Category: Uncategorized

Last night we went to the senior school prize giving.  Braden took away the ‘Top year 5 boy’ trophy for outstanding achievement academically and on the field.  yea yea.  That’s my boy!  It’s a massive school so taking that home was a huge thing.  Last night as I was saying goodnight to him he asked which parent he got his brains from.  I told him it was obviously me.  I used to be an A+ student right through school.  Now I can barely remember where I parked the car.  Clearly someone has my brains.

Jacob has rocked the school scene too.  He successfully created his own seminar on the African Big Five.  In years gone past I might have been dragged into nagging, guiding, nagging and helping.  This year he works on Mac computers at school and his software isn’t compatible with my 5 year old windows laptop.  I couldn’t help.  He created a 20 minute seminar by himself, rocked the presentation and got a 3/4 score in all the judged aspects.  Digital class, I love thee.  I might be behind the times with my computer, but I can smile in the knowledge that it forced independence on my eldest. 
On a scarier note, next year he’ll have ‘iPod touch’ on his class stationery list.  Digital class – I still love thee, despite you sucking up all my flybuys points on iPod touches…

Dear Mr Watties.  Last night as I was making dinner I discovered that the tomato sauce was coming out of the bottle really super fast.  Upon investigation I discovered that you have made the hole in the lid BIGGER.  Some young punk probably spent 4 years puking on himself at uni to think that clever idea up… bigger hole, use more sauce…   Mr Watties, you haven’t heard the end of this.

WANTED:  Clever uni student that has invested many years of pizza eating, mother energy drink consumption and setting sofas on fire to come up with a clever idea to stop the tomato sauce coming out of the tomato sauce bottle so fast.  Prior tomato sauce experience essential. 

Last but not least… links to the fun and the inspirational.
Tim Holtz 12 Days of Christmas Tags.
Julie at Collections rocking the white vintage.
Prima Blog – always full of inspirational projects

Wait – there is six things… the last thing?  White girls can jump. 
Abby in the waves at Hahei this past weekend.  Edited by LG.  This photo screams to be scrapbooked.

Laters

Ahhh.  A new week.  I spent the weekend with 10 other ladies at a rented house in Taupo.  Drinking.  Eating.  Socialising. Painting toenails.  Scrapbooking.  Singing.  Laughing.  Shopping.  Getting unsolicited head massages.  Cursing barking dogs in the middle of the night.  It was fantastic.  Great for the soul.  The weekend was too short though.  Good times, good times… although it was nice to crawl into my own bed and get some sleep last night, I can’t wait to do it all again sometime

I came home to find Paul had an accident in the car – nice panel damage that will need fixing.  An elderly man pulled out in front of him and Paul couldn’t avoid him.  All three of my children in the car.  Luckily no one was hurt.  I’m not sure what upset Paul most though – having to calm three kids down in the backseat of our car or having to help a very elderly and shaken up man out the passenger door of his vehicle because they couldn’t get the driver’s door open.  And the amazing thing?   The five or six cars that were following Paul and saw it all happen, inched around the accident in the middle of the road and carried on.  I just shake my head.  I know I would have stopped.  So although I’m really glad that everyone is alright, I’m now faced with the whole getting-the-car-fixed thing.  And insurance.  The kids have some news to tell at news-time at school today though.  They were kinda excited about that. 

Alright – assignments to do.  Washing to fold.  News-media conferences to watch.  My heart goes out to everyone involved in the Greymouth Mine crisis.  Let’s hope all of those men walk out of there.  Goodness knows there if the amount of love, hope, prayer and positivity had any bearing on it, that they would.  All we can do is keep those thoughts positive. 

I know I’m holding my family tight.  Things change so quickly, as the weekend’s events have taught me. 

Laters

November 23rd, 4.00 PST – it’s a date!  I’m hooking up the webcam and streaming live on www.livewithprima.com to show you how to make this entire Art Tray… 

The description:   Are you looking for a fun gift idea for this holiday season?  Join Nic as she walks you through a series of different embellishment ideas and then brings them all together into an artist’s tray to make the perfect display piece.  Whether you are making this as a gift, whether you want to decorate it as a holiday decor item or whether you just want to enjoy making the selection of gorgeous little embellished cards, this class is for you!  The wide range of gorgeous Prima product makes it easy and the result is simply stunning!

Hopefully I’ll see you then!

This post should perhaps come with a warning because the content may make some squeamish.  You may cringe and turn away or curse that I’m bringing that topic up again.  You may sigh and roll your eyes and tell me you don’t want to know.  I’m about to talk about the gym.  Working out. Taking control of one’s life, making goals and fighting damn hard for them.  Turn away now if that kind of talk makes you uncomfortable.

Six months ago I made the decision to take control.  I was on a roller coaster of telling myself to be happy one minute, and seeing the weight going on and feeling unfit the next.  My friends told me not to worry, what was I worried about?  I laughed it off.  Maybe they were right.  Then the whole self doubting/hating process started again.

I had one of the wisest moments in my life really when I decided that If I didn’t like what I saw, then I needed to change it.  Simple.

I went to see a nutritionist and together we worked through things.   I started a new way of eating, with her guidance, and I haven’t looked back.  I started walking.  Just 15 minutes a day at first. I saw changes in my body and moved my exercise to running, and then the gym.  Slowly the weight came off.

Today I can happily say that I am in the right place.  I went to see my nutritionist today, and while there is no ‘goal’ (this isn’t just a weight loss kick, this is a change, remember?), today marks the day that I can say I am now confident that I know what I’m doing.  I’ve lost 7kg, (and I admit I wasn’t big to start with), I’m fit and I am toned.  I’m wearing singlet tops this coming summer and waving goodbye without having to hold on to the flab under my arms as I do so.

So it’s been, and still is, freakin hard work.  I’m up out of bed by 5.15am, sweating my butt off at the gym 6 days a week and pushing myself harder and harder. 

But today I smile.  Because I’ve made it.  I’m celebrating quietly to myself, and now with you because it can be done. 

My family have been extremely supportive.  They have put up with the ‘bad’ food being banned from the house.  They hung out for the days when the neighbours bought over a bag of chips when we got together.  They have put up with me saying “If it’s not a fuel for my body, I don’t need it in my pantry”. They’ve had to wait for me to come home from the gym before going somewhere.   They’ve listened to me when I’m down and encouraged me along the way.

So today I celebrated with them.  I got this idea from the gorgeous Rachel Hosking.  I greeted my kids home from school today with a party.  It was a decadent spread, with homemade cupcakes, chocolate, donuts, strawberries and pineapple, and we celebrated.  I wrote them all a name place card with a note inside telling them little stories of why they make me happy.  I thanked them for being on my side while I took control of who I wanted to be and the skin I wanted to live in and we enjoyed a splash out on all that bad food that hadn’t been allowed in the house for months.

So as I cleaned up the kitchen afterwards, I decided I would share what I was thinking.  I’m not big on sharing super personal stuff on my blog, but this journey deserves a mention.  I’m not stopping what I’m doing, I’ve not reached goal, I’m in this for life.  I’m the only one that could make the change,  I’m the only one responsible for me.  I’m giving myself a pat on the back for realising it and for getting off my ass and doing something about it. 

Because I was the only one that could make that difference. 

Ahhh mojo how I love thee.  I’m back in the creative chair and super happy about it.  I’m busy with it as well.  Perhaps filling up the timetable to overflowing was all it needed.  In fact I am so keen I’ve been awake since 2.30am.  I discovered how to create using digital elements – pick your jaw up off the floor, Andrea – and I went to bed thinking of layers and opacity and dragging and dropping.  I’m secretly squealing with excitement inside about figuring a little digital stuff out, but outwardly kinda worried about how addicted I could get. 

Alrighty.  Primo weather.  Clean (ish) house.  Assignments waiting.  Glue and paper to play with. (If I can put this computer aside)  Happy Monday!

Leaving you with Prima’s November BAP sketch layout… It was a cool sketch to work with actually, see the Prima Blog for the sketch and how to submit your version for a chance to win free stuff 🙂

Pics of Sth Africa – the one of me was taken by Jacob as I was looking up at the slave bell at Spier Estate.  The painting on my face was from Moyo, a cool eaterie place there.  Such an exciting, diverse place.  You’ll see a lot of layouts coming up that show off just how beautiful Sth Africa is.

laters.

Ahhh the drought has broken.  I’m a happy girl.  I pulled out some photos, I surrounded myself with products that made me happy and I created something I love.  Now to see if I can do it two days in a row 🙂

Laters

November, how I love thee.  November 1st comes along and I automatically change into summer mode.  The longer the month names get, the longer the days get and the warmer it gets… November comes and I am a happy girl.  Hello November!  Welcome!

It also means goodbye to October.  Halloween is behind us for another year and I’m always glad of that.  It’s an American tradition, not a New Zealand one and I battle with the kids about treat or treating.  I know they’d love it.  I know that they want to put in effort and dress up, and I’d like to encourage their creativity but I think the majority of people here really don’t like that Halloween is starting to creep in – like that pun?  Creep?  no?  . Anyway, I know it makes the neighbours angry when kids knock on their doors.  Do I want my kids (even if they put a lot of effort into their costumes) being one of those knocking on doors and making people angry? Do I look like a bad parent for letting them? I guess organised parties are the way, then everyone there agrees with it all.   It’s over for another year though.  Mummy guilt gone, excited feelings for Guy Fawkes day on Friday can begin 🙂

I have another battle going on here … my total inability to scrapbook.  I hear ya laughing.  It’s what I do for a living…. oh yes… correct… yes.  But currently I can’t scrapbook to save myself.  I have spent months creating written content.  I’ve been doing a lot of writing, research, compilations.  I’ve written some articles for magazines for manufacturers, I’ve participated in teaching and been organising some events next year (look for a new event to hit the NZ scene soon …).  But getting out supplies and just scrapbooking to create a page, no step-by-steps, no thinking about how to instruct the way it’ll be recreated?  How do I do that?  I’m giving it another go today.  I do have assignments to hand in.  Wish me luck.

For now I’ll leave you with a card I did for the Prima blog with the Jack and Jill line that is by far my favourite of the new lines they released. 

Oh!  And I’ve had a few emails asking if I’m still on my fitness kick – YES!  YES I am.  I can’t start the day without a workout and I feel great.  I’ve lost a lot of weight.  I’m at the gym at 5.30am on every weekday, at 7am on Saturdays and most Sundays I go for a run.  Unless Saturday was far too much fun.  In which case I hide til about 10am cursing that Lucy ever suggested having a quiet drink on Saturday afternoon.  Just one.  Just one glass maybe.  How many times it gets filled up is the issue.

Laters.

I feel like the whole country has heaved a sigh of relief.  This winter has been awful.  Not the coldest I remember, but just the worst.  The wind.  The rain.  For those in Christchurch, the earthquakes. 

We’ve just had a long weekend and I feel like God put his hand out and bathed us in sunshine and more warmth than I have ever known at this time of year, just to let us know.  It’s going to be alright.  Never have I known labour weekend to be so glorious.  We were in t-shirts and shorts the entire weekend.  There were drinks with good friends.  There was warmth and laughter.  There were so many boats being towed around the roads, it was so nice to see the summer toys out and about.  Summer really is on its way.

One of the highlights for me was the Awhitu Wine and Food festival.  A blanket spread on the grass, good friends, wine, food, the kids running off and doing their thing.  Jacob knocking down four skittles in one go and winning Abby a soft-toy puppy she named ‘toffee after the horse she rode earlier in the day…

Then after the festival we drove around to Hudson’s beach where we wandered knee deep into the tide looking for scallops.  Admittedly the biggest thing we found was a paddle-crab that proceeded to latch on to Jacob’s finger letting him know under no uncertain terms was he to be picked up.  This was about the same time I learnt all the undesirable words that nearly-12 year olds know but don’t usually use, unless a paddle-crab latches on to their finger and blood starts pouring out. 

Anyway.  I feel like I’ve been reminded that there is an end to the wind and rain.  I know it’ll be back, probably tomorrow, but for now, I’m a happy gal.  For those of you in New Zealand, I hope you had a weekend just as glorious.

It’s back to the grindstone though with assignments to do, wedding invites to design (sigh, thanks VJ hehehe)  and even the occasional article to write.  My Big Picture Class ‘Colour! Or is it Color?’ starts on Thursday, and I have things to do for that.  If you’ve been thinking of signing up, but haven’t done so just yet, I really encourage you.  The pre-class gallery is already overflowing, which is an indication that there are lots of keen students with plenty of inspiration to share.  Looking forward to it!

Another idea for inspiration – and this is a must-do-now kinda thing…  Aussie Scrap Source has a Becky Fleck sketch competition each week – I think the sketch for this week has to be in, like, tomorrow, but keep an eye on the blog for updated sketches each week!  I have just seen Becky’s new book and it’s a goodie.  It’s worth entering! 

Hope your day is a good one 🙂
Laters

I went to the movies at the weekend.  I sat through over an hour and a half of the owl movie.  The guardians of Gahoole.  I was looking forward to it but was disappointed.  My 9yr old and 11yr old are still talking about it.  I guess I got old. 

My highlight of the movie was actually the ‘Roadrunner’ short movie at the start.  I watched it, amused, at the roaring laughter from my kids.   I don’t watch enough Roadrunner.  I need to watch more pointless cartoons.  I just don’t need anymore owl movies.  I used to love cartoons.  The smurfs and the snorks used to keep me occupied for hours.  At what point do we lose the ability to love that stuff?

So the week after the owl movie has been good.  Except for today.  When I shouldn’t even have got out of bed.  I yawned my way around the gym.  I got far too growlie at the kids before school.  I pulled out in front of a car at school drop off.  I waved my hand in desperate apology as I let him past… there were, like 5 silver cars in a row in my mirror, you were the little silver one in my blind spot, I’m sorry.  “Buy a bigger car!” I exclaim, trying to excuse my total pulling-out-of-the-carpark-uselessness, silence from the back seat.  One way to keep the other two kiddies quiet.

I shouldn’t have expected much different from today.  Because it followed after yesterday.  Yesterday was the day when hubby worked his usual long hours, came home and asked the kids “What has Mum made me for dinner?” as he hugged them hello and the kid’s answer?  “Sliced up old gumboots, but it’s ok because the gravy is super yummy”.  Nice.

So the mission today?  Make something nicer than old gumboots for dinner.  Not pull out in front of anymore cars.  Stop beating myself up for the slack workout this morning and get some work done.  Note the underline under get some work done. 

No time like the present.  Oh!  I heard a great quote on the radio this morning.  “If you don’t like where you are in life, change something.  You aren’t a tree”.  So true!  And this girl is about to change the fact that she has no work done yet today 🙂

Oh!  Happy days to Susan Gregory who won a place in my next Big Picture Classes workshop, Colour! Or is it Color?!  Email me, Susan, and I'll arrange for you to get access into the class!

Leaving you with a layout I don’t think I’ve shown you yet… a very simple one done with a Tarisota kit a while ago.  I was in a story-telling mood at the time.  Love a good story.  Laters!

Edited to add:  Comments now closed, the winner (as per www.random.org) is:

Susan Gregory!  Email me Susan!  Congrats!

It’s only a few weeks until my new online class at Big Picture Classes begins, and I have a seat to give away!  Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue Indigo, Violet, let’s get excited about COLOUR!! 

Do you love colour? Would you love to improve the way you use colour in your projects? Do you want to immerse yourself in a workshop that takes you through a whole rainbow of possibilities?

Join me as I use instructional videos, handouts and audios to guide you through a variety of techniques to create stunning scrapbook pages. If you want to be part of a workshop full of fun colour theory, techniques and step-by-step assignments to extend the way you include colour in your projects, then I’m here to help you achieve your creative scrapbooking goals!

(Read some of the FAQ about my new six week class, here).

All you have to do, to be in the draw is read the class description at the big Picture Classes website, and leave a comment here, letting me know what you want to know about colour!  I’ll draw the winner on Wednesday 13th October!