December 6th

Last night when Krystal arrived home from Auckland she said she had a gift for me.  Not a Christmas gift… more of a thank you gift.  She had me intrigued but it NEVER occurred to me that it would be a complete set of Nigella DVD’s!

I LOVE to cook… I just don’t like the “every day” cooking.  Dinner parties, treats, gifts etc are all fine… it’s the HAVING to put “a meal on the table” type of cooking that I don’t like.

Nigella is one cook that I admire!  Her food is amazing… she makes no apologies for her likes and dislikes… she’s just herself.

I love snuggling up on the sofa in winter… especially on a rainy day… and watching Nigella cook while eating yummy snack food.  With 7 DVD’s I’m set for a LONG time.

Thank you Krystal xxx

Now just in case you are wondering… I don’t just WATCH the videos… I actually DO use some of Nigella’s recipes.  Earlier this year I found a fantastic tagine on sale and I made one for dinner that night… spiced lamb with couscous… and thanks to Nigella’s tips it was pretty darn good!

Actually it was from watching one of Nigella’s DVD’s (I’d hired it) that I developed a love for making cupcakes.  I’m sure that I’ll get lots of pleasure out of this very thoughtful gift!

Happy scrapping xxx

December 5th

Last week Krystal saw a really good deal for a new laptop which she really wanted so while we were buying it I got myself a new ‘everyday’ camera!

I’ve had lots of moments that I’d have liked to capture but my BIG camera was  at home.  All I really wanted was a small camera so that I wouldn’t miss out on those moments.

This wee Fuji Film camera really is perfect!  It’s small, takes a great photo and has everything I need.

With no ‘significant other’ it felt totally cool to shout myself an early Christmas present!  PLUS I know that it’s going to be really handy.

I’m sure it’s going to get loads of use this summer… and especially while I’m doing my December Daily project!

Today in my classroom we were making Christmas Rocky Road and I wanted to take some photos.  I grabbed my classroom camera and after taking the first one the batteries DIED!!!  NO PROBLEM!  I simply grabbed my new little camera out of my bag and now I’ve got the photos I wanted :)

Happy ‘snapping’ everyone

December 4th

“Poor” Toby spent most of today sitting in my craft room waiting for me to take him out but I just HAD to get the album finished!

By 2.30pm we’d both had enough so we jumped in the car and headed out to the Redwoods.  What BLISS!

Toby was in 7th heaven!  He ran up and down the paths smelling EVERYTHING.

Then we got a snow cone and headed to Hannah’s Bay.  He was one very happy boy.

We need to do this again SOON!

I often get asked what breed Toby is… and the answer is that he’s a real mixture.  His mother is a Shar Pei -Labrador cross and his father is a Border Collie.

Toby (who’s full name is Toblerone – just like the chocolate) is a very gentle puppy who thinks he’s a ‘people’!  He’s a real “mumma’s boy” and loves following me around everywhere… and the welcome I get each day when I get home from work is worth more than gold!

Happy scrapping xx

December 3rd

Today was all about working on the “This is Your Life” album for Tony.

It’s taken ages to gather the photos, work out the format and get it going but today I made HUGE progress.

Nina came over and helped me to tape the back on all the photos.  By the time she’d spent two HOURS sticking tape to photos she was over it!

Mr Toby wasn’t impressed to have me in the craft room all day but his snoring did keep me company!

Tomorrow he might NEED an ice cream!

Tony is the Principal of the school where I teach and he’s taking early retirement this year.  We’re having a bit presentation evening for him on Wednesday so this album HAS to be finished this weekend!!

And for those of you who don’t know… Mr Toby is my very handsome puppy (he’s 5 months old now and growing so fast!! Last weekend he weighed 20.5 kilograms!!!)

Happy scrapping xxx