going all day though.

Exams have started - Rebecca had chemistry today and finished early but she thinks she did as best she could and that is all we can ask. They did get interrupted with a fire alarm though and had to leave their papers there and file out. They weren't allowed to talk to each other either. Nothing like a bit of drama to start it all off. Alexia has maths tomorrow morning. So good luck Lex.

Jack Me Up

Here is my version of the latest Kiwi Jack Me Up.

L o n g Update

Thanks for the comments ladies and Debbie, it was your blog that got me thinking along Christmas lines!!! I think the wee books are Creative Imaginations but Tanya will correct me if I am wrong. Hey Michele, great layout in the latest UP 2 Scrap. Don't quite get the digital thing and what happens to it once you've finished it? Where does it go? Maybe when you have finished doing your Crafting Connection thing you can tell me.

Rebecca found out today that she got the job of "checkout chick" at the New World supermarket in town doing a 12-9pm shift on a Saturday. Yay - I don't have to pay pocket money anymore!! Will be good for her and give her something more to do once the exams are over so hopefully she will get more shifts over the holidays. She has been babysitting this week and raked in $70 over 2 nights. She got paid $50 for babysitting on Cup Night and I had to check with Leanne that that was what they meant to pay her as we decided that they must have been a tad tipsy when they left it out for her or they had a big win at the races. I remember being stoked at getting $10 for babysitting - must be inflation.

Andrew apparently did a good job on his speech and came home at 11.30pm!!! He was buzzing and was sitting on the bed talking nineteen to the dozen. I had to tell him to go away around midnight as I had to go to sleep and he came to bed around 2am!! One down and now just the junior prizegiving to go. He got given a huge bunch of flowers by some of the senior girls which was unexpected and he gave them to me - aw shucks!


Have bought a big tin at the Warehouse today in a mint green colour - its got Housekeepers Box written on the side and I plan on decorating it up to keep some of the crap on my desk in. It has a lift out bit in the top and a big space underneath so should be able to hide lots in it. There was also a peg basket which I might get next time but will probably be a bit flash to keep pegs in! LOL. Finally found the scrapbook frames there as well - spotted them ages ago and then they seemed to sell out but now have them so got a couple as well. Also got my Spongebob Squarepants christmas crackers which are going to look great on my white tree as they are red. So, yes I have had a wee spend today as well as doing the groceries and spending another small fortune there as well.


Also managed to fit in a birthday lunch with my friend Heidi at the Crepe Cafe - YUM.


Aaron went to the Zone Sports today and thinks he got near last in the discus and the team came third in the relay. He was happy and seems to have had a good day out. The bus didn't get back to school until 3.45pm so a few grumpy parents waiting - get over it!!


Off to get Rebecca as have been summoned to pick her up - next on the list - getting her driving!

My To Do List

Yep, its that time of year again. Only 6 weeks until Christmas. Loving it already. Have just about done all the shopping for those in Australia - just have to get a couple of things later this afternoon and then wrap and post. These wee books are what I have made for my nieces aged 6 and 4. They just have about 4 photos and are titled "A Little Book of Me". Lots of glitter and bling and pink!! Have just about finished the dog album for Andrew. Its been a sad one to do looking at all the photos and doing the journalling. Even Aaron said to me "Are you trying to make Dad cry?" I mean, what do you say to that? The kids shopping is all done apart from a couple of DVD's and just have to do the coupon books for them as well. I have made the canvas for me that the ladies made at SENZ - loving it - although its more of a noticeboard for me of when all the challenges are due. Now have to get some more of the papers to do one for my friend in Blenheim. Might just do my Christmas crackers at Tanya's crop next time I go as am a bit inspired to make better ones than I have other years after seeing them in my Making Memories Christmas book. Also now that I have seen Rochelles tree made from the same book would also like to give that a go. Theres baking to do and a cake to make as well as wrap the presents which seems to take forever so I tend to get onto it early. Now thats some list!! But am feeling quite organised this year and really looking forward to it all. Every year we have the big move around on the day trying to accommodate both families but this year is the first one Mum is in Australia for (after moving over there to live at the start of the year) and just feel that it would be quite nice to just stay at home for the day and enjoy it. Thats the plan at the moment anyway. Need to talk to my brother about that - hopefully he feels the same way. It was always stressful trying to organise and co-ordinate.

My girls finish school today and exams start on Monday. They have both done quite well in that going into the exams Rebecca has 74 credits and Alexia has about 67. (They only need 80 to pass). Alexia is not good at exams and tends to panic and then runs out of time. Rebecca just takes it all in her stride. It just seems so early to be finishing school though! The senior prize-giving is on tonight and they have both missed out on getting an award which is good in one way in that I don't have to go but a bit disappointed for them in missing out. Alexia said it was the first year that she wasn't getting anything .

Andrew is stressing big time as being Chairman of the Board he has to give a speech at the prize-giving. But I know he will be fine as he has done it plenty of times and been really good at it. He has been learning Maori all year and said he would be happier giving it Maori because then no one would know what he was saying!!

It is pouring with rain today and the Zone Sports have been postponed - Aaron is a bit disappointed about that as it means he will have to go to Technology instead where they are cooking. Don't think he is liking that as much as the other things he has done this year.

Next on the list is Janines CJ to do. A Secret Santa to think about and more shopping. I love shopping!

Pamper Me

In the words of Spongebob Squarepants "Its the best day ever"!!! I've been well and truly pampered and now have a photo to prove it. Big thanks to Tanya - a very special new friend with a very generous heart. She gave me some goodies as per the photo which smell gorgeous and in her trademark pink of course. We have been out to lunch at La Porchetta and shopped. Then coffee'ed (?) and to finish off we went to Time Zone and played basketball and Deal or No Deal. Now to some this may be no big deal and I have done lunch, shopping and coffee often with friends but no one has ever done it for me "just because". So thank you thank you thank you Tanya - "Its the best day ever".


To follow on from that, when I picked the girls up from school the first thing Rebecca wanted to know was if Tanya gave me the present and when I told her that yes she did and how did she know. She said ITS PINK!!! LOL. They are starting to know you so well Tanya. When I told them that we had been to Time Zone they cracked up and couldn't believe that we played basketball and Deal or No Deal. The fact that I have never set foot in one of these places before has nothing to do with it. I asked did this make me a cool Mum as this was another discussion that we have had over the past few days and apparently I am kinda cool somedays and other days not. They also said we should have done the photo thing at Time Zone but theres always next time!

So Janine, if you happen to read my blog all this started because of your Pamper Me CJ. Its amazing how one thing can lead on to so many different things from the comments left on my blog to my big day out? Now have the inspiration to do the pages and thanks to those who have left suggestions.

Fireworks

Well, we went, we saw and don't think we'll be going again. It was pouring with rain and yes they were great but it all got overshadowed by trying to find Rebecca in the aftermath amongst the thousands. She had gone out with her friends for tea first and then they all got the bus to Brighton but for some reason we couldn't reach her on her cell phone afterwards to arrange for her to meet us for a ride home. She ended up having to walk for miles towards us and we were getting a bit worried. Andrew was fuming that she had her phone turned off but it just turned out that she was in a no service area. Some kids along from where we were waiting, were lighting fireworks in the middle of the road and also setting them off across the road into cars. Really really stupid. Was quite glad to get home in the end.

Wow, you ladies are great leaving comments. Although a bit worried about Tanya's plans for tomorrow. Initially by text I thought she may have just wanted my car to transport trestle tables for the crops. Yes I did think that, but only now after reading the comments am not at all sure. Will have to wait and see. Have got an idea for the Pamper Me pages now and thanks to Janine my newest favourite drink is the Jarrah Chocolate Fudge. Just yummy and no I didn't share!!! Does that count as pampering? LOL.

Have got my bag all packed up and ready to go to the crop tonight. Will try really really hard not to use Mr Visa as we have just paid it all off and it would be really obvious if something went on for scrapbooking and not able to be hidden amongst everything else. You know what I mean! I want to do some more 6x12 pages of the dog album for Andrew for Christmas and also do the canvas with the poppies that was done at SENZ. My friend Heidi is also coming tonight. Am really loving the 6x12 pages as they are so easy and quick to do. Got 120 photos printed off today so will have plenty to sort through and work with.

Will let you all know what Tanya is up to!!!

Circle Journal

Tanya visited today and handed over Janines CJ. Now that is going to take some thinking about. The topic is Pamper Me. I don't really do pampering!!! Am taking more interest in my clothes now that I have lost some weight and even bought a size 14 pants!! I haven't fitted that size for about 20 years. Am feeling real good about that. I hate having my hair cut or more to the point resent forking out the money to get it done. I colour it myself. I have bitten my fingernails all of my life so that is not an option for pampering. Although am considering doing the false stick on things - can't remember what they're called. Don't usually do makeup - mostly lippy. (Be quiet Tanya). Rebecca uses and owns more make up than I do. Have never had a massage or a facial. Am starting to think what a tragic life I have lead. So this one is definitely going to be a challenge.

Have just finished the layout for the Friday night challenge to use a quote, corner rounder and 3 embellishments. Tried to upload it here again but no go - maybe next time.

Been Scrapping

Have had a busy day scrapping wise and have done the Sketch Challenge layout which was a circle. Have been wanting to try one of these for ages ever since Tanya did one for the SE competition. Used a really old paper (from the days when I bought theme papers and somehow it survived the last big cleanout when it all went on Trade Me) and bazzill bling for the journalling. Must say am not too impressed with the bling as it seems to come apart between the layers - learnt that my Cricut does not like it either - what a mess!!! Have also finished my pages for Kellys CJ and am not sure if I like them as they are very plain but hopefully the journalling makes up for that. Must remember to take a photo tomorrow before sending it off on Monday. Also finished the little books for my nieces in Australia and now must get on with sorting out their presents and Mums (also in Oz) ready for posting.

Will try and upload some photos tomorrow as doesn't seem to be co-operating at present.

We have been having a big cleanout at home - I think its called spring cleaning!!! Getting rid of lots of rubbish and finally finding homes for things that have been lying around for a while. Also managed to get rid of the dust in our bedroom - its been a while. Its a real feel good feeling when things like this get done.

My supernanny thing kinda worked. Didn't realise how many times they all wrote down loading and unloading the dishwasher. I wonder if there were that many days in a fortnight!! Have told them they can't count that for this coming fortnight. I now get them arguing over wanting to do the jobs - is that a good or bad thing?

Lucky...

Yahoo, this time its Rebecca's turn. She got a colours award in assembly for rockclimbing. Was the only one in the team to get one. She doesn't say much about these things but was happy to have her photo taken. We are having a lucky run at the moment.

I won the draw for the Sketch Challenge at SE with the 6x12 of everyone wanting to walk Jasper. Lucky me. Now have to think about the next one which is a circle and am thinking I will use the October kit for it as I haven't even looked at that yet.

Went to Tanyas last night for the first SE crop. It was great being able to buy Megs goodies at the time although may have to think twice about taking the Visa card along!! Many thanks to Tanya and will definitely be at the next one.