January

Will need to put this into a layout (of a few layouts) eventually... but anyway, the month in a nutshell:

January 2010
Frantically trying to get myself back into teaching after taking a bit of a break from it at the end of last year. Lots of phone calls, emails, applications and daydreaming about places like Charters Towers.
Watching McLeod's Daughters Season 1&2 on DVD.
Listening to Adam Brand's Greatest Hits and Foo Fighters Greatest Hits. LOVING Adam Brand, disappointed to realise that all of The Fooies songs sound the same once you play a few of them one after the other.
Finding a church I like down this end of town with friendly people and a good vibe.
Celebrating Australia Day in the front yard of my cousins' place in a badly-blown-up pool.
Catching up with my girls over chocolate and Katie's yummy sausage rolls.
Failing to surprise Ben for his 25th Birthday "Surprise" party.
Using a "texas voice" with Jess while putting on an epic performance of Achy Breaky Heart on Singstar.
Actually maintaining my fringe for once.
Having that darn Fireflies song stuck in my head.
Waiting around for Cyclone Olga that didn't do anything interesting at all.
Catching up with Cat & Woody while they were in town.
Celebrating Mel Mac's (1st) & Nicoles (2nd) pregnancy news.
Being keen as for Meg & Johnny's wedding in September.
Hassling Adam that he should do something for his upcoming 21st.
Congratulating Josh & Loretta on their engagement.
Empathising with a close friend over the sudden death of her older brother.

2 Shabby Layouts

I had nothing better to do today so I scrapped...yay!

I produced TWO SHABBY LAYOUTS. WOOHOO!

Here they are:

What do you think?
If you read or follow my blog please comment, I'd love to read some love and know that people do actually see what i bother posting up here.

Before & After: Scrapbooking Surgery

I was upset with my attempt at a layout I did earlier today.

As much as i LOVE using lace, I just can't seem to get it right.

I consulted Scrap Therapy's resident Shabby Chicksters, Mandy & Beccy who gave some advice on how to fix it. Given that I had used glue and staples to stick it down originally, I was a little limited in what I could do to rescue this layout without totally starting again with a reprinted photo!! I changed a few things off my own accord and this is what I came up with. I am pleased with the result. What do you think?

Before:

After:

Today's Scrappings

Over the weekend we celebrated Ben's 25th Birthday (early!) with a "Surprise" Party. We had a few mates around for a BBQ; everyone brought a side dish to share and a lot of fun was had. After some discussion, my random 4th cousins and I decided to crank out the Singstar and, within minutes a small crowd had gathered and quite a few people had a turn at singing. Adam, one of Ben's groomsmen and one of our closest friends decided that he would sing Avril Lavigne's 2002 hit "COMPLICATED" with me IF I drank some more with him and not until AFTER he completed numerous random shots (including Rum shots. Hrmm). His procrastination techniques only worked for a while and eventually we got him up and singing with me. The girls even recorded a small part of it with the video function on my camera. He didn't actually "sing" but it was entertaining in a 'let's laugh with/at our drunk friend' kinda way. Anyway, I have started to scrap a few of the photos from the party so these are the layouts I've done so far. One shows our friends' Nicole & Aarron's little boy Ethan holding hands with Amanda's baby girl, Jasmine. They were incredibly cute when they played together, coloured in together and walked around holding hands together (they even went inside the house looking for somewhere quiet to play alone together - Dad to the rescue!!). All was going really well until Ethan decided he didn't want to share his colouring stuff anymore after all. There was a small tantrum. Jazzy must've spoken softly to him because after this, they were all cute again... and when it came time for Jasmine to leave, she gave him a peck on the cheek. "Mwah"

*sigh* Puppy Love!!

My awesome random cousins and I at the end of the night

Christmas Layouts

My cousins' children are such a joy to have around.

This Christmas that just went by was especially awesome as we got to see ALL of the baby 2nd cousins at least once over the holidays. YAY!!