the midnight scrapper

midnight scrapping...

I've been keeping up with my Big Picture Scrapbooking class assignments (yes, I know, shock horror!!) and have been having fun and not stressing (which is what we are supposed to be doing).

Tia challenged us to work with plastic that you can use for kids tapestry. Not having anything like that around the house, I lucked out with a kit from the "el cheapo" shop. Score!! I did learn that I have no talent for tapestry, so just sort of did my own thing on this one and made a mini book instead of a layout. I combined the plastic sheet with some clear pages cut to match.

Also started playing around with my new kit. Decided to just follow along with the instructions and see how it turns out (and it's an ali inspired album, so can't go to wrong there).

Continuing on my quest to become the domestic godess I know I can be (Ha!) byron and I went in search of a recipe to use the 3 bananas that were looking sad and black in the fruit bowl (and no kid of mine would ever eat a banana that was not pristine LOL).

In one of byron's kids cookbooks we found this...

Monkey bread...just perfect!

And it was very good indeed (extra good warm and with butter - note: this is not a diet food LOL)

And finally...25 days till I go to America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

32 days and counting...

Finally got all our accommodation booked. Can't find big pictures but this is where we are staying in NYC...

  

So the Roosevelt looks OK!

The rooms are "cosy" but then again we are talking New York, and we do have a budget, sort of LOL.

On the Creative escape blog they are giving us daily sneak peeks and teasers and this is adding to my excitement.

My passport arrived today.

My photo looks like a mug shot taken in prison (why oh why can you not look happy????)

I will not be scrapbooking that photo. In fact, I will be lucky if they let me travel. Ha!

happy mail day...

 

I have never been a "kit" sort of girl...until now!

I signed on for a 3 month subscription with Cocoa Daisy and today my first kit arrived. What can I say? I was a happy little scrapper indeed. Lots of fun things in this box and all with a "travel" theme.

WAIT THERE A MINUTE...I think I'm going on a trip real soon. Ha! Should come in very handy.

I love a little AE inspiration.

I love that it is only 37 days till I leave!

And I am loving this kit :)

happy birthday gary...

Today Gary turned 48 (so close to 50, I tell him, that he can almost touch it!!). We did a very quick card & present opening before work and had the big family dinner (all 5 courses - yum) tonight at nana & da's.

On the left hand side of the photo is our present; a mini album (another project from my BPS class) about Gary learning the guitar, and it finishes with a pocket at the back telling him we are buying him an electric guitar and he needs to go pick one out. I can assure you he is very excited about this.

The mini album...

This mini album was super easy (finished in a night) and made by folding 12 x 12 double sided patterned paper (stampin up), rub-ons, photos, shipping tags and a bit of ribbon. The kids wrote birthday messages above their photo on the back insert. A nice little keepsake all about his learning to play the guitar.

Glad you had a great day Gaz, and happy birthday :)

Edited to add: 39 days and counting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the countdown begins...

 ...well what's that? Yes, in a short 40 days I will be on my way to the good old USA. To say that I am excited is an UNDERSTATEMENT!

I am travelling with my sister and we are calling it the "3 S Tour". That would be sightseeing, shopping and...scrapbooking (what were you thinking!!!!). No kids, no hubbies (of course I will miss them), Australian dollar looking very sweet indeed and 3 whole weeks

We fly into Los Angeles - Las Vegas - Minneapolis (visit friends) - Boston - NYC - Washington (get to meet my on line friend IRL) - Phoenix - Los Angeles. Sleep will be optional. Ha!

The scrapbooking bit will be at the end of our trip when we go to Creative Escape in Phoenix for 3 days. So lots of things to be excited about.

In other news...

I have started another class at Big Picture Scrapbooking and have enjoyed the projects so far (the fact that I am up to date on the projects is a miracle in itself LOL)

Soccer is in full swing and our weekends are full of it. Still by mid August it will all be over.

We saw Micheal Buble and he was wonderful, and cheeky and he sang just for us.

We finally hit our stride with the cupcakes. In fact Byron was in cupcake heaven when I agreed to send in 36 cupcakes for the last day of school (can't leave anybody out Mum, and don't forget the teacher). I can tell you from experience that they were very yummy indeed.

Gary and I got to spend a weekend (alone) in Sydney. His work Christmas party is held in July because it is just too busy in December. We had a great time on a harbour cruise dinner, a leisurely breakfast on Sunday, a little stroll around the harbour at Double Bay and a little shopping at Bondi. Perfect.

Byron's greatest wish, besides the cupcakes, joined our house. His piggy bank is officially empty. He made all our profiles and they crack me up...and look just like us. Sort of!

I really miss these guys while I am away. This photo came after a fun day where mama actually got on the quad bike and hooned around the property (best I don't post a picture of that LOL).

So we're all caught up (I'll just ignore my slackness of the past 8 weeks) and I will be crossing the days off with mounting excitement.