Christmas Cheer

Yes I am putting it out there as I am trying to create it at the mo. There has been soooo much going on, unless you stop and almost create some moments, it can pass you by. I LOVE Christmas and all the songs, crafts crafts crafts did I mention crafts. The way the kids respond to all the activities, and the rituals.

We had our first drop in by the Naughty elves last nite.

They will more then likely appear each nite until Christmas eve getting up to all sorts of mischief. We do love it when they visit.

I also have started up a Felt page. Anybody who isnt familiar with this site, it is an awesome Nz homemade online store. You really need to take a look, it has some amazing, fabulous items available. I really like the idea of selling my Art works through them.

What else, well Molly is in dance show practice time and costumes are being made as we speak. The theme is Cinderella this year. Rachael Compton (Rachel Compton Dance School) really does put on an amazing show. She put so much energy into making the girls have a fun experience.

As a wee idea before Christmas I came across this awesome idea with A Beautiful Mess.

These are made from sculpey clay. I think they are fantastic. Sculpey Clay can be brought from spotlight and other craft stores. Easy to get hold of and lots of fun to play with.

Gee I am all over the place at the mo, but that is the silly season for you. Im off to sort out the rest of the house with decorations. Merry Christmas.

Love Pig tits and Parsley sauce

Love the name and lovin the site.... Pig Tits and Parsley Sauce. I looked at this a year ago and hadn't clicked at the time this was someone I went to school with. We are in a place that we need to look at how we are best spending our money and Lyn Websters managed to restricted her family grocery budget to just $100 a week. There are some awesome recipes and homemade cosmetic and cleaning products recipes  I am in Awe. Im going to be spending sometime over Christmas working out what we can incorporate into our home. 

The first I am going to try now tho is the Crock pot bread recipe in the free recipe part. I would check out her website its got looks to read and follow and purchase. Ha a tee shirt with this name on the front would be fun :-)

Enjoy.

Yippee Art works up for sale

Its been a long time coming but I finally have a space to sell my Art works. Inspired Obsessions is the page name. I am soooo grateful to some dear friends who have suggested the idea to me. I am also so grateful to a couple of friends who have suggested some markets that might be a good option. That is a next year plan. Where am I going to go with all of this, well I have a few plans up my sleeve and now I need to win the lottery on time to work on some of them :-)

Thought tho, are any of you interested in an Angel like the below photo. I have sold 2 of these before and have made a template and am looking at completing some more.

 Let me know if you are interested.

What else have I been up to.....trying to make time for people who are important in my life and who I have sometimes neglected due to being busy etc. I cant say how grateful I am to the wonderful special people we have that are close to us.

I thought I would pop in a picture of Maxs Minecraft Birthday cake. What a fun theme to work with for a party. We had lots of fun.

Art Exibition

Due to the wonderful Jacqueline Walker and Studio 128 Hair and Beauty I have a wonderful opportunity to have my Art work up for sale at Studio 128. I really am loving working on my art work and hearing the feedback how it makes others feel.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and supports me in all of this. Now just to set up a Facebook page to sell some of it. Note, I will be having some Xmas themed items on this Facebook page as well as canvas work for sale. Big hugs to you all.

Back on Track

My daughter has been pushing me to restart my blog, and I think she is right. So I am leaping back into this world with lots changed, and going on from 2009. I am on a bit of a journey to find me again amongst all the crazy in our life. That is not only in the home but also Im looking at me in all of this. Its all good and positive, just going to take time. I need to start on the house as in the stuff we have in it, and also on me in terms of healthy options. Life just seems to consume you up sometimes and you get to a point I think that you realise its time to grab it by the neck and take some control back.

One of the things I am excited about has been my Art. Getting back into being creative has been an awesome feeling. To top it off having a successful exhibition also was an added bonus. All thanks to Oyster Gallery (who have just closed their doors....for positive things ahead). I have often shied away from putting myself out there, but it has felt ok. I have also as a result been back in contact or made new contact with some lovely people as a result. Lara, Andrea,Jacqueline,Pip and others.

So with Molly pushing me and reminding me to post here I think this might be fun again.

Excieted about Christmas

Ah yes I LOVE Christmas. I am a fairy light freak and love the decorations in general. Busy making items to hang on the various tree as we speak and indulging in Ali Edwards December Daily journal. Putting that together ready for the 1st dec. Off to put the kids to bed but coming back later tonight to pop more on here. Even tho no one reads this, I am moving towards liking it as a great recount for myself, as days can merge into each other this year.

Changes in the Air

Photo from Staglands on a wet day. I love this place.

Wow i didnt realise how long it had been since I had visited my own blog. Its been a year I wont forget in a hurry tho. Quick re-cap, Homeschooling both Molly and Max. Homeschooling oh and a bit more homeschooling :-) Its been a journey for them and me I think. Molly needed to go thru the de-schooling process. In short she had some experiences from school that left a bit of an impact on her that she needed the time to work thru and feel better about herself again. Jumping to now, she is feeling happier about a lot of things, and really motivated to approach some subjects that she was led to believe wasnt good at. So been very worth it for her.

Max, not much I can say other that.....absolutly awesome. In fact we were just at a BBQ today around all new people and he fitted in sooooooo well that they didnt pick at all that he had Autism. What it really comes down to is his social skills are at a point that he automatically says Hi to people, and then gets on with what he is doing. In this case they had a dog so he was very happy. His speech is also come in leaps and bounds.

Me.....well nobody really can tell you how this journey is going to be for a mum, and wow what a journey it has been. Between the feelings of wow, tired, confused, anger, love, happyness, trying to be in the moment, I am in a better place now. I understand my children better, I also understand myself better. Because of the amazing changes happening to them, I know we are doing the right thing. If it also wasnt for my amazing Hubbie Andrzej, I dont think I would be at this point as soon. He has just slotted in where ever he is put :-) No really, he has taken a role just as important as mine, as he does a lot of the physical side, and also emotial support to me. Thank you Andrzej.

So this blog I have now decided is going to reflect a lot more about the Homeschooling journey. Especially with having a child on the spectrum, I like to think it might help someone else out there have the courage to look at things differently.

Off to bed I go, feeling good about starting this again.

Ahhh its been a while....again

Gee time flys and before I know it months have gone by. Lots have been happening, trying to decide what school for Max. He turns 5 in Aug and with his Autism, we really have to look at a few options. We are down to 2 schools and one other option. I have had parents say to me, oh I dont think this school would be a fit for him with what he has, thru to he will take up too much time for the teachers.....and it goes on. Molly has been thru the 'Childrens Therapy clinic' and is making changes already in some of the things she is doing, again a long way to go, but all positive.

Really sad, Mrs Powell, has moved on from Mollys school. She was one of the most beautiful people you could meet. The kids loved her and Molly (even tho she isnt in her class any more) misses the wonderful hugs she would give each day. Max also misses just going into her class to say Hi. But she has moved onto another school now and they are the lucky ones now. WE Miss you. Above is a canvas I did for her leaving.

The other layout at the top is a page I did for friend. I am loving doing Boy pages at the mo. A topic being talked about on a cool new web site www.sketchbooknz.com Megan Renfree has put it together, and its awesome. Check it out !!!!!!

If anyone can give me some advice how to stop the photos appearing just at the top rather how I want them thru the post, I would love to know How :-) Thank you

Off now to work on a canvas for a friend. Have a Beautiful week.

Artistic Edge photo workshop

WOW. I have had photoshop for a while and used actions a lot and also fumbled around with editing my photos in my very own 'special' way :-). I have learnt so much already. Below are a couple of photos I have played with.

Have lots more, will add later. Thank you so very much Adrienne, Hugs to you.

Other news. Molly had her assessment today for Dyspraxia, and looks like she has traits of it, full report to come in a week. But in her testing she came well above her age in some areas, so that was great news as they will help to carry her thru in some of the other areas we will be working on. I actually had a moment of tears, as it was more a relief for her as we know what we are working with now, but also tears of relief as I hoped I wasnt losing it in thinking too much about this and creating issues where they might not have been. Its all good from here. Now just to get Max communicating more and find some answers to his BIG scensory needs, and maybe my spelling :-)

Off to get some rest so we can have a cool last day of the holidays tomorrow. Happy New Zealand Day (bit tongue and cheek).

Ahhhh couldnt help myself. Catch up on a Christmas card I did for a Kindi mother, lots of glitz but dosent show up well, and this is one of my alltime fav photos of Molly. OK now I am going to bed.

And about time !!!!!!

Yes it has been over a year. I found last year a tough one and am beinging to come out of it with a lot more answers and direction. Max was diognosed with Autism and trying to get the right things underway for him took a lot of time. On top of that we were doing it 24/7 with not much support. Oh the photo of Max is taken while he was playing with bubbles....thats what is on his chin. Molly, well that really just shows her as always the ballet dancer.

Well after that wee update, I need to goto bed. Max has been awake lots during the nite over the last week, so I need some sleep. But I am now committed to adding to this blog as I am also involved in 2 very cool things this year.

1. http://acolorfulhouse.typepad.com Artistic edge. 3 weeks of photography photo editing secrets from Adrienne Looman in Feb. Way cool, I love what she does with her photos.

2. http://www.projectfivetwo.blogspot.com Project 52. Lots of challenges and inspiration but with project 52 you will actually get direction. Step by Step direction on how to make, how to take that photo, how to create corners in your home that are original and all about you, how to organize that stuff, how to write your heart, how to capture you and those you love, how to be inspired and turn that into a reality. Step by step guidelines that you can turn into your own little masterpieces, your own little treasures. we will have guest instructors....this has been taken from Courtney Delaura. I LOVE her work, so I am also SUPER excieted to be involved in this. Apparently you can join any time, well worth it I think.

So there it is. Off to sleep now. Need my beauty sleep, my Birthday is on Saturday and having a wee BBQ with some friends.

Nite Nite.

It has been a while

Wow all I can say is last year has gone and I am happy about that. The last 6 months were nothing short of hell. BUT it is over and this year is AWESOME. We have refocused our family and we are in control now. I have joined Weight watchers and I am excieted about this. It is late now, so I am going to sign off and come back tomorrow to write some more. Nite Nite.

Birthday time

Been a bit nutty of late with organising things for Maxs Birthday. It is just one of those things that we like to go all out with. More just the atmosphare we like to create for the kids....we get a buzz of seeing their faces. I always make a large banner for up on the wall, we have a large amount of handmage flags that are made into streamers we always string up. Andrzej blows a fu fu valve blowing up around 40 balloons, and then there is the games, small if young age, and then the food and cake. For Mollys 5th Birthday we turned the lounge into a fairy grotto, she loved it. We decorate the place up once they have gone to bed the night before, so it is a great surprise the morning of the Birthday.

The photo of just Max is him dancing to HI5....very cute. He also go very dirty, as he insisted on going down the slide frontwards....its only dirt. I got him the top he is wearing for his birthday and I got told it was Frank Spencer top.....had to laugh as it is like what he had, but the difference he was in PJ bottoms with his.

Oh and here are a couple of layouts I did for last months Scrapbook Outlets DT.

This layout above is a front cover to a book about me...Maya Road. TFL

I wanted to odwnload my picture from Donnas sketch challange to us, but after 4 tries, Im giving up....what is it with these guys and not being able to download photos everytime?!!

Well I must go now and start considering my homework for CC2006....yep left it too the last min other than the Ali E bits and the 9 days of my DH life. Better pull my finger out....LOL. Looking forward to meeting Rach face to face tho as she is coming down for it....had I said that b4...oh well looking forward to it :-)

Ive been tagged by Mel

Ok, never had this before, but have been tagged by Mel. Firstly, just figured out how to link someones blog just showing their name not the whole www address.....ok Im chuffed with myself....LOL

4 jobs I've had:

1. Shiseido Cosmetic promotions in Perth Australia. Had lots of fun doing demos and shop displays, and have to say was good on the sales side....it was easy as I love their products....still do really.
2. Asia and Pacific Hospitality sales. Worked and lived in Hotels for a couple of years in Aussie and NZ. Ran telemarketing teams....but near the end just craved cucumber as food. Totally sick of Hotel food. Got in trouble with mangement in one of the hotels as had 2 English friends staying in the hotel room with me for one night, they got drunk and fell in a near-by river, dragged themselves thru the forer of the hotel laughing and very wet up to my room. You see we werent to have anybody stay in the room with us, and I was hiding them there.....they stood out just a little. I can laugh now.
3. Hotel sales for a Wellington hotel.
4. Clear Communication as an external trainer to their big customers. Didnt train on the telephones, everything but that really. Everything from Customer service, Motivation Debt collection, team building. Was fun most of the time.

4 Movies I could watch over and over:

1. Notting Hill....seen more times than I can count
2. Pride and predudice
3. Toy story 1 & 2......sad really.....LOL
4. The Fisher King

4 TV shows I love to watch:

1. Home and away....I will explain...LOL, Sunday morning is the only day I have where nothing is happening, Andrzej is asleep from Nite shift, and the kids are usually colouring in or something like that. So I sit down with my cup of coffe and for as long as I can...not always all the way thru, sit and watch. Sadly is the only time I swith off for that length of time, hence the no brainer programme....LOL
2. The Office....bring it back!!!!!!
3. Trinny and Suzanne.....bring them back!!!!!!!!!
4. Anything with Robert WInston in it....the english guy who does child of our time etc....love him to bits!

4 favourite foods:

1. Kalamartra Olives...have I spelt it right?
2. Roast Lamb with mint sauce
3. Mixed salad done with strawberries, chicken, blue cheese, pine nuts, and a few crunchy noodle thrown in....mmmmmmm
4. Lemon gooey slice....mmmmmmmmm

4 tunes that play in my head:

1. Norah Jones....shoot the moon
2. Heather Small.......have you done something today to make you feel proud
3. Prince.......Lots from him.....dont know why, love the beat with his music...LOL
4. Hi-5, Wombles tune....etc.....you get the picture, lots of kids tunes. They are very catchy.

4 Websites I visit daily:

1. Twopeas
2. Scrapbook Outlet
3. Lots of personal Blogs
4. National Bank like Mel, for online banking

4 best scrapbooking lines

1. Basic Grey
2. Heidi Swapp
3. Maya Road
4. K&Company - Kimberly Hodges...love her papers

I'm tagging Rach, Donna, Lara, Andrea Hope you guys dont mind. I actually found it fun thinking back to my old favs, thank you Mel

Mel also what great luck getting those tickets to Eric Clapton, amazing. That will be a concert to remember :-)

What else have I been up too.....Our new layouts for Scrapbook Outlet are up on the web site (Shani). This months was some of the more challanging for me. Ribbons and how to use in a different way to how I normally would. I love to challange myself and try something in a new way, but I did it and am happy with the results....Im allowed to say that as they are mine, and as I have said b4, we do this for ourselves first.

Must go now and actually spend some time with my DH. Have a lovely day.

Been a busy day

Andrzej took today off work to allow me to work thru my 20 point to-do list, as of 5.30 I have crossed off 3. Well at least 3 is better than non. I had to work on a few layouts and finish Maxs invite, so the important bits are done.

Yesterday afternoon I had a neat opportunity to meet Mel http://www.tuataragirl.blogspot.com at her house. Molly and her son Elliot goto the same school and it was lovely they could meet each other. Molly now has somebody other than the kids in her class she can say Hi to on the playground. It was really sweet of Mel to offer this meeting. But the big bonus was getting to met Mel. We had lots to talk about and it was lovely to meet someone new with similar interests. As she said on her blog, really fun to meet a new friend :-)
Catlin, her daughter is lovely also, and she has talents in sooo many areas, maths being one of them. She is a sweetie. Oh and for those who have seen her photos of her kitchen, in real life it is fantastic.

Oh, here is a layout I worked on this week, thought I would share....I just LOVE these papers.

Check out Scrapbook Outlets Clearance items!

Hi. Oh yes yes, great sale items on Scrapbook outlets web site at the mo, a must for some great papers bargins :-) Ah when can you ever have enough paper. http://www.scrapbookoutlet.co.nz

Looking forward to tomorrow afternoon I get to have a coffee with Mel, a fellow scrapper from Lower Hutt, and her son goes to Mollys school. I did meet her for the first time this afternoon at school. Molly is excieted.

I made a huge to-do list this afternoon as I have sooooo many projects running and I needed to get a handle on what was going on. Especially since Maxs Birthday is in less than 2 weeks and I still havent sent the invites. Done the banner tho...LOL.

Just as a pop in mention, I love Tara Whitney at the mo, here photography is fantasic http://tarawhitney.typepad.com She is awesome

Have alovely day :-)

Cant believe its Sunday already

Before you know it the weekend is over and another week has begun. We dont really have proper weekends here as Andrzej is working nights on Fri and Sat so he is sleeping on both mornings to lunch time. Mind you he slept until 2pm today as he worked from 5pm yesterday until 7.30am this morning. The kids go crazy knowing he is in the house but not available to jump all over.

Wow what a lot happening on http://www.scrapbookoutlet.co.nz I am this evening trying to do a catch up on all the new stuff, so that is my biggie for tonight. Other than that this evening Max is having his 3rd Birthdayin 2 weeks so need to get his invites done. This is the latest I have ever been with a party, days have flowen.


These are some shots from our train trip at Sliverstream last weekend. The train de-railed hence the photo of them standing outside of the train, we had to get another train back, but as a result got a really great look at the train, which the kids loved.....that includes Andrzej. Below is a photo of me on the front on the way back. Because of my hips I couldnt get up into the train as there was no platform, so I got the cool ride back.

The other things we have been up to have really been just getting back into the school routine. Max has hated having Molly away again during the day, poor guy.

Must go and do my catch up things now. Have a lovely day :-)

The most beautiful thing I have ever seen on Video

This is from Ali Edwards blog and I have linked it to here. It truly is the most beautiful video clip to see. Please have a look it really puts life in perspective.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjPrL3n63yg

Be prepared to shed a little (me I am still going) tear. I LOVE seeing people being involved in others lives like this. I truly wish we all could lead our lives feeling this towards others everyday. There is a song from Heather small, "have you done something today to make you feel proud" That is living :-)
Have a Beautiful day

Last day of School Holidays

Well it is here, last day of holidays.......I asked Andrzej to take the day off as he has been working soooo many hours recently, and he is there this morning, but is coming home for the afternoon Yippee. Molly and I are going to spend some mummy and daughter time, getting her hair trimmed, fluffie, and what ever else takes out fancy. I love these times together. Her tooth hasnt come out yet, been a few days now, I really have forgotten how long it takes for them to pop out.

I have finally started on my homework for CC 2006, 9 days of Andrzejs life....should be fun. I am really looking forward to a couple of days, just scrapping and being around other like minded people.....pure self indulgance :-) Meeting Ali Edwards is going to be a highlight for me, I truley think she is an inspiational woman. Oh and I get to meet Rach http://www.inthenaki.blogspot.com face to face, that will be great.

Oh take a look at this site, has lots of sneek peeks from CHA http://thescrapspot.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=35


To finish....Max has his 3rd Birthday in 3 weeks, so I was going thru a couple of picture for his invites, and found this picture from last years cake....LOL As you can see it is a Construction theme. I love Birthdays and the whole cake making (I try...Hee hee) and the decorations. I LOVE creating happy memories for the kids. Andrzej totally agrees...in fact he is the offical balloon blower, decoration putter upper. Theme for this party is Blues Clues goes on a Train ride. He is obsessed with both so had to find a way to cover both.....mmmm just how to do that cake.

Have a fantastic day and do something the makes you feel proud :-)
Shani

Just a quickie

Had to share this cool website I found on cupcakes....I love the idea of little cakes each with its own personality.....LOL http://www.cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com Running late today, but be back later. Have a fab day :-)