Teenage years

This challenge on Chris's blog is to post a photo of yourself as a teenager. So here I am about 16 years old. LOL.
And here I am looking rather too skinny and verging on anorexia. The traumas of a teenager I tell you.

A glimpse of our Christmas Day

James and Emma were both up by about 8 o'clock and unwrapped their presents. No more 5 or 6 o'clock Xmas morning starts. I'm usually the first one up now.
The local fire brigade did the rounds as they do every Xmas morning, throwing lollies and spreading good cheer.
My family arrived for lunch and Mum had a special surprise for James. She decided this year to give her grandchildren $500 when they turned 16, so my niece and James got $500 each. We all knew he was getting it but he didn't. I had to capture the look on his face when he saw the cheque and it was perfect. Thank goodness for the Canon SLR. Too funny.


I wish I could line these photos up with the right text. And just some more Xmas day photos.
How cute is this photo of Emma. She is really happy she's just being silly. And a photo of all of us.







HOPE EVERYONE HAD A HAPPY CHRISTMAS DAY AND I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO.

Read Elsie's blog about what she says about her Mum.
I want to be a Mum like that.

Here's the awesome card Yolande sent me for my birthday. How cool is that. Thanks Yolande, you're a sweetie.

And here's a Christmas 6 x 6 canvas I whipped up yesterday, a quickie 10 minute job. Of course the colours are brighter IRL.

And here's a 12 x 12 canvas I did for James room awhile back using the Heidi Swapp Beachin stamps. Just a simple canvas for his wall when he gets his new room.

The other day, the day before my birthday actually, I received 4 parcels in the mail. One was my RAK from Tamar, thank you so much Tamar for that, it is under the tree. Two other boxes had layouts from For Keeps - one had my 3 layouts from the Awards that aren't being published, the other had all my layouts from Issue 38 including my Design Award layout. I still have one to come back which is being published in the Awards book. The last box was a real surprise. It had my layout and my free book from Paperkuts. I have waited so so so long for this and had given up hope of ever receiving my layout back or getting a free book. Anyway here it is, my layout using Grassroots papers that was published in Paperkuts Pet Friendly book. So that was a nice birthday present as well. It's a cool book. If you click on the pic you can see it better.

Yesterday it was my birthday. Thank you for the texts, emails and comments on my blog wishing me a happy day. I had a great day.
First it was the last day of work and a half day too - that went quickly and we went out to lunch at Twin Oaks Golf Range. Fun and a few laughs to end the year on a good note.
For my birthday I got my camera of course; some money towards my camera and a beautiful necklace and earrings from my Mum; a beautiful necklace from James and some lovely lush towels from Emma. Then Rob came home with a beautiful bunch of flowers - first time in a long time he's done that. Go Rob. So all in all a very happy birthday.
Today it's Michelle's birthday. Happy birthday matey.

Right now I'm going to change my music video. Catch you soon.
Hey and if you want me to read your blog today, leave a comment and I will go and read and comment.

Time to catch up on some blogging

My first day of the holidays. Yay. I'm on a blogging frenzy today.
First thing to do is Michelle's blog challenge from last week.
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?... Hot chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?... Wrap
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?... Both
4. Do you hang mistletoe?... No
5. When do you put your decorations up?... As soon after the 1st Dec as we can
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?... Ham
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?... Xmas holidays at Waiheke - fishing, walking, rowing the dinghy.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?... I actually can't remember - I have such a bad memory.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?... Sometimes - last year we opened all of them, got a bit carried away - though we didn't have many last year.
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him?... whatever's in the cupboard - gingernuts, chocolate chippies.
11. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving?... Giving of course - it's a Mum thing isn't it?
12. What tops your tree?... Mum gives me a new Xmas dec each year and this is one she gave me a few years ago. A beautiful glistening spider web with a little jewelled spider on it.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?... Of course - my Canon EOS Digital SLR camera, LOL.
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?... Catching up with friends and family, relaxing and recovering from a years work.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?... Marshmallow Fruit Salad
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?... Camping
17. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?... Yum

Yes it's Friday

Just a quick update before going to work. After today only 2 and a half more days to go then 6 weeks holiday yay.
Here's a slightly better pic of my Xmas tree. Thanks to Michelle and Chris for your ideas. I used the ironing board and the night portrait setting. Still could be even better with a manual setting but haven't tried that yet. Can you just make out Emma in the bottom left side. Cool aye.
And congrats to the NZers and Aussies who won the Junkitz comp. See the entries here. Very cool.

Sky's coming

I'm home for the morning today because Rob's Xmas present is coming. He wanted Sky TV so we're having it installed today and that's his Chrissie pressie.
Emma finishes school tomorrow and of course James finished weeks ago after his exams and he's working at the moment. He'll be 7th form next year - can't believe it. I have one more week of work then holidays I need so badly.
So yeah I'm just mucking around doing housework and waiting for the Sky man. Should be making my Xmas cards I suppose. I just have no mojo for Xmas cards at the mo. Will buy them.

Awards prize

I got home late last night after my class and crop yesterday to find my Awards for Ex prize finally sitting there waiting for me. It had arrived at long last. Quite a cool prize. A lovely Heidi Grace tote bag, filled with goodies - a lovely Scrapworks album, tool set, Xyron to name a few.
And thank you Kiwiscraps for the nice credit on my account as part of my prize.

Just had this layout accepted for the BG gallery. Using the Fusion papers.

Tarisota collections

I know I've been to this website before. I recognized it straight away. Gorgeous collections. So anyway Tamar if you do eventually make your way to my blog, I really do love your collections. Like I say I have been there before and drooled over your stuff.

Sneak preview ...

Of tomorrows product challenge products. Is much brighter IRL.

And another Friday rolls around

I have swapped days this week so I can prepare for tomorrow. We're going to have lots of fun tomorrow at our 12 hour crop. I've made my special rum truffles and today I'm making yummy fruit cake - not too fruity - don't like those ones - more cakey LOL. And make up bags for a product challenge. And practise heating up the wax for my Waxed Canvas Trio class and drilling the holes for the hinges. What else - if I have time do a layout with the Making Memories papers - cool papers. Thought I might have a go at Nic's hole punching technique with a twist.
So anyway I got my new camera and OMG it's so cool. I have so much to learn though, sooooo much. Nic help please. It's a Canon EOS Digital SLR. I feel so happy about it and can't wait for the holidays to practise. It's like my baby.
We have been sooooo busy at work. The end of year and beginning of the year are so busy in a school office. You have no idea. I have been printing reports for the last 2 weeks. Why you say? Well there's alot to it:
Teacher writes report in computer programme
Lianne prints each individual report - making sure it all fits on 2 pages
Principal checks each report and comments
Teacher corrects any reports that need it
Lianne reprints those reports
Principal rechecks and comments
Lianne prints envelopes for reports
All this x 8 classes and in between other jobs like:
Chasing prize giving cups and organising the engraving.
Planning stationery for next year
Counting money from Book Fair, Activity Week and Jump Rope for Heart.
There's lots more too but I guess you're really bored by now.

So here's Michelles challenge for this week, sorry I didn't do last week's one Michelle.
1. Do you decorate your house this time of year? if so… how? ( a photo or description. )
Yes. These are taken with my new camera though the tree isn't very good. I tried to take it without the flash so the lights would show up better but didn't turn out great. Will have to work one that one. But I love the one of my new decoration. Isn't he just so cute.
2. Have you ever been in a decoration competition? No
3. How much is too much? As much as you like. I love houses covered in decorations. If I had time and money I'd do it.
4. How do you celebrate this time of year? Luch with my family - at my place this year. Dinner with Rob's family - at his sisters this year.
5.Whose job is it to wrap all the Christmas gifts? Will you (or whoever) use gift bags, or wrapping paper? Me, wrapping paper.
6. What do you dislike most about the holiday season? Definitely the crowds but that's about it.
7. What are you top 3 Xmas songs. Snoopy's Xmas, I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus and can't think what else.
8. Real tree or fake? Either, real last year, fake this year.

I have been a slack blogger lately. The reason is, I'm waiting for my new camera. ;) hehe. can't wait. it's my Xmas and birthday present. hope to get it today.
In the meantime check these out. Just got some from the States - well Ollie got me some. The lightest shoes in the world, feels like you have nothing on your feet. I got (you guessed it) pink and brown.