It's been one of those days...

Not your traditional summer.

It's a long weekend for us here in the north and traditionally it is the hottest week of the year.  Traditional doesn't always happen though, and last night we sat around with neighbours, enjoying a few drinks with blankets wrapped around us and the kids cuddled up on the couches inside.  It's certainly no traditional summer, we haven't had decent heat all season.

Looking at the clothing in this layout says it all, really.  These are photos from Hahei - our annual beach trip.  Usually we take a jersey but don't put it on all holiday. This year we lived in warm clothes and we were often stuck in our bach, watching the rain fall outside. 

I guess there is good and bad that goes with a freaky season like this.  Bad being that I'm seriously mourning for the summer that should have been.  I feel like if I don't get a week of hot weather somewhere, I'm going to go into winter struggling.  I love my summer so much.  Good news is that I've scrapped a little this summer.  I've created layouts for no reason at all - and the pics I use won't be the typical summer ones either.  Something different for a change.  Maybe change ain't so bad.

laters

 
Supplies: Prima Printery Papers.  Prima flowers and leaves.  Scrapware chipboard flourish.  Martha Stewart punch. Prima Alphabet.

Pinterest. Wow. Is that the time already?

It's not likely I'll be bored ever again.  Today I joined Pinterest.  I'd been tempted to join up many times previously, but refused to jump on the Pinterest bandwagon.  I've never liked online time wasting things.  I don't allow those little "I'm online, message me!" icons.   I uninstall chat features and I went kicking and screaming into facebook.  I figured I didn't need something else to tie me to the computer.

But more and more I noticed "Pin it!" badges beside images.  I started to research what Pinterest is, and what it can do.  I read more and more about the marketing advantages of Pinterest.  This thing is huge, people.  I mean, massive.  Did you realise?

Ok so I joined.  Let's see what this fuss is all about.  I created some boards.  I started pinning.  Images.  Cute stuff.  Yummy stuff.  Inspirational stuff.  Somewhere in the background I hear voices.  They sound like kids asking questions.  I stare dreamingly at the screen, hand on mouse scrolling down.  Huh?  What?  Shhhhh I'm pinning. 

Maybe this Pinterest isn't so bad.  I've learnt a few things today.  

1. Pinterest could make me redecorate my whole home. 

2.  Pinterest has the potential to make me skinny. 

It's like an online scrapbook - and with images like these, I may even find myself more focused and into my other hobbies....like fitness and the pursuit of the perfectly toned body. (Not neccessarily mine either - there are some preeeety amazing looking men on Pinterest.  Who knew?!)

3. It's possible that every single sentence I say to my hubby each evening after he comes home from work may start with "so there was this thing I saw on Pinterest today and I kinda thought maybe you could help me  ..." 

4. Pinterest has the potential to make me fat.

Type in "Chocolate" in the search box and see what happens.  Go on.  I dare you.

5. Lastly.  Pinterest will make you think.  About things like this.

And this.  A laugh is good at any time of the day, right? 
Even if there isn't much time left because Pinterest soaked it all up while I looked for images. 
Laters

Getting my Glitz on...

A quick layout share today.  I've got my Glitz going on - papers and most of the cut-out elements are from Glitz.  A few other transparency bits and pieces from Collection Elements.  The paper lace and small black border is from Scrap Matrix.  See that itty bitty little white punched border - it's my new fav from Stampin' Up!  (Linking you to Delys's blog because I get questions about where to buy Stampin' Up!)  It's kinda like a mini threading water punch, except 2-sided (one side is hidden by the black strip) and way cuter!  Gotta have!

I'd chat some more but I'm considering whether perhaps I shouldn't clean up the scrapping-bomb that went off in this office, but just carrying on with another layout instead. 
You should see me trying to type on this laptop as it is balanced on a pile of Scrapbooking papers, chipboard pieces and punches.  I guess the laptop is getting put aside and I'm getting back to scrapping!

laters (oh, if you are a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, feel free to leave your link in the comments!)

Meet Penny.

Those of you that have my book may remember a layout about my childhood companion, Heidi.  Heidi was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and I had her from when I was 8 years old (Abby's age) until I was 18.  She was my constant friend through most of my childhood.  I have wanted another Cav since I lost Heidi 20 years ago. 

Yesterday, finally, we welcomed little Penny into our family.  She is already the most fussed over puppy on earth. We'd waited and waited for the right time and finally it's here.   Welcome, little Penny - ain't she cute?  You can guarantee to see many, many puppy layouts in my very near future.

Laters

Creating again.

I’m back in my office seat.  Things are comfy here.  Radio is on.  The view is the same but I’ve found new inspiration.  It comes with having a break from creating for a while.  Or perhaps the Christmas chocolate keeping me company is providing a little extra creative energy?

I’ve filled the next 3 months with exciting creative endeavours.  I’ve joined the design team of a fabulous manufacturer, one I’ve not worked with for a while. 

I’ve started researching and re-inventing my super-popular Big Picture workshop, Dimensional Details, which is running again starting July.  It’s looking to be even bigger and better than last time.  It has to be.  If the time invested is reflection on how huge this workshop will be.

I’ve signed a contract for another big online teaching gig.  Love that. 

I’m head down into the serious Autumn Escape work.  Those that have registered for this event will start seeing more and more in the way of exciting news and teasers. 

And in between all the computer type work, I’ve pulled out some favourite papers and flowers and created something.  It’s just something little for someone special.  It felt great to be creating again.  You’ll see a lot more from me coming up.  (Happy Birthday Ms Lucy!  Hope your day is awesome! I’m so lucky to be your Olive!)

 

Supplies: Prima Annalee papers.  Prima vine.  Martha Stewart punch.  Scrapware scroll frame.  Twine from The Twinery.

Beach times, happy kids and leading by example. Again.

We are back from our annual Hahei holiday. We are back ready and refreshed for a new year ahead.  Despite a lot being against us – like days of rain, huge beach swells and freaky tidal undertows– we had a great time.

The swell was huge for most of our time away.  The boys still swam, Braden managed to score himself a black eye whilst swimming and both boys got caught in a rip several times.  It was rough but I was proud that both of them were educated enough on what to do to get back to shore safely.

Of course Abby just did her usual happy dance on the water’s edge for hours on end.

Jacob, Abby, Braden.  Love these kids!

We had a lot of rain while we were away but on the one really fine day we had, we spent the whole day on the beach – it was a huge day, lots happened and we were exhausted afterwards.  On return back to the house I asked Braden if he’d learnt anything that day.  Below is his list.

1. Don’t underestimate the sun.  Clothing is the best sunblock. (Despite our best efforts, we all got sunburnt in places we thought we had got with the sunblock, NZ sun is vicious)

2. Don’t let anyone bury you next to the tide mark.  (Following an episode where he got buried and I asked him what would happen if a rogue wave come in.. freaked him a little…good lesson)

3. ‘Defending your fort’ is the best beach game EVER.  Build a massive sandcastle on the incoming tide and battle to stop the waves defeating it.  Awesome fun with friends made on the beach.

4. Mum, you are so calm in an emergency situation. 

“Hmmm… really?” I asked – “Yep, I was blown away by how calm and controlled you were today”.  I think that comment is still making me happy every time I think about it.
And it WAS a really serious situation he is talking about.  Think ambulance, rescue chopper, yep it was a biggie.

I was sitting on the beach and happened to notice a guy on hands and knees on the water’s edge.  I watched really closely, picked up my phone incase I would need it and when I realised he was in a serious state, I ran down and rang 111 for the ambulance.  I relayed the situation and ran along the beach and up the beach access (pays to be fit) to wave the ambulance down and then direct them back to the guy.  Then I helped out at the scene for a while, until he was in safe hands.

It was a massive situation and on sitting back down with my family afterwards I knew I’d been involved in something huge, but it wasn’t until I questioned Braden on what he thought I did that was so good, that I realised what a good example I’d probably been to him.  I was actually using what we had been through as a lesson – those of you that are parents will know what I mean.  Talk it through, learn a lesson from the nasty situation.

“You ran and called 111 and told them about the problem.  I saw you give the phone to his friend, talk to the sick man and order some big guys out of the water to carry him up the beach a bit.  Then you took the phone back and run up the beach to get the ambulance.  Then you ran down the beach carrying ambulance stuff. You hugged that lady and got the bucket of water that they needed.  You made sure there were people watching us kids so Dad and Thomas could carry the stretcher back up the beach, I was like, wow Mum you are so calm”.

I replay this conversation in my mind constantly.  We’d just talked in my last blog post about being an example for our kids and it makes me proud that I did well in front of them.  I’m not after praise here.  It’s not a praise-worthy situation because it’s what we would all do in the same situation and there were lots of other people helping, it was a huge team effort.  But how cool that Braden came to that conclusion about my actions.  We talked a little more about how the key to maintaining control and coming out of a sticky situation is to remain calm and think things through.  Even when panic takes hold.

And the freaky thing is that Braden told me after getting caught in a small rip yesterday that he used my example of remaining calm and taking control, even when panic tries to take over, to help him out of it.

Funny how things work out sometimes, huh?

Laters.

Oh! – for those that are wondering.  The man was a retired aged local.  I thought about him for the entire week we were there, as he was taken away in a serious condition in the rescue helicopter and I had no idea what was actually wrong with him or if he was OK.  I learnt yesterday that he had a heart attack while diving and luckily made it to the waters edge.  It was very serious, he is out of danger now, but lucky to be alive and is currently recovering in hospital.  Happy days.

Leading by example.

We're away at the beach. House-sitters are at home, work left behind, nothing but sand, surf, sun, at one of Our favourite places on earth.

We have many traditions while we ate here. There is ice-creams after dinner. Swims in the afternoon. Sleeps after lunch. Fishing at Ferry landing. Long days doing nothing and sunny evenings with friends.

I also love this place because it's where I feel closest to Shauna, a friend that passed a few years ago. Before she passed she made me promise to look after myself. Eat well, exercise often, drink plenty of water, all in the aim of making my body as strong as possible to fight any illness that comes my way. I guess she hoped those around her would escape illnesses such as hers.

So it seems fitting that one of my favourite things to do is to run to Cathedral Cove everyday, this is where I had my own personal goodbye to Shauna a few years back, writing her name in the sand to be carried away by the Pacific ocean on the same day her friends and family were celebrating her memory at the other side of the ocean.

This year both Abby and Braden have been walking with me. I run down, they walk, and I meet them halfway back andcomplete the track with them. I guess we lead by example and this one's a good one to pass on.

On the first day we went, I talked to them about Shauna before we left. I told them who Shauna was, how her example had led me through the start of my scrapbooking life and then encouraged me through my fitness trials as well. " wow she was like your hero, right mum?" Abby says. "I guess so" is my reply.

And so we got to the cove, a place you can only reach by bush track or boat. Both kids are proud of their tough trek. I'm proud of the example I've led.

I guess Shauna's story was something that touched them. Abby dropped behind and when I looked back she was writing in the sand.

In case you can't make it out, it says " Shauna xoxo best hero"

So true.
Laters.

Simplify

It seems like the thing to do.  Choose a word at the start of a new year and use it to form new attitudes or goals.  Kind of like New Year resolutions.  Although without using the word ‘resolution’, one doesn’t need to feel guilty when specific goals aren’t achieved.  Perfect.

Last year I chose the word focus and I think I did pretty darn well.  I looked at myself, my family, my big picture and where I wanted to be and I changed things to make it the way I wanted.  I pulled away from the scrapbooking industry a little and concentrated on other things.  It meant that I lost many very public things, like my design teams and my online presence (did ya miss me?), but it meant I had more of a presence in my family life and gained some other things – like a qualification in Sports and Fitness.  Big changes for a small town girl, really.

So now that 2011 has bought me focus, what do I want for 2012?  What do you want for 2012?  It’s not a bad time for that little bit of reflection.

My word this year is simplify.  I’m going to concentrate on making things as simple as possible.  I’m notorious for making a job harder than it needs to be. 

I am itching to get back into the online scrapbooking thing a little more.  Create more.  Share more.  Enjoy posting on my blog more often. It didn’t take me long to miss it.  This year though, I’m not going to make it hard to do.

Simplify.

Perfect example.  Braden’s birthday.  Lots of people around and not enough birthday dinner to feed them all.  Keepin things easy meant a call to the local Fish n chip shop, grabbing some fish from the smoker and hanging out together in the best Kiwi dinner there is.  Simple.  Love it.

The whole gang enjoying fish n chips, kiwi style.

Fish caught the day before, straight from the smoker.

A happy Abby with her Uncle Vaughan.

What’s your word for 2012?

Laters