Five for Friday

watching...

reading...

listening...

buying...

wanting...

Mum stuff | Things I love Thursday...

As you will have been reading...I'm on a mission this year to get organised in the home...and the kids are coming along for the ride whether they like it or not.  I've become a regular visitor to the Organised Housewife's blog. Katrina shares fabulous, simple ideas that work in her home and I've been trying a few out. I recently printed out her morning/afternoon routine sheets for our family to follow. I've hung them in the kids rooms and the dining/family room as a visual reminder of what we need to achieve each day. The kids love it, and run over to make sure they're doing it all in order. We started last week so that by the time school starts next Monday, they'll have had loads of practice.

One way to get the kids to participate is to use a "rewards" chart. There are plenty on the market, or you could draw one up yourself.  We've used them before for toilet training and it worked a treat, so time to try again for other chores. I found this one today at draw! pilgram and totally fell in love with it!  Its completely free, and fun looking, so I've printed off one for each of the kids. Once I've figured out what tasks they're going to do, I'll laminate it and put some sticky magnets on the back so I can attach it to the fridge.  I might make/buy some cute animal magnets or something to use to fill in the leaves each day.

I'm thinking something along the lines of tidy room, make bed, set the table, listened to mum and dad, etc. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.  I've also decided the kids will start to earn pocket money along the way as well. What good is a rewards chart if there's no reward at the end? Having said that, with rewards come consequences. Complete the sheet and at the end of the week they'll receive $5 pocket money (half of which needs to be saved). Miss something on the chart and 20c will be deducted for each blank leaf. Sounds fair to me.

What do you do to motivate your children to participate in helping out around the home?

Cheers, Lis.

Layouts | multiphoto

You wouldn't know it from the layouts I've been posting lately...but I have a son as well! lol. Sometimes I get in the groove of creating girlie layouts, and forget to do some for poor Sethy-boy.  Well, he does exist and he's happy that I've been creating for him too.

For this layout, I had the great feature photo of Seth smiling beautifully, but a couple of others on the camera of him being silly. It would have been really easy to delete those and just use the happy, smiley one...but I think they work well together. What mother doesn't have a cheeky boy! lol. Seth looks so mature with his head shaved. I can't believe he'll be going into year 3 next week!

Scrapware products used: CH429 Alyssa flourish small and WT36 Create Family. Both pieces have been coloured with a sharpie and coated in paper tole glaze.

These pics were taken before going to school for Mission Day last October.  To celebrate Mary MacKillop becoming a Saint, the kids had to dress up as school children from the time when Mary was alive.  I searched high and low for an outfit for Seth, and eventually found most of it at thrift shops. The brown pants were suit pants that I cut short and rehemmed ($5), the hat was a pink girl's cap ($4), sock (50c) and boots ($3).  The shirt was already in Seth's wardrobe and the suspenders were men's ones that I cut shorter and restitched together. I think he looks adorable!  btw - those boots still had the tag on them and were originally $40! What a find!

To create the crocheted border under the photos, I trimmed the edge off a doily and straightened it out. The chipboard dragonfly has been coated in paper tole glaze to enhance the raw colour, and the other two pieces of chipboard have been inked brown.

Scrapware products used: JB02 Journal Bits - date set; CH426 3D Flourish Dragonfly small; and CH428 Alyssa flourish large.

Do you prefer scrapping boy or girl layouts?  I like to mix it up...just depends on what product is inspiring me at the time.

Cheers, Lis.

Happy Australia Day!

So very proud to call myself an Australian! It really is the lucky country and one of the most beautiful places on the face of the Earth...beautiful vistas, unique animals, resilient people who display compassion, humour, toughness and talent beyond belief!

So very happy that my children are growing up in a safe environment, that they attend great schools and can run around outside and play without fear...just like children should. For the opportunities that will be presented to them in the future because of this fair country we live in.

So very thankful that Andrew and I both have full-time jobs to pay for our sweet house on 683 square metres, planted out with native trees and shrubs, that native birds love to visit.  For the public holiday granted to us to celebrate this special day in any manner we choose.

So very moved by our National anthem everytime I hear it...and even more so when its sung by Adam Hills to the tune of Working Class Man...enjoy!

Cheers from an Aussie blogger.

Lis.

Mum stuff | when does school go back again??

yes, we're suffering from the last week of school holiday craziness in this house!

these two are driving us crazy...

and each other crazy!

they play nicely with each other one moment...

and then it all ends in tears the next.

they're bored silly and constantly ask if they can do something...

everything that is suggested is highly uninteresting apparently.

he has spent way too much time playing the ds lately...

she always wants to watch Barbie movies...he doesn't.

he pushes his sister around...

she knows exactly which buttons to push.

she throws massive tantrums and grunts...alot...

he just wants to be left alone.

she is so very very ready to start school...

he seriously needs to get back to school...

they both need to get back into routine.

i've turned into my mother...

telling them its the only brother/sister they'll ever have...

treat each other nicely!

its only one more week...

serenity now!

yeah, butter wouldn't melt in their mouths.

Cheers, Lis.

Inspired Blueprints | Sketch #64

Sketch #64 has been revealed on the Inspired Blueprints blog, and I think this was one of the most fun sketches I've played along with for ages! I love playing with my border punches, and after punching out so many of them, I feel I'm definitely an expert now! lol.  nb. punch is by Martha Stewart.

Aren't those pics of Seth meeting Santa adorable!  Christmas 2010, we had our Santa photos taken at Domayne, and I asked if I could take some snaps as well while their photographer was working. I managed to capture some really sweet moments, and all the other mums around were muttering that they wished they'd done that too! Pays to be a scrapbooker who carries a whopper dslr around all the time! lol.

All the products for the layout above came from the "Dennison" kit from Storyboard Kits. There are still a few available if you want to purchase one. Just drop me a line at storyboardkits@gmail.com.

Here's the sketch if you want to play along too.  I have swapped out the 12x4 photo for two 6x4.  The IB design team have created some beautiful samples too...make sure you check them out!

Entries for this month's giveaway close midnight 31 January 2011. Upload your layouts into the Inspired Blueprints gallery to enter!

Cheers, Lis.

Scrapware | Love blooms...

On Friday night, I went along to the Scrapbooking Delights midnight crop (the first time in months!) and I managed to scrap four layouts! I had such a great time chatting and creating...really must make more time to get social more often.  Here's one I created on the night...

Eme recently discovered my digi point and shoot camera, and has also discovered the joy of taking many, many self portraits! lol. After she'd finished playing, I found over 200 images on my memory card!! hahaha.  I snapped these pics while she was taking pictures of herself. Such a sweetie...a little vain...but sweet nonetheless.

I've been colouring Scrapware chipboard again! This time its the Love Blooms frame (designed by me).  After colouring in the frame and flowers, I went around the border with black fine tip pen and coated the whole lot in paper tole glaze (a fav.). The same treatment has been given to the title.

Scrapware products used:

LW31 Love Blooms medium (also available in small & large)

LB27 Marilyn Blooms

CH302 Skeleton leaves small

MI09 Mini flowers

AZ12 Impact large LC

Hope you've all been having a fab weekend. I'm back to work tomorrow and I think the early start might just do me in! lol.

 

Cheers, Lis.

Layouts | multiphoto

As much as I love scrapping layouts with that one great shot...when I'm shooting away, I take so many...I either can't choose which one to use, or they tell a story and need to be scrapped together.

This layout tells the story of Eme's first attempt at making bunitsa...a traditional bulgarian dish that Andrew's family loves!  Well actually...Andrew was attempting it and Eme took over. I think we have a new generation of cooks in the family! yay! Papers used are Lily Bee's "Domestic Bliss" collection.  I'm still going through a bunting phase and made this one from the apron paper...which reminded me of the apron Eme is wearing! My sister whipped up that little creation when they went to visit recently...talented girl!

I had to add the "sort of" to the title "just like nanna used to make" because Andrew's nanna used to make her filo pastry from scratch! Talk about hard work! It was so thin you could see through it. We cheated and used the shop bought stuff. Still tasted good, but never as good as Andrew's nanna's.

This layout uses Lily Bee's "Domestic Bliss" collection also. Love the floral patterned paper...reminds me of really old wallpaper or a table cloth. lol...and it was almost identical in print to the little shirt Eme's cabbage patch is wearing.  Scrapware products used: WT36 Create Family; CH202 I {heart} you; CH428 Alyssa flourish large.

Funny story (well, I think it is)...I have a really bad habit of buying toys for the kids and then not letting them out of the box (think poor Stinky Pete and Jessie!).  When Eme was born, I was obsessed with finding a cabbage patch doll that had the same birth date.  After 18 months of searching high and low and looking at EVERY cabbage patch I came across, I finally found this one. I bought it on the spot, brought it home...and put it on the highest shelf possible...where it has been sitting for the last three years!

Eme has often asked if she can play with it, and I've always said no.  Recently, my friends Alex and Georgina came to stay and asked me why it was there. After explaining the story, they said...you know, its only a collectible to you! Too true.  After they left, the doll came out of the box and Eme and the doll have been inseparable ever since.  Even funnier...the doll was named Elisabeth Jocelyn. Elizabeth happens to be my sister's name and Jocelyn is Eme's cousins name. She was totally meant to have that doll!  We've called her Beth for short.

Cheers, Lis.

Discover | organisation

I've been following along the back to school organising posts on the Organised Housewife's blog and just had a total AHA moment! Why oh why have I been pairing school socks!?!  Eme will be wearing blue socks all week when she starts school. Seth alternates between grey and blue depending on whether its the regular or sports uniform. Solution...since they're the same colour, just put them in a basket for the kids to pick out two socks each morning! Brilliant!!

I hate pairing socks and there's always a partner missing somewhere along the way. This way, no more having to store unpaired socks in a different location hoping that the other will turn up! Problem solved. Now to purchase some super cute baskets for said socks...

You can read the rest of the Organised Housewife's wardrobe organisation tips here.

Cheers, Lis.

Scrapware | His & Hers

I don't know about you, but I always pack my scrap bag when we go on family holidays. Obviously I don't pack my mega XXL tote, but a small supply in my Amy Butler bag (love it!)...it pays to be prepared for a rainy day or for when the kids have gone to bed and hubby is watching cricket! Usually I pack a bundle of photos, my inks/mists, a couple of Storyboard kits, random patterned paper and embellies and some Scrapware chipboard.

(Un)luckily we had a rainy day, so it was time to pull out the stash and play.  I just love Scrapware's His & Hers chipboard.  I've used the little boy chip before and recently refound the little girl chip in my bag...too cute and perfect for this layout about Eme's graduation from preschool. Papers are from Bella Blvd's "midterm" collection.

CH158 His & Hers

(also available in a mini version)

I often use textas to colour chipboard, and Scrapware chipboard takes the ink really well.  So that the colours don't bleed together, I start by defining the different areas with a craft knife, just scoring it so that it doesn't cut all the way through. I then set about colouring and adding highlights. Tracing around the edges in a black fine tip helps give it even more definition. Finally, adding a coat of paper tole glaze gives it a nice glossy finish and seals the piece.

If you haven't tried dipping into your children's coloured textas to change up the look of your chipboard...I suggest you go raid their stash now before they go back to school! ;-)

Cheers, Lis.

Scrapware | mini ATC tray

Last week, it was my turn to share a project on the Scrapware blog...and the theme, resolutions. Now, since I was on a family holiday at the time, I blogged from beside the Clyde River in Batemans Bay while Andrew and the kids played in the park. Talk about a beautiful location!

This year, instead of making a resolution, I chose one little word for 2011...which is "discover". I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to create a desktop reminder for myself. You can read more about my olw here.

Scrapware products used:
Mini ATC tray
CH393 Hat Stand
CH82 Keys
AZ02 Steelfish lowercase

For this project, I wanted to use lots of colours, and papers with a homely, wallpaper feel, as a lot of the things I want to "discover" this year relate to the home.  The keys and hat stand were perfect for this project, as was this brand spanking new, not yet released mini ATC tray!  It was super easy to construct and each space is 2.5 x 3.5".  I seriously want to create another one with mini layouts in each space. For a description how this project was put together, please visit here.
 
The Scrapware blog is buzzing with inspiration at the moment. Pop on over and check it out for yourself!
 
Cheers, Lis.

Inspired Blueprints | Sketch #63

Finally...a layout! Its been a while since I scrapped. Continual illness had left me with absolutely no mojo. A weekend visit from some friends had it flowing again and I tackled Inspired Blueprints latest sketch! I have used the Giselle kit from Storyboard Kits (which is sold out!).  I love the assymetrical feel to this sketch, and there are so many ways this one can be interpreted.  For my layout I have swapped the 6x4 photos for four 3x4 instead, allowing me to showcase the yummy pics I took.  Mmmmm...I could indulge in all of that food again right now!

 Here's the sketch if you want to play along too!

Upload your layouts to the Inspired Blueprints gallery by midnight, 31 January 2011 to be in the running for this month's prize.

Cheers, Lis.

26 things | a photographic scavenger hunt

Love the idea of challenging myself photographically. I came across this challenge at sh1ft.org and thought it would be fun to play along. The original list was posted on 1 Nov, but I'm only starting now. I hope to have it finished by the time the kids go back to school.  So, what do you need to do if you want to play along?

The rules:
Go out and take one photo to represent each item on the list of 26 Things. Upload your photos to your blog, flickr account or anywhere else you host your photographs, then link back here.  Here's the list...

1. Tall
2. Amazing
3. Round
4. Hidden
5. Green
6. An animal
7. Dirty
8. Early
9. Weather
10. An arrow
11. Curve
12. Tomorrow
13. Inside
14. A ceiling
15. Watch out
16. Key
17. Reflection
18. Track
19. Framed
20. Busy
21. Strange
22. Upside down
23. Spots
24. Shoes
25. Weathered
26. Sunday morning

Sound like fun? What are you waiting for? Charge up that camera battery and get snapping. I'm going to try to incorporate the photos into my scrapbooking somehow...or at the very least I'll have 26 inspiring photos and will have had some fun along the way.

Cheers, Lis.

Day 30 of 30

Day 30 – A photograph of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days

So, this morning I realised that I needed a photo of myself from today...so at 6.45am I headed out the front and snapped off a couple of selfies by the infamous brick wall (good lighting). Came inside, uploaded them and realised how tired I look! lol. This is what happens when you sleep in until after 9am for 2 weeks and then have to go back to work! hehe. Thankfully today is my last day at work for a couple of weeks. YIPPEE!!!

Now onto the important stuff...three good things.  Since my "30 days" have taken me about 60+ (lolz), I will focus on December/January...

Good Thing No. One

This year I decided to be selfish and think of my family first for Christmas Day. My children had never spent Christmas Day at home, so this year we decided to ditch the travel for a lovely, relaxing day at home. We slept in, we took our time opening pressies and playing, we had a delicious fresh seafood lunch, and I made healthy salads from scratch. It was fabulous. There was no pressure what so ever.  I think this was a lesson for the coming years. No more competing for the coveted Christmas Day lunch. No more travelling ridiculous distances on the busiest day of the year.  Lesson no. 1 would be there's 364 other days in the year to see our families and visits shouldn't be reserved for that one day.

Good Thing No. Two

I treated myself to a pedicure and a haircut. Seems simple enough right?  Its amazing what a freshly painted set of toenails does to a girls self esteem. Not to mention sitting in the massage chair while someone massages your feet and legs...bliss! I love having someone play with my hair too. I could sit in the hairdresser's chair all day, but in reality it only happens a couple of times a year. I like to cut it short in summer and grow it out the rest of the year. I'm incredibly slack that way.  Lesson no. 2 would be to visit the beauty salon more often throughout the year.

Good Thing No. Three

Oh, and I love this one. Andrew and I went to see Bon Jovi! We never ever agree on music and often I'll go to a concert with girlfriends instead, but when the Bon Jovi tickets were going on sale, Andrew actually wanted to go!  We had such a fabulous time!! Singing at the top of our lungs and soaking up the concert atmosphere. Absolutely fantastic!  I first saw Bon Jovi in 1988, and they were as good, if not better, more than 20 years later.  Ever since then, our whole family has been Bon Jovi obsessed. Seth got their greatest hits cd for Christmas and he's been playing it non-stop. Eme loves watching their film clips and makes up little dances to the songs...hilarious!  Lesson no. 3 would be to rock out with our *&^%s out more often! Whooahhhhh, we're half way there...

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There you have it peeps...30 days of me (or more like 30 posts of me). Done and dusted.  I'm so proud of myself for getting all the way through! Yay me!!

I have absolutely loved this journey, and I can't wait to do another meme...totally hooked!

Cheers, Lis.

Thirty days of meme - full list

Discover | de-cluttering

Those who truly know me, know how far from being an organised housewife I really am! lol.  This year, I am trying to discover (there's that word again) my inner domestic goddess. I know my hubby and kids will be forever thankful!

During a spell of blog surfing, I came across the Organised Housewife via Tina.  Katrina (the organised housewife) has set the challenge to de-clutter your home of 52 items. The premise seems so simple, yet so effective, how could I not join in!

Surely there are 52 plus items I could de-clutter right now! But no, I will be taking this over the whole year. I will be keeping track of my progress here and can't wait to see how much less stuff we have in our home taking up unnecessary space.

Feel like joining in?  Leave me a comment and we'll encourage each other!

Cheers, Lis.

Day 29 of 30

Day 29 – Something you could never get tired of doing

watching design shows on tv...much to my hubby's dismay

scrapbooking

This was the first layout I ever had published back in 2008

playing/wasting time on facebook

What are your guilty pleasures?

Cheers, Lis.

ps. Only one more day to go!

Thirty days of meme - full list

Day 28 of 30

Day 28 – Your favourite movie

I can't pick just one! I have loads of favourites, and for different reasons...

Groundhog Day...seriously, I watch this every time it comes on tv! Not sure why I love it, but Bill Murray just cracks me up.

Superbad...super funny! MCLOVIN!!

The Year My Voice Broke...an Aussie classic. Beautiful story, beautiful cinematography...definitely worth rewatching.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off...love a good 80s teen flick! Bueller...Bueller...classic.

A Night At The Roxbury...hehe...every time I think of this movie, it just cracks me up.

Doug Butabi: You can take away our phones and you can take away our keys, but you can NOT take away our dreams.

Steve Butabi: Yeah, because we're, like, sleeping when we have them.

Dirty Dancing...seriously, how hot was Patrick Swayze in this movie!

The Notebook...damn you Nicholas Sparks! You always make me cry!

Groundhog Day...seriously, I watch this every time it comes on tv! Not sure why I love it, but Bill Murray just cracks me up...hehehe.

What are you favourite flicks?  Which ones make you laugh so hard you cry? Which ones have you reaching for the tissues before the sad bit even happens? What is your fav. movie that is so bad, its good?  C'mon...fess up...

Cheers, Lis

Thirty days of meme - full list

Day 27 of 30

Day 27 – A picture of you last year and now and how have you changed since then?

Too funny. I haven't compared photos of myself over a 12 month period...ever!  The other day I got really sick of my long hair and decided to chop it short. Looks like I had the same idea last year too. lol.  Something about summer and needing a shorter do. Much more manageable.

Lisa - 2010

Lisa - 2011

So, obviously I'm another year older and a few kilos heavier. Aside from that, I'm still my super cute self. lol.

In the last 12 months loads of things have been happening...from launching Storyboard Kits to going part time and undertaking a new role at work. Its been very challenging, yet very rewarding.  I don't really want to reflect on the last year though...I want to look forward.  I am so excited about the forthcoming 12 months. This year as I mentioned in a previous post, is a year of discovery.

Step one is participating in a workshop at Simplify 101...how to achieve your goals and create a life you love.  Sounds perfect to me.

I truly feel I am working towards a life I love. I even mentioned to Andrew last night that we should draw up a chores roster so that I am contributing more. Too often I leave it all up to him, and I feel guilty about it all the time. Time to stop whining and just do it. Life will be so much easier!  I'm also working on a journal. I haven't kept one since I was a teenager! This one is perfect though. One line a day for the next 5 years!

I picked up this little gem from Amazon ages ago. I really wanted to start on 1 Jan, just to keep it tidy.

I think this journal was made for me. No long entries, just a quick sentence. Essentially its a paper version of twitter or facebook. If I can manage to put something on fb, then I can write it down here. I think it will be fun to look back on.

This year, I will also be discovering how good a planner is. I really want to work on getting organised. I have so many competing deadlines...in my business, my employment, my home, and my dt work. Sometimes its hard to get it all done and sometimes life gets in the way, then I end up leaving it to the last minute. Mind you, sometimes I do my best work when I'm under immense pressure! I've been living far too long in Covey's quadrant 1. Time to make better use of my time. Here's to all of these tools being put into practise.  Looking forward to reviewing all of this in 12 months time!

Cheers, Lis.

Thirty days of meme - full list

Day 26 of 30

Day 26 – A photo of somewhere you’ve been to

Beautiful isn't it. Merry Beach. A little haven only 2.5 hours from our house. We first went there last January and we'll be heading down there again soon. I love dropping out for a while. No internet, no mobile phones...just serenity. Ahhhh, the serenity. Lazy days swimming in the pool or at the beach. Indulging in fresh seafood and soft serve icecreams. Not caring what time we go to bed or wake up in the morning. No routine. Peace.  Playing games of cricket and feeding ducks. Walks at dusk. Discovering the natural beauty. Feeding kangaroos and possums. Exploring everything that is wonderful about the South Coast of NSW. Bring it on! SERENITY NOW!!

Thirty days of meme - full list