Tuesday 26 February 2013

I’m still here

Hi everyone

I know I’ve been M.I.A but unfortunately there has been a very good reason.  You might remember that Richard was admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago and I went to see him and got this photo of him and Mum during my visit:

mum and richard

It seemed silly at the time to take this photo because Richard was only going to be in the hospital for a few days but something made me do it.

I’m so pleased that I did because life has sent our family on a roller coaster ride of the worst kind and it’s really hard to bear right now.

Richard won’t be coming home again and Mum is devastated beyond words. 

blog

The past four days have been horrendous watching a strong and active man deteriorate before our eyes.  We are now praying for a gentle and peaceful release for Richard.

Your thoughts and prayers would be very much appreciated xx

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Project Life February

Hi everyone :)

This month the topic for Project Life is to create a vision board.  Vision boards have been around for quite a while and they’ve been really popular in the last few years.  If you’re not sure what a vision board is it’s basically a collection of words, photos and other things you’d like to invite into your life.

As you know I like to do things a little differently and my vision board is very much a ‘work in progress’.  I’m hoping to get lots done on it this weekend!

Since I’m creating a mini album dedicated to Project Life I decided to use a selection of my photos to create three ‘mini’ boards.  Each boards measures 6 x 8 inches and they look really great in my album.

page 1 copy

page 2 copy

page 3 copy

When I started my vision board I began by going online and downloading all the pictures that ‘screamed’ out to me.  I didn’t think about what I was downloading I just went off on what ever tangent the internet took me. 

The surprising thing was that when I’d finished everything really went together.  There was loads of white… a little bit of lavender along with some neutral tones.  There was also quite a lot of flowers and candles and lots of organisational ideas. 

I’m having a blast creating my vision board and hopefully I’ll be able to share it with you all soon xx

Sunday 17 February 2013

Project Life: Week 7 and a BIG event!

Hi everyone :)

So much has happened this week and to be honest I could have filled three double layouts quite easily with all the photos I have taken since Monday.  Quite a while ago Mum nicknamed Toby ‘The Weasel’ when he appeared in the blog… and this week he seems to have weaseled his way into quite a lot of the photos!

Here’s an overview of the week:Full copy_1

On Sunday night Krystal arrived home for a few days.  Toby came with me to pick her up from the bus and he was super excited when he saw her.

Toby spent most of the week following Krystal around and he never missed an opportunity to snuggle up with her… including hopping into bed with her on Monday morning!

One thing that Toby is not particularly enjoying at the moment is the afternoon heat.  We’ve been turning the fan on in the afternoon and Toby makes a beeline for where it’s blowing and stretches out for an afternoon nap.

Here’s a close-up of the start of the week:Left copy_1

While Krystal was home she gave me a LOT of help at school… she worked as a Teacher-Aide, supervised children who needed to get caught up on tests and she also helped me organise and decorate my classroom… including us working through to 9pm on Tuesday night!

Since we were working so many hours we had both KFC and Moroccan iskender for dinner.  Toby was thrilled to bits when Krystal shared and left-over potato and gravy with him!

Mikayla hasn’t gone back to polytech yet (apparently her course doesn’t start again until March 11th) but she hasn’t completely forgotten about it because this week three new corsets turned up on the courier.  Corsets are something that Mikayla really loves!

right copy_1

Toby LOVES the camera!  He actually knows the sound of the camera bag opening… he also knows the sound of the camera taking a photo!  I was trying to get a photo of Krystal while she was here and the minute Toby heard the camera he came running out to the lounge to ‘sit’ for a photo.

On Thursday night we had our first night class for 2013 and it was a fun night playing with ink sprays.  Sue knows to bring her gloves just in case we do messy things and she does get a bit of a hard time from all of us but by the end of the night she’s always the only one with lovely clean hands.

In Room 4 we’re doing a statistical investigation in our math lessons and the kids were working solidly and with great team work so I grabbed some photos while they were busy.

You might have noticed my colourful cupcakes… I was super proud of them because I’ve never done multi-coloured icing before but look at these babies:IMG_6286_1

I can’t quite believe it but my youngest nephew celebrated his 5th birthday on Friday.  He had a wonderful party with his day care friends and then a family and friends party yesterday.  Of course we took HEAPS of photos so I’ve put them together into a 6 x 12 insert.

Here’s the front of the insert which has the bouncy castle and present opening:

insert front copy_1

Not surprisingly the rest of the insert is all about FOOD!  My sister created a wonderful afternoon tea for all the kids and their parents and she also made an amazing birthday cake which Reece was completely stoked with!

insert back copy_1

Tomorrow is going to be a huge day for Reece!  He’ll actually be going to the same school his older brother and sister attend so hopefully he’ll have an awesome day… and I bet he sleeps well tomorrow night!

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead xx

Friday 15 February 2013

Friday Feel Good

Hi everyone :)

Well I’m finally home from school and I just took another look at my Friday Feel Good layout and it really did work… it made me smile :)

Since ‘love is in the air’ with Valentines Day I decided to put my own spin on it.

As most of you already know I don’t actually have a ‘someone special’ but I still find lots of things to love about my life.  I have a really deep feeling that ‘Mr Right-for-me’ is out there somewhere but it’s just not the ‘right’ time for us to meet yet.

To be honest… I might be ‘alone’ but I very rarely feel ‘lonely’ thanks to all the wonderful people I have in my life…. so here’s to love:

week 7 - love in your hands copy

I hope you all have a really wonderful Friday and a great weekend xx

Wednesday 13 February 2013

52 Lists

Hi everyone :)

Currently I’m feeling a little like ‘chopped liver’ in my house.  Krystal has come home for a couple of days and Toby has decided that his allegiance lies with her!  He still sleeps on my bed at night but that’s about it. 

Last night when we got back from school, Toby rushed to the door to greet us… that’s quite normal… what’s not normal is that he rushed PAST me to greet Krystal!  We came inside and he kept saying hello to Krystal and sat with Krystal and followed Krystal around and meanwhile I was completely and utterly ignored!  I actually spoke to him several times and he didn’t even look at me and then the next time I spoke to him he turned his back on me!

This morning we got up and he did his morning visit outside and then went back to bed.  Ten minutes later Krystal got up and Toby spotted her.  She went to the toilet and then hopped back in bed and ‘himself’ decided that snuggling up with Krystal was top of his priority list!  I have to admit that he did look cute all cuddled up with Krystal in her bed but what happened to ‘Mumma love’? 

He’s currently bringing Krystal all his treasures… chewed toys and shoes… to show her what he has and expecting pats and cuddles for his efforts.  He’s such a BOY!

Now for the lists! 

Week 4: List your current and future goals and dreamsWeek 4 copy

List 5: List what you are grateful forWeek 5 copy

I’m really enjoying the list making process and it’s definitely highlighted areas of my life that I want to focus on.

I hope you’re all having a great week xx

Sunday 10 February 2013

Project Life: Week 6

Hi everyone :)

Welcome to the next instalment in my Project Life album.  Let’s start off with some really good news!!

  Krystal phoned me on Friday afternoon just after I had finished work to tell me that the real estate company has found new tenants for their house which means they are moving!!! 

I know I’m excited but it’s super good news because the real estate guy had been a bit ‘devious’ (just my opinion!) and got them to sign a 6-month lease on the house.  He’d told them it meant that they had a ‘guaranteed’ house for 6 months… what he didn’t tell them was that they couldn’t actually hand in their notice for 6 months either!

Krystals house copy After all the trouble they’ve had they suggested he put the house back up for rental to see if they could get someone to take it and lady luck was smiling on them because the real estate guy has already found someone.  They have until Feb 18th to move out.  It’s only 8 days away but they’re totally fine with that and busy making plans and packing!  I’m a happy Mum right now :)

Here’s an overview of my week:Full copy_1

I’m really loving my new classroom set up.  Having the computers around the edges of the classroom and using tables instead of desks has given us a lot more space!

On Monday the kids got the spraying on their photo frames done and they look really amazing now :)

Here’s a close up of the start of the week:Left copy_1

Of course Wednesday was Waitangi Day in New Zealand which meant there was no school.  We had a great day at home enjoying the sun and Mikayla got up to mischief turning Toby’s blanket into a poncho for him.  He didn’t look overly impressed but it was kind of neat how his head came out where the tigers head was!

Toby has always been a bit of a hungus when it comes to sharing… especially if it’s treats he likes!  On Wednesday afternoon Mikayla had an ice block and as soon as Toby saw it he rushed outside and SAT at her feet.  Of course Mikayla couldn’t help but share it with him.

Harold and Bernie are in our school for a three weeks and the kids are all enjoying having their class go along to the mobile caravan.  It was our turn on Friday morning and the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Here’s the end of my week:Right copy_1

After getting such great news from Krystal it was a shock to come home and discover that Toby had been REALLY naughty!  He’s eaten not one but TWO holes in my duvet and another hole in my duvet inner and he’d spent the afternoon pulling out all the filling!  He’s quite pleased with himself and really didn’t understand why Mumma was not happy in the slightest!!

Of course it was Paul Holmes’ funeral on Friday as well and I wanted to include the quote shared at the funeral.  I didn’t always ‘like’ Paul Holmes but he was a fantastic broadcaster and he’s left a real gap in our broadcasting industry.

On Friday night I got another shock when Mum phoned to tell me that Richard was back in hospital.  I decided to go over on Saturday morning and keep her company and then go with her to visit Richard.

Mum had been wanting to try a technique she’d seen in a scrapbooking magazine and she NEEDED alcohol inks.  Funnily enough I had quite a few so I took them over with me for her to use…. so what do you get when you combine egg shells, alcohol inks and chipboard hearts???  Pretty cool embellishments!

IMG_6214_1

By the time we’d finished mucking around with inks and egg shells it was time to go and get some lunch and visit Richard.  He was actually in pretty good spirits when we were with him but didn’t feel so good later on.  I haven’t heard anything today so I’m taking the stand that ‘no news is good news’.

After we got back to Mum’s I asked her really nicely forced her to help me with my school books.  I had things that needed sticking into the kids books and she’s pretty good with a glue stick.  It only took us a little while and the job was done.

As you can see my week has had a few ups and downs but it’s been a pretty good week all the same.

I hope you’re all having a great weekend and I’ll be back later on this week to share some more ‘Lists’ and “One Little Word” with you.

Take care xx

Friday 8 February 2013

Feel Good Friday

Hi everyone :)

My computer wouldn’t ‘play nice’ this morning so I didn’t get the Feel Good Friday online before heading off to school.  It turned out to be a good thing though because I actually had a real ‘Feel Good Friday’ at school today. 

We have Harold the Giraffe at school at the moment and one of our special needs boys is absolutely fascinated with Harold… to the point where he sits beside the Life Ed mobile classroom during EVERY break and bangs on the door.

DSC04615

His teacher told him that if he kept doing that he wouldn’t be allowed to visit Harold.  Every day when I pass this particular child he says “Whaea Shelley I’m not banging on the door!”

images

Last night I went to the hairdressers after school and had some more foils put through my hair and at morning tea time when I passed the child mentioned earlier he said… “Whaea Shelley I’m not… WOW!  Your hair looks BEAUTIBUL!”   It was a super cute moment and I’ve been enjoying my BeautiBul hair all day!

Later on in the morning I noticed that all the roses outside Room 2 were missing and then as I went around the corner I could see pink rose petals leading up the steps to Harold’s mobile classroom… something tells me that I already know who the culprit is!!

Funnily enough, the pink rose petals would have gone quite nicely with this weeks layout.  The theme is ‘Vintage Tea Party’ and I found some lovely photos of tea cups, flowers and cupcakes.

week 6 - vintage tea party copy

I’m definitely feeling good this Friday and I wish you all a wonderful weekend xx

Wednesday 6 February 2013

52 Lists–A very cool project!

Hi everyone :)

It’s Waitangi Day which means there’s no school so I’ve spent a really lovely time browsing around on the internet this morning.  I was actually looking for some pictures for my February One Little Word project when I literally stumbled across an AMAZING website! 

The sites creator is Moorea Seal and she’s a 26 year old jewellery designer and small business owner from Seattle.  Along with her many talents she loves to make lists (I SO hear her on that one!) and in 2013 she is developing the ‘52’ Lists project.

LISTS_zps5f9e2c46

Here’s what Moorea said on her blog: I've always been a bit of a list addict.  I feel so much more peaceful and content with myself when I've got a few lists going, from what I need to do today to my favourite r&b songs from 2002.  I love lists!  So I thought it would be fun to start a series on my blog for 2013 that focuses on List making, lists for fun, lists for self discovery, lists to bring you peace, you name it.  And it's all about participation! 

Each week on Tuesdays I'll have a new list prompt for you to download and each week, you are able to link up your own list that you have posted on the web to my post.  This way we can all explore each others' lists!  I encourage you to print out a page each week, or simply create your own each week, collect them through the year and then bind them together at the end of the year as a little memento of 2013.  Or perhaps start a new journal just for your 52 List project.  Let's go on this fun list making journey together!

Without actually realising it, I had just stumbled across the EXACT THING that I had been looking for and so I’ve made a start!  Since I’m going to include these lists in my One Little Word album I’ve made them 6 x 8 size.  I’ve also decided to include Moorea’s photo of her list with each prompt because her photography is so beautiful.

Week One: List the words that touch your soulWeek 1 copy

Week Two: List your greatest comfortsWeek 2 copy

Week Three: List the things you should be proud ofWeek 3 copy

I’m totally enthused with this project… and I love that it fits so perfectly with my One Little Word prompts.  If you’re a list maker I strongly encourage you to give this project a go… who knows where it might take you!

Happy Waitangi Day xx

Sunday 3 February 2013

Project Life: Week 5

Hi everyone :)

Well it’s been another ‘eventful’ week in our family.  One of the events we could REALLY have done without but you do have to take the bad times sometimes… and it does remind you of all the wonderful things you have to be grateful for.

Here’s an overview of the week:Full_1

On Monday I gave all the hats I had for school a really good wash and hung them on the line… all 35 of them!  I don’t actually have 35 children in my class but it does give us spares for when children inadvertently leave them on the field.

While I was in the ‘washing mood’ I also got Toby’s ‘blankie’ washed and hung on the line.  He really likes his tiger blanket and he’s actually managed to eat a few holes in it… mostly from when he chews on his bones.  He was most concerned that his blanket was on the line but once he got it inside again he was quite happy.

Here’s a close up of the start of the week:Left copy_1

My friend Nina has been saying that if I don’t do SOMETHING with my big planter pots which were full of weeds that she was going to take them home to her house.  To be honest I just didn’t know what I wanted to plant in them and I couldn’t get myself enthused about them at all.  On her last visit she said… “When they come back to my place they won’t be blue anymore” and all of a sudden I knew exactly what they needed… PAINT!

I did a quick trip down to Bunnings and bought some supplies and then spent a very happy afternoon painting my planters.  It then took the rest of the week to get around to doing the actual planting and they look fantastic!

The other day Mikayla had made herself a cheese sandwich and Toby was all ready to get his cheese as well… it’s one of his favourite things!  He patiently sat beside her and watched her eating… and as the sandwich got smaller and smaller he got more and more upset because he thought he was going to miss out!  Right at the last mouthful Mikayla stopped and let Toby have the very corner of her sandwich… I don’t know if it actually had any cheese in it but Toby was thankful for the sharing!

On Wednesday, our school officially started with all the teachers, teacher-aides and children at school for the first time in 2013.  Schools seem to be starting at all different times this year!  My niece and nephew don’t start school until this coming Thursday!

Of course we had to have a class photo to mark the first day of school so I included it in this weeks pages.  Here’s a close up of the second part of the week:

Right copy_1

After doing my mixed media canvas I decided that the techniques would make a good project for my class so we recycled lots of boxes… got out the corrugated cardboard and lots of ‘things’ and we now have individual photo frames created and with a layer of gesso on them.  The kids are really looking forward to tomorrow afternoon when we spray them.

On Friday morning I got a very early morning text from Krystal with some bad news.  They had a ‘home invasion’ at their place and they were all feeling pretty stressed.  Some B****** had taken a rock and thrown it through their double glazed ranch slider window at 1.30 in the morning.  They called the police but all they did was give them a reference number for their insurance and said they won’t be coming out to see them… what’s with that???

They had all planned on coming back to Rotorua to do a ‘security job’ for the weekend but they didn’t want to leave their place unattended so Toby and I went over and stayed with Krystal while the boys were away.  There’s still lots of tiny pieces of glass about but we got most of it cleaned up. 

Krystal isn’t the sort of person to cry… so in typical Krystal fashion she got busy on Saturday afternoon and made two lasagnes and a cottage pie to keep them all fed during the week.

Toby did enjoy ‘camping’ out at Krystal’s place though… especially since we were sleeping in the lounge.  He snuggled in right between me and Krystal but didn’t stay there for too long because he got too hot.  LOL

I got home late last night and then today I got Mikayla to help me plant my tubs.  They look pretty awesome although we’ve now realised that the hostas are probably going to have to be moved because there is more afternoon sun on the patio than we’d realised.

Toby was very keen to see what was going on and is thrilled to bit to see pebbles on the top… he eats EVERYTHING!

snap copy_1

So that’s been my week and right now I’m just grateful that the ‘kids’ are all safe and that I was close enough to be able to be there for Krystal when she needed me.

Here’s to a really GOOD week ahead xx

Friday 1 February 2013

Feel Good Friday

Hi everyone :)

It’s Friday already… where has the week gone? 

This week I’m dedicating my Feel Good Friday to my daughter Krystal who most definitely needs it!  She’s currently having to deal with a very difficult situation and it’s the first time I’ve really felt that I want her home and safe with me since she left for uni two years ago.

I know she’s a ‘big girl’ now… but she’s still my baby.  Keep strong honey and remember that I’m only a phone call away… love you lots xxx

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about my gardens… or actually the fact that I really don’t have any gardens to speak of. 

I decided to do a Google search for ‘what grows well in Rotorua gardens’… and guess what the top photo was:

marijuana-plants600

Hmm, yes…. well that wasn’t quite what I had in mind!

After a bit more research and Googling I found what I was after and decided that the photos would look great for this weeks page. 

week 5 - garden inspiration copy

I’ve really loving the idea of having some nice gardens so I’m starting with the patio area and I’ve already been busy painting tubs and hopefully tonight I might actually get them planted.

I hope you all have a great Friday xx