It's been one of those days...

Hot Rain

I love hot rain.  You know those really hot days, the humidity is off the scale and the black clouds slowly build in the sky.  The humidity gets too much, the skies open up and the rain falls, along with thunder and lightening, it's quite the amazing show.  And for a weather nerd like me, watching the lightening radar as the clouds build in the sky, it's a dream.
These are from yesterday and the day before, taken at the end of our driveway.  Both extremely humid days where one minute it was 28-30 degrees and the road was too hot to walk on, the next minute the skies have opened, the water is falling.  The fun part?  The road remains hot - warm water, fun to play.

 
 CHA is over and the new products and the product images are everywhere.  Linda's blog has some really good pics, the Prima Blog has a video of their booth, scrapscene has a few write-ups from various people, and there is a whole message board dedicated to reviews, opinions and other stuff from CHA here at 2 peas.

More BasicGrey for you.... this time a pet line... I never use the lines in the way that they were designed.  I loved this collection, it was full of bright reds and teals.  I could have used this for so many layouts.  If only I had the time!

laters 
 

CHA Winter 2010...

Sometimes I'm surpised by just how much more can be released at each new CHA tradeshow.  CHA opened today in Anaheim and the buzz is huge. 

From what I can tell, the favourite collections so far seem to be Dear Lizzy by American Crafts,

Pink Paislee, including pleated ribbon, now that's going to save me a lot of cursing as I try and bunch my ribbon through the sewing machine...

And there is a lot of buzz about the new BasicGrey lines, but most of all, the Basics line.  They should have called this the Nic Line because it is me. All. over.
See Sande's post here...

Wanna see what I did with the new BasicGrey Kioshi line?
love this line! (love this little girl, she belongs to fab scrapbooker LG...)
Will share more over the next few days...

laters

 
  

Christmas, fat feet and the beach.

Back into the routine she says.  Back into working a full day with 20 minute lunches, she says.  Back into getting up at 5.30am for a run, she says. 
And so she did.  And it's never easy getting back into the routine of things after a few weeks off overindulging in all things remotely bad for you.  Like good company, fine food and more than one's fair share of duty free Coruba Rum.
So one would expect the run to be refreshing, if not a little tough, but getting back on track has to be a wonderful thing.
If one hadn't got fat feet over Christmas.
I must have looked like a right plonker.  I did run a good run, but felt a little sore in the feet halfway.  I got to within 15 minutes of home and decided I'd scored a large blister.  Investigation showed that I had, despite the fact that my shoes are so worn in they are old friends now, scored myself a huge festering weeping blister on the back of my heel.  Too much of a visual going on there?  You should have been there.  Anyway, back to looking like a plonker... here I am, in my Nike dryfit running gear, my ipod in my ears and walking barefoot carrying my shoes. 
Seriously sad.

So the new year back into the fitness regime hasn't been all too successful.  The sad thing is the realisation for me to get 3 blisters (there wasn't just one!), my feet must have indeed put on weight over Christmas.  Either that or the 30 degree 100% humidity type weather has them a little puffy.  I'm choosing to go with the latter.

Back to editing for the re-run of my Point Of View class for big Picture Scrapbooking.  Due to run 28th january through til 24th February.  Let me know if you are joining me.

Here's a layout from the January Tarisota kit.  Nothing like scrapbooking photos of the beach, at the beach.  That's real sand on that layout. ;o)
Laters

 

there are some things a girl can never have too much of  A). Time on holiday at a Coromandel Beachhouse.  B). Time snuggling with family.  C). Good books and time alone to read them D) Good books and time along to read them.  Suffice to say that I was forced into a no-computer and no-scrapbooking zone over the Christmas holidays.  AND that I did read several good books.  Sadly i would rather have been enjoying the beach, but the tummy-bug did the rounds and I was a little house-bound while we were away.

BUT I'm grateful for family time, sun, sand, surf, and that this fabulous country I live in offers so much, and I can't wait to do it again next year.  Minus the Thursday phonecall to say that Grumpr had been taken by ambulance to hospital would be fab....

All good.  Holiday time over... work time begins... this includes a 5kk run in the morning, good luck to ME I say.

So quick linking....

I've created layouts with lots of new Prima goodies... keep checking back here to perhaps see them posted.  I'm a very lucky girl to be part of this Prima DT.  A new DT call goes out in Feb sometime.  Apply.. I encourage you all to apply...

Tattered Angels... A new Heidi Swapp collection of GlimmerMist. 
Glimmer Glaze... Lots of other new releases I can't let you know about just yet.. but they are variations on the GlimmerMist ...keep an eye out...

BasicGrey - yaaaaaaaaaaay - the crowd goes wild - the new website is LIVe... including a new retail store that includes re-releases of some of the  favourite old collections...

Big Picture Scrapbooking... my popular Point Of View class from last year is re-running at the end of this month.. very cool class based around my book.

Ok I think I'm done with quick links - I'm back, you'll see me update more often with links and layouts.  *Settling back in on the blogging couch* see you back here soon.  It's good to be back.

laters.

In my own way

Back in 2007 I published my  book, "That's Life".  It was dedicated to one of the most inspiring souls ever, Shauna.  Shauna was battling cancer, and many of you followed Shauna in the last few years, via her blog.  Shauna passed away on the 3rd of December last year, and on the 3rd of January, friends and family gathered in Oregon to celebrate her life.  There were stories and tributes, photos, videos and a sharing of friendship.  I wasn't able to be there, which was sad for me, but in the following days I found my own way to send my love to her.

Shauna and I had often talked about the ocean between us.  With her being in Oregon and me in New Zealand, there was just the big ol' Pacific ocean in the way.  It was at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, at Cathedral Cove, one of the most beautiful places in the world, I sent my love to Shauna.

Miss you Shauna.
xoxo.  Nic.

laters.