My movie list

mmm New Moon - we are all hanging for this one in the Johnston house :)

Here is my movie wish list. Some have been out for a while and others aren't being released until next year but I am ready and waiting :) Hoping to knock a few off during the school holidays!

Holla

That word makes me giggle. Apparently it has replaced Hello in my 10yo (soon to be 11) vocab at the moment. Some of the school Mums and I "holla" at each other during the AM/PM school run - of course the kids think we are totally lame BUT if we use it enough we are sure they will soon tire of it and start using HELLO again...mwahhahahahah

I have been on bed rest this week so took the opportunity to tackle my pile of unfinished layouts that have been growing into a large pile. Nothing fancy, just wanted them done and in the album :)








One more sleep and then school hols...so excited. I will still be working a couple of shifts through the break but have lots planned on every day of the holidays. There sure is alot to squeeze in over the next two weeks :)

Over and out
Shan xoxoxo

Layout share

A few of the layouts I did at the retreat :)

busy busy bees

It has been a busy few weeks for the Johnston household. Not all good busy either but I am going to focus on my favourite things of the last few weeks:

1. The Scrapbook Princess retreat - oh wow what can I say about the retreat? If I wasn't relaxing with a book I was scrapping my heart out, if I wasn't scrapping my heart out I was PMSL, if I wasn't PMSL I was scrap shopping, if I wasn't scrap shopping I was either eating or sleeping ;) I left the retreat feeling so relaxed and happy in my heart. Feeling grateful that I got to spend the weekend with MissK and got to meet some other beautiful and fun souls.

2. Spending a child free day with my awesome hubby. It started with a meeting at the girls school, then annual mole scans for the both of us followed by a movie, iphone shopping and lunch :) As much as I love my babies I love love love spending child free time with my man! It reminds me just how much we enjoy each others company (swoon)!

3. Meeting my sister for a girls day. So good to catch up with my bestie!

We saw this movie, and I have to say I was a little hesitant. This style of movie doesn't usually appeal to me but boy oh boy what a difference when Johnny Depp is the lead role - be still my beating heart! I walked out of the cinema feeling the need to buy a poster just like this and blutac it to me bedroom wall like a teenager ;)

This guy amazes me in all the roles he takes on...so totally adorable and convincing in such varied roles. Am I swooning again *blush* I am absolutely busting to see him in Alice in Wonderland next year. The trailer looks totally amazing!!!

Lots and lots of movies coming up on my wish list - will share the list next post ;)

what a week

This week has been so unproductive craft wise but I am gearing up for a scrapping retreat next weekend which will be A W E S O M E. This time of year usually finds us down Sydney way with me sneaking off to a scrapping retreat in the middle of our holiday but things have changed a little this year so that trip is not happening. Luckily for me it just so happens that the LSS I do DT work for is holding their retreat next weekend and I am SO SO SO excited to be able to attend. Have a bit of a shopping list to organise before I go but couldn't resist buying these when I saw them the other day. At least my feet will be warm and comfy :)

This little one has been off school all week with a yucky cold and has now shared it with me, oh the joy!

Last week Tahlia was presented as Primary Leader for the College. So damn proud!

Do you like my awesome camera skills? This was meant to be a great photo at the ceremony of the head of the college presenting her with a Primary Leader badge BUT I got a bit teary and then forgot about adjusting the camera settings for the poor lighting in the school hall :( This was pretty much what I saw through my tears though *snort*

So I tried to redeem myself by getting a photo of her back at her class BUT what right minded Grade 6'er is going to pose nicely for a photo with all her classmates standing around looking...so this was all I could get....Good Grief! I have told her I am going to scrap it anyway ;)

Loving all of the CHA action ATM. Lots of goodness to look at but my fav..... everything Cosmo Cricket! be still my beating heart :)

Tic Tac Toe

We seem to do alot of little day trips, weekends away and road trips so when I found this little Tic Tac Toe project on the fiskars blog I thought it would be a great one to keep in the car. I challenged myself to not buy anything for it but make it with items from my stash. I changed a few things from the original instructions to accommodate the supplies I had on hand but am happy with how it turned out. More importantly the girls think it is 'totally cool' and have taken

it with them on a couple of trips we made over the weekend.

I used felt flowers (and topped them with felt buttons) for the game pieces. The flowers stick to the felt game mat so they don't slip around in car when the girls are playing it on the move.

The top of the green felt is not sewn down so the game pieces are tucked into the pocket and the game board folded up for quick and easy storage.

I really quick and simple little sewing project.

Here is the link to the original instructions: http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/projects/t_tictt09.aspx

Lots of other little sewing projects on my wish list ATM, will see how I go :)

Shan

xoxoxo

Hello reality

First day back at work today after two weeks off and all I can say is I don't want to get out of bed when its that early, dark and cold! End of financial year is still haunting us and although we are trying to start the new one off all fresh and sparkly its gone all murky already...ho hum.

Miss Ellie is so damn "spectacular" (her words *giggle*) that she has now learnt how to swallow a tablet WAHOOO. The medication she takes for her Epilepsy is liquid form so she gets quite a hit of it all at once which affects her alertness at school.
Now that she can swallow tablets we have moved her onto a slow release tablet form of the same medication so it will be alot more gentler to her little body. So so so extremely happy that she has jumped another hurdle...my little hero! It has only been a few days but she is knocking them back like mummy throws back a cowboy :)

Hope you have something "spectacular" in your world right now!

Shan
xoxoxo

Card update

A card update from Cardmaking, Stamping and Papercraft:


Vol 15 No 1 - Collectors Edition - out now and jam packed full of card goodness and lots of different themes!





Vol 14 No 12:





Vol14 No11 - 10 quick cards and a single card on a budget:





Vol 14 No 10:
Studio Steps. a Mothers Day card and a 20Q article about me *blush*









Vol 14 No 9 Easter cards and packaging


I closed my little Etsy shop a few months back when the Aussie $ nose dived against the US$, the price difference was ridiculous. Looking at listing some cards at madeit.com.au, will see if I can get organised.

Evidence

Evidence that a crazy evening has been had:








Went a little something like this:

1. put the girls plus friend in front of a dvd with crackers and biscuits

2. start cooking dinner

3. put rubbish in the wheelie bin and notice water is totally gushing from our water metre and has completely flooded the neighbours front yard

4. called local council water and reported said gushing

5. went to tell neighbours, not home

6. plumber calls within 5mins to say he is on his way

7. went to neighbours again, still not home

8. came back inside to find dinner smoking on the stove

9. freaked out and possible f bomb dropped

10.saved what i could into a casserole dish and put it in the oven

11.Friend's mum arrives to collect her daughter. Make small talk over sound of gushing water.

12. Pacing pacing and still waiting for plumber to turn up

13. checked casserole in oven to find it spilling over sides of dish and all over bottom of oven...oven now smoking too

14. gave up on dinner and turned oven off

15. neighbours still not home

16. Scott arrives home from work and peruses the situation, tells me to call council and he will go and see neighbours....ummm been there done ALL OF THAT!!!!

17. one hour later plumber arrives and turns off water at the same time Tahlia is in the shower and full lathered with body wash and shampoo - child is now screaming MUM at the top of her lungs from the shower. I ignore her and continue to sip on my Baileys :)

So today we have gained a front lawn feature (which will probably be nicked by the end of the week), a headache from too much Baileys and a full day of soaking and scrubbing and scrubbing and soaking a stock pot. I am ignoring the oven that needs cleaning for now :)

How was your evening?

because Kerryn said I had to ....

... start blogging again and because I ALWAYS do as I am told, here I am :)


It has been a long time between posts so lots and lots to update. We have had alot of crap thrown our way over the last few months, nothing dire, nothing life changing, nothing we can't deal with but its been a hard slog.


Anyway here are some layouts from this last weekend, another 15hr crop...ahhh the bliss. I missed one of Tahlia's cheerleading comps to attend the crop but REALLY needed a mummy mental health day. I felt selfish but I got over it :)



I love that my man loves to cook for me on the weekend *totally hot* and it gave me a chance to use Cosmo Cricket Early Bird range...mmmmm cosmo love!



Miss Ellie's latest book love - joke books. Please no more knock knock or why did the chicken cross the road jokes! Used some old MM from my stash and nabbed some of the new Prima ribbon from Kerryn's tote that was right beside me and begging to be added to the page (thanks K!)





Miss Ellie has an AWESOME cafe :) Gotta love the October Afternoon Cherry Hill range - mmmm OA love!

Miss Ellie turned 7 in May and is full of imagination and attitude. Some Pink Paislee from my stash mixed with some Collage Press Sweet Shoppe.

Tahlia Ashley takes on the role as mumma whenever her little cousins are around - makes me smile to see her being so gently and nuturing, if only she could be like that towards her sister *bliss*. Have used some BG Lime Rikey.

Ok off to work on the next post - some recent cards :)

Do I get a gold star K???

Happy Valentines Day

Wishing you a day full of love !!!

xoxoxo

We can all help if we choose to

In response to the devastation in Victoria there have been appeals and fundraising activities set up so I thought I would post some scrapbooking/craft ideas here:

http://sares1911.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/what-a-week/

http://sandie-sandiesplace.blogspot.com/2009/02/would-you-like-to-help.html

Little Scrapbook Shop have their Cybercrop starting Friday 13th and it will include a number of silent auctions with all proceeds going to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. The auctions run all weekend and the winners will be announced Monday.


Here is a card set I have donated to the auction as featured in the current issue of Cardmaking, Stamping and Papercraft (Vol14No8):


Lots and lots of other craft goodies are up for auction too. Check out all the action here.

And lots of other ways to donate can be found here.

Please consider helping out and doing what you can :)

CHA09

The buzz out of the US (apart from Obama of course) is the CHA releases. They seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment. Love seeing the new products although its torture having to wait for them now. Here are a few of my favs so far (think I better start saving!!!!)

Jenni Bowlin

Cosmo Cricket (never bought anything cosmo before but these 3 releases will certianly be changing that!!!)

Donna Downey for Prima (YUM AND YUM!!!)


Pink Paislee (I think I would have a bit of each collection but this is my fav)

Fancy Pants

See what I mean....start saving!!!

Enjoy the long weekend and have a wonderful Australia Day!

xoxoxo

Would you put a ring on this?

Just had to share this little number.....had me laughing so loud tonight!!!

xoxox

Layout share

Lots of layouts I have done recently but haven't blogged:


One of Tahlia & Ellie with their new saying "What ever major loser" complete with hand signals. Sooo proud NOT!!! - Layout removed for publication




and one of my very beautiful friend Helen who has had such a very sad time of it the last few months....love you babe!!!





And on the weekend was another 15hr crop at Scrapbook Princess and another 6 layouts done WAHOO. So great to get that many knocked over in one day! Still managed to fit in lots of fun, laughter, shopping, food and nortiness with Miss Kerryn and this month Lisa joined us for a few hours, so so so great to catch up with you Lisa!!! The next one is on in only 3weeks....counting sleeps already!!! Here are the layouts I completed:



One of Miss Ellie's bed making attempts

The magic of christmas:

Halloween fun:

The Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Soooo many emotions when we were there!

Some New Years Eve sparkler fun

And lastly, the stories behind Miss Ellie's babies

Two more weeks of our 8week school holidays here....soooo sad its coming to an end. I love having my babies at home with me!

Hope you are having a great January!

xoxoxo