New Years Eve

{A little collection of my favorite projects for 2011}

The last day of twenty - 11!
Its been a year of good and bad memories, love and sadness, joy and sorrow.  There have been hard experiences and cheers of victory.
All in all its been a year of learning and coping.
But two words I could use to summarize:
'love and attitude' - that's what helped me through.
After all my one little word for this year was attitude!
2 words that dont normally go together - but for me they do.

I have learn that sometimes you need to walk away from things that are bad and walk towards the good things that are going to fill you with love. Its those things that have helped me be who I am today. It has been tough for me at times adjusting to a family of 4, battling with exhaustion for months, giving birth to a baby while your home is being flood, having a husband that worked lots of weekends and big hours, a year of staying home and one little holiday/break... but with the right attitude and heart full of love, all those things have made me stronger.
I still today, would not change a thing.
Twenty-11 you were kind to me - I {heart} you!

{a collection of photos that summarize my year.}

Jan - Piper was born / Feb - Interaction between the two boys / Mar - playing in the park / Apr - Piper warming our hearts / May - wet weather playing / Jun - Mummy first time with just Piper while Brae is at Grandmas -/ Jul - Brae turns 2 / Aug - Brae learns to ride his bike / Sept - both boys love playing together outside / Oct - Daddys birthday / Nov - first holiday for the year at the beach / Dec - Piper first Christmas

Cant wait for twenty - 12!
PS I have notebook and pen beside.. scribbling done some scrappy goals -want to know?

family

This morning, I am sitting listening to the birds sing.
Yes just the birds, not even the hum of a car in the distance.
So many times I find myself complaining " oh to have a bit of silence for a few seconds"
but you know,
its weird listening to just the birds.

Everyone is sleeping and I am up early.
Not because I cant sleep, just because I went to the bed with the birds and knew if I woke early, I would get  a chance to get a few things crossed off my list so then i can enjoy my day with my family.

I am also appreciating the clean and tidy house, but in the same instance I am sitting here realising that the noise, the messiness, the crazy things all my boys do - big and small. - I would miss. There part of me now. Our crazy happy family. But do I appreciate my family and am I grateful for my family. Some days I think about how nice it would be to have everything just 'so' to have furiture that wasnt chipped, to have clean dining chairs and windows and mirrors without smudges. But really as imperfect as it might seem - I love it! Having those things make my family special, its what we can call our family.

Being this time of the year where most people have spend time with there families and friends, I still sat and thought about those people who didn't have any family left, those in sorrow, those families who have soldiers as Daddy's who are fighting for our country, doctors and nurses...
On Christmas day we drove past the hospital and there out the front where some nurses having a break and Brett passed the comment.. "those people dont get much of break uh" - so true.. do I appriecate the medical stuff that are there always to take our calls.. then to talk with Brett brother who is a fire figther and to hear that they had some call outs.. no rest for them either.. actually.. Brett brother was here with us, I was about to serve lunch and his buzzer went off. There he was willing to just drop everything and go and help. He did not mention one word, despite to just about eat.. isnt that something we need to appriecate.... their efforts, their works for us!

There is a reason behind thinking about this again this morning. I have been editing and looking through my family photos. I set myself the task at the beginning of the year to take one family photo a month for 2011. When I set that goal, in all honesty thought I wouldn't get them 'all'. I have expect to forget, people to not co-operate or simply loose interest.
But somehow I did it.

I want to appriecate and value my family just as they are!

Happy Wednesday! :)

photos

The best place for me today is inside by the air-condition.
a storm early this morning and heading for 38'c with another storm on the way.
Today is a no brushing hair, no shopping, no getting dressed and no fuss!
So I thought I would sit here and play catch up!

This is my Daily December for 2011. I decided that I wanted the photos to do the talking. it was hard but less embellishments and less journalling.

Using crate paper Peppermint - oh I love that range and also a bit of Basic Grey black dress.

Well.. I think its perfect conditions for crafting today.

wonderful holidays!

Did you survive the day?
I think I need a long winters nap!
The weeks leading up to Christmas just go so fast because of the work committments and preparations.
 Maybe next year I might plan and schedule a bit better!

Now to clean up!
We have more family coming over shortly.
More eating, more gifts, more laughter... then it might be time to put my feet up!

Hope you all have a wonderful wonderful holiday!

tis' the season...

Tis' the season to be rushed!
Last minute baking, wrapping, crafting..
I did however create a page last night!
but I will show you next week :)

Today we cleaned the house from top to toe.
...with a bit of jingle bells,
lots of laughing and hide an' seek,
.... run rudoplh run,
 Brae is vacuuming
...Santa coming
Piper with the dust mit
...dashing through the snow
mopping the floors
Made the day somewhat fun!
Oh some days..
I wish I was a kid again!

I had some good friends pop in.
Oh it was lovely to sit and eat sugarsugarsuagar...
homemade christmas cookies!

So after a productive day we are all settling in for a very new and glorious morn!
sleeping in tomorrow morning.
Oh, its the most wonderful time of the year!

Happy Happy Holidays!

its a silent night

... craft time for Mummy

Rudolph biccies

Can you believe its only 4 days till Christmas day?Its going fast! . well.. my to -do list just seems to get bigger and bigger!
I keep finding things I want to create, bake or do with my boys!

Brae and I planned to do some fun baking. I  think its a bit of a holiday favorite - Rudolph biccies.
There pretty easy to make and pretty tastey.

Ingredients

• 100g butter
• 200g (1 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
• 250ml (1 cup) honey
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 600g (4 cups) plain flour
• 150g (1 cup) self-raising flour
• 1 tbs ground ginger
• 1 tbs ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 

Method

1. Place the butter, sugar and honey in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly.
2. Combine the butter mixture and egg in a large bowl. Sift the combined flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and bicarbonate of soda over the butter mixture. Stir until well combined. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead until smooth. Shape into a disc. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour to rest.
3. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Divide the dough into 2 even portions. Roll out 1 portion on a lightly floured surface until 5mm thick. Use a 12.5cm-long Christmas tree-shaped cutter to cut trees from the dough. Place on the lined trays. Bake for 5 minutes or until golden. Set aside on the trays for 5 minutes to cool before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.
    4. Make up some chocolate icing. Then turn your gingerbreads upside down so the legs become antels, put 2 marshmellows as eyes and raspberry for a nose.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Have a Merry Tuesday :)

All snug in that room...

On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen...

Going from one place to the next,
dashing here trying to find that little something for the next door neighbor to say thank you for all their care and looking out for us,
onto the grocery shop, only to find that everyone is there.
Then into the kitchen to finish off those Rudolph biccies. now that we have more marshmallows.
Its a bit like calling Santa's reindeer's as he prepares to deliver those presents.
come on Comet and Cupid, Donder and Blitzen...

 Here I am with less than a week before the kids faces are filled with excitement,
and my hips most likely to be twice or three times as big from all those sweets that just cant be left on the table lonely -
getting buried in my studio and snowed under with deadlines.
scrambling for air only to realise that you are less than half way through.
Now to remember a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, with a little old driver, so lively and quick, will be here very soon with a sleigh full of toys.
So its best that I give myself a nod and point with my finger,
that its time to get to work with creativity.
Because soon a creature wont stir and the stockings will be hung,
then it will be time to nestle into bed.
To listen for the twinkling on the roof tops and the prancing of hoofs
will remind me thats why I bured myself in my studio that week or so ago.


With success so far and little inspirationf rom  The Colour Room platte #88  to jump start me.

But before you go
the winner of the 'I am her' book

Oie said...

I'd love to read the book 'I am her'. It made for such interesting reading on your blog. My Christmas indulgence this year (which I snack on after 'lights out!!) is peppermint Chocolate

And the winner of the Amy tangarine mini book 

Kylie Smith said...

Oooh, i make these yummy mini puddings that i just can't stop eating!!! They are so good - Christmas pudding mixed with chockie :D Sooo good with a cuppa!!!


Please email me your address.

So away I fly to the room down the hall,
to nestle myself in for a few hours or so!

Happy Monday!

a sweet little package

Hello and Happy Thursday.

I have been a little crafty this week with a few more Christmas projects crossed off the list!
At one point over the weekend, I cleaned out my kitchen drawers. It was well over due but very rewarding. I found some small paper bags, set them aside on the bench, with a do not touch sign.
Got my notebook and started drawing and writing notes.
A kept going back to the same idea.
Re-decorating.
Being the festive season there will be unexpected gatherings and inviations.
There is plenty of baking and sweet treats in this house,
 I put idea one and idea two together and you get a small hand package gift to give.

 using Polly Christmas kit - Crate paper peppermint range & shimmerz paintz

Don't we all love a little something.
It kinda gives a whole new meaning to giving.
A package full of love!

just one page

Ok, so yesterday I should been folding those 3 baskets of washing, but I really wanted to have a go at this sketch.  I spent much of the afternoon working on this page. Spraying lots of shimmerz paintz, re-colouring some prima flowers - just so they matched my page and editing a few November photos. I'm excited that I got to use the sketch.


Oh I love how this came together.
Bit self praise is ok uh?

close up: prima flowers sprayed with Shimmerz

close up:  a lil somethin flower. manor house creation flower, hambly and prima bird house {cute much!}

close up: a lil somethin banner that I added too - Prima paper sprayed in shimmerz.

 Tomorrow I have a Christmas share{s} planned. That is once we have made our reindeer biccies!

cheeky {mini} cheesecakes!

Happy Monday! 
My menu is not exciting this week. Just using up lots of Roast Beef in salads and pies.
But on the weekend Brae & I spent a little time in the kitchen and colouring-in.
So I thought I would share this quick and easy dessert.

We changed the lemon butter on top to M & M's -decorated by Brae!

Cheeky mini cheesecakes

 

1 packet butternut cookies

500g cream cheese

Icing sugar

½ vanilla essences

1tsp lemon juice

1 cup lemon butter

Method

1.  Put individual butternut cookies over each cup cake holder in a cupcake tray and bake on 150’c for about 10mins or until the cookies are soft.

2.  Remove the tray from the oven and mould each cookie to the shape of each cupcake holder by pressing them in. Allow to cool.

3.  Allow the cream cheese to soften out of the fridge then place it in a bowl and stir it in with the lemon juice and vanilla essence.

4.  Gradually add the icing sugar until you are satisfied with the sweetness. Put in as much or as little as you like.

5.  Scoop the mixture into your cookie bases.

6.  Add a dollop of lemon butter on top. Place in the fridge to cool, and then indulge.

a giveaway or {two}

I am naughty!
I know I shouldn't be eating them.. but there just so yummy..
oh my Christmas sweet tooth  weakness!

I am pretty excited today.
A couple reasons because its Friday and means the weekend is around the corner and one more sleep closer till Christmas.
Another reason is I have a winner to announce from this post.

 Dolly B said...

Thats because you have a fabulous Blog! And my to do list...... My husbands favourite saying to me is..... "YOU have no time management!" so nope my to do list remains just that "to do" :(

Cheers
Mary

Dont husbands say the grandest things - maybe they could be a bit more subtle.. but I really hope that you get just one little task completed.

Email me your address (its under the contact me tab at the top) and I will pop  a little something into the mail :) 

Now I have this book to giveaway. 

A while ago I received my own copy in the mail and it has been such a help and strength to me. I honestly think every woman should have a read. It turns so many those 'down' days into positive days. 

" see every difficultly as a challenge, 

a stepping stone 

and never be defeated by anything or anyone"

If you want a copy for yourself just go here to Conpendium.

Also I have  the Amy Tangerine Mini Book to giveaway.

Leave a comment telling me what your Christmas sweet tooth weakness OR how much you really want this!

I will leave this open till Friday 16th December 2011 11.59pm

Good Luck 

Happy Friday!!

I am jumping around what about you!

feeling appriecative...

ok
A while ago, feels like months ago, in fact about 2 weeks ago I mention on my blog that I wanted to tell a little story about my birthday. Now its no 'flash' story, nothing about gifts but something that really filled my heart with love that day.

Often I get thoughts that birthdays should be filled with heaps of gifts and getting waited on for that 24 hours. You know, we all dream about having breakfast in bed, doing no laundry or cooking meals,.. well, perhaps it might be different for you, but for me.. I always wanted these sort of things.
I am one those that never talks about my birthday coming up, not even to my husband, sometimes I would prefer that the day would pass without anyone remembering simply because I give myself expecations, a little like what I just wrote and then find myself dissappointed because nothing happened that day that I had expected. But this year I realised that Brae was old enough to understand what birthdays meant. He wanted to join in the excitement, wants to help make cake and sing happy birthday. He wanted to help open Mummys present and dance around the hosue like loonies.
So I blogged a simply message, which required you to read between the lines. and we talk with Brae about Mummy birthday being soon and bought a small gift for him to wrap for me.

ok.. I really didnt want a gift and found it hard to think of something because  my children I am sure wont remember Mummy's new pefume he gave me, but I have a feeling he will remember dancing around the house like a looney!

Now I should also point out here, that around my birthday time, it is busy time, my friends and family are generally away, (brett family where away and mine are 1600km away) so I do get left on the wayside. Sometimes I sit and think of what it would be like to have my friends over for a coffee and a laugh.. but you know my friends.. I learn this year that the 'small' things count and having no expectations means a whole lot more.

I didn't get any meals cooked, I made my cake with Brae, only because I knew Brett would not have been confident cooking a cake, although I am sure Brae could showed exactly what goes into the cake, tee hee.. We do way too much cooking! Right at this minute we have, rum balls, peppermint slice, cupcakes with blue icing, Anzac biccies, little chocolate rolls, marshmallow cones with sprinkles.. and then Brett told me this morning as he is packing his lunch for work.. I think I might have to feed Ruff (our dog) some this! um.. NO.. how about you take some to work or give to the neighbors.. tee hee

ok.. side track now.. now one small thing Brett did for me was peg my washing out. I didnt ask, I didnt expect it and just a small action for me spoke so loud to me. Ok pegging the washing out you think 'what the'.. how could that mean anything.. well friends.. to me.. it did! It meant I could still sit on the lounge and watch my boys play.. it meant I didnt need to get up.. isnt that something.. to just sit a bit longer than what you normally would?

A couple days before I left, I had a friend pop over with there animals for us to look after while they went away and she told me to have a Happy birthday.. jaw was wide open.. how did she know.. well.. you see this friend of mine.. I made some cupcakes for her way back at the beginning of the year for her birthday and she thought it was so special that she had to find out my birthday... oh she is sweet.. so on my birthday she had arranged  some flowers to be delivered.. need less to say when there was a knock at the door.. I assumed it was the boys mucking around and didn't answer for a weee bit.. uh opps.. wasnt expecting that one.. it made me cry! To know that she was going to be away and look what she did! but how do I thank her.. words are not enough. THEN.. a few hours later another knock.. again.. assumed it was Brett being a clown.. because I had previously said to him.. did you tell her I was 30 or something.. no I wasnt 30.. so when another bunch of flowers arrived from another friend.. I was gob smacked.. this never happens.. I was sure Brett had told her I was 30... but in the end he hadn't.. my first dear friend had told her friend.. (which she also was away too).. now friends.. I wont forget my day! But I feel so unappriecative and undeserving of what they did.
But you know what.. I believe in this saying now "good things come to those who wait"

I still will not expect anything each birthday, because now my birthday is a day to share with my little family.. just doing silly fun things.. maybe next year we will stand on the veranda and sing top note... tee hee. I dont know.. but that would be gift in its self.. I dont want a fancy tea out, a big flash car or nice watch.. well.. if you gave them too, I would take them and be thankful still.... and there is nothing wrong with that for a gift.. but all I am saying is.. dont put expecatiation on your day, well, if you do, make it's small because I am sure then, you will appriecate even more, like the washing getting pegged out for you!

So today, I am appreciating the smallest of smallest things.

I will just also share this page I did for The colour room this week!
Think I went over board with the sprays and clustering :(

I made those baubles by cutting them out of cardstock, gesso and some texture paste.

Happy Thursday! :)