Vote Now!

Quick......get over to the MM site and vote for Stephanie Lim (fellow DT member on LSBS)!

It's only open for 24 hours so do it RIGHT NOW!

http://www.makingmemories.com/mmidol/index.cfm?go=next&start=27

Just VOTE 1- Stephanie Lim!!! Yeah Steph!

Lazy Moe

What a restuarant...I've never seen such huge meals...and the cakes....OMGosh. Have you ever seen a 'chunk' of chocolate mousse cake like this???!

After arriving in Melbourne I taxied to Lazy Moes to meet up with LSBS ladies Steph and Narelle + their children and poor Steven (Narelle's hubby). It was a truly lovely evening - great food, great wine (thanks Steven for the SECOND bottle!!!) and wonderful company!

Thanks ladies for coming to eat with me!

Living up to my blog title!

I'm stuffed! I've been flat out all week at work as well as my scrappin' committments as well as getting ready to go to Melbourne for three days tomorrow and I'm stuffed!!! I need at least another 5 hours a day to get everything I WANT to do done + what I HAVE to do!

I've been really really good this week and bought a WEEKLY train ticket AND caught the train into work EVERYDAY! Amazing!! I can't remember the last time I bought a weekly ticket - at least 5 years I'd say! I manage to do some reading (novels - not scrap stuff) and sleep! Haven't missed my station yet and no one's complained about me snoring...yet!!

It's been a big help having the girls go to Mum & Dad's in the morning before school rather than before-school-care...I managed three days arriving at work at my proper time (8am) or earlier! Unfortunately the other end of the day is a bit longer and dinner hasn't been on the table by 6pm except maybe one day. Not to worry!

I went to another Tupperware Party this evening at lovely Zane's house. She has the bestest scrappin' area!! Lucky ducky!!

Scrapwise- I've completed a calendar swap LO this week for my "Nurture Nature" calendar. Here's the cover and my January page.

Unfortunately I've had to 'resign' from the Scrap Club this week. A group of us used to 'try' and get together once a month to scrap together IRL. I'll miss catching up with the ladies from this group but hope to keep up with their scrapping efforts via their blogs. I'd also like to wish Peta a wonderful wedding day next month.

I've got another tag to do...but it'll have to wait sorry Steph! Hey, by the way, really looking forward to dinner with you and Narelle and families tomorrow night :)

That's it....the washing in the machine can wait until tomorrow morning! I can't keep awake until it's finished! I'm off to bed.

Tagged!

My great cyber friend Narelle (soon to be real life friend when we have dinner on Sunday night in Melbourne!!) has tagged me so here's my responses (keeping in mind that my Dad sometimes drops into my blog!!). The list seems to have lost a few along the way...some missing and I'm sure there were 50 questions last time I responsed...not to worry!

Now before you read them - I'm sure I've done this one already a few months ago so no checking back on my responses from then as I'm not going back to check either!!! These responses are based on how I'm feeling now...although at least the first one won't have changed!!!!

1. FIRST & Middle NAME? Amanda Elizabeth
2.WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My middle name is after my Mum's friend Elizabeth
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? last night
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Most of the time.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Ham
6. KIDS? 2 darling daughters - Danah (11) and Tara (almost 8)
7. WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes - I think so.
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yep- its this blog!!
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Too often :(
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? If someone pushed me!
12. FAVORITE CEREAL? Coco Pops (holiday cereal) or a chunky muslie + yoghurt
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes!
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I try and appear to be...but...
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR? Hokey Pokey
16. SHOE SIZE? 10
17. RED OR PINK? pink
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I'm too emotional
19 WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? footloose, carefree, confident 24 year old Amanda
20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I want to read the results on the blogs of Megan, Steph Davy & Chelle.
21. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED to 21???
22. LAST THING YOU ATE? Nectarine (the stone fruit is divine ATM)
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Danah blowing her nose constantly (poor chickie has a cold)
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Orange
25. FAVORITE SMELL? Bread baking!
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? A work colleague about a meeting tomorrow.
27. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Usually the eyes (unless it's a cute bloke and then it's .... hang on are you reading this DAd??)
28. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? She's a wonderful online friend - who's inspired me no end with my weight loss journey
29. FAVORITE DRINK? WA wine!
30. FAVORITE SPORT? AFL footy - go LioNS!
31. HAIR COLOR? Strawberry Blonde
32. EYE COLOR? Hazel
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
34. FAVORITE FOOD? Chocolate!
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? happy endings
36. ???
37. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs.
38. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cheesecake
39. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Chelle
40. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Steph
41. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Tami Hoag "Dust to Dust"
42. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one!
43. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Home & Away and a little bit of Dancing with the Stars.
44. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Native birds singing in the morning.
45. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Stones
46. THE FURTHEST YOU BEEN FROM HOME? Vancouver Canada
47. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Not that I'm telling here!
48. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? 29 June 1964!!! Brisbane Queensland.

Three Generations

Three generations of 'captains' - Danah was invested as House Captain on Friday and my parents attended the ceremony too. Mum was school captain of Rosehill Girls College many years ago (must get the date for the impending LO!) and I was school captain @ Tocumwal Public School (I attended for one year for my last year of Primary school) in 1976.

We were all very proud of our girl - it was a lovely morning - and luckily I got a few decent photographs (thank goodness) so watch out for that LO!

Sunday blog

The end of another weekend...relatively quiet for us AND very NaughTY for me....no exercise and too much bad food! Ekkkk! What am I doing?? All my good work will be blown off if I don't get my motivation and act together REAL soon!

Enough moaning - here's some scrapping I've done this weekend. Firstly - a CJ entry for Louise's (fess) CJ from the SM Forum. First 12x12 CJ entry I've done - pretty happy with it.

Also whipped up a quick LO for a LSBS 'secret' challenge Cath set this weekend - to use only OLD supplies (still love the Urban Lily papers I've used - my first DT's goodies from August 2006). Speaking of LSBS - Cath has set up a LSBS blog....check it out....Biggest Little Blog!

Happy to say I've been watching TV tonight - Grey's Anatomy is back! Yay! Klennex will happy - their profits will go up again as I ball my way through the show each week! I'm such a sook!

Quickie

I have set the Monthly DT Inspiration Challenge for February over at Little Scrapbook Shop and decided I'd better do a LO for it too! Here it is - the obligatory "first day @ school" pic!

Bought myself a cheapie (99c) compass at office works (you know the thingie for drawing circles - that's a compass isn't it???) - and had a play with it for this LO. Really pleased with the result! Notice - NO ribbon or flowers....but still had to have some buttons on it!

Wonders will never cease!

After much discussion in the office and online about how Peter & I haven't......

celebrated Valentine's Day in years and years......

I came home today *yes I know it's a day early* to a lovely bunch of bought red roses! I think the guys at his work made him feel guilty (must thank them!)

He's always argued that he grows me roses throughout the year which is true (although the dry weather lately hasn't helped them too much) and I haven't got him anything (not even a card) in years either!

So now I've had to rush down to Woolies tonight and get him some chocolates to hide in his work bag so he'll find them tomorrow!

Had some wonderfully exciting news today at work - Pam- who's a scrapper too when she gets time, told everyone she & her DH Mark are expecting their first bub in August! I'm so thrilled for them! It's the first grandchild on both sides of the family so they are all super excited too!

I had an idea that she was pregnant but haven't said anything in case my intuition was way off again (like Jo & Bob's surprise wedding that wasn't!!!).

On the scrapping front....Monday was the re-opening of Debra's shop - The Craft Attic. She's moved from Carina to Morningside and I managed to stop in for a quick congratulatory visit on the way home on Monday. All the QPS scrappers had been in to see her - Pam during the day and Megan was there when I arrived! She's having her first crop night on Friday and may just have to take myself over there to continue the celebrations! She's in a great location on Wynnum Rd for all you Brisbane scrappers and once she re-stocks and gets her signage up I'm sure she'll do really well in this location as there's lots of passing traffic.

Quiet Weekend?

We didn't have anything on much this weekend ... so why is it I'm exhausted tonight!

The LSBS cyber crop has been on this weekend so Friday night was chatting and bingo there...also a DT challenge was set - to use four photo's in a LO! Managed to do TWO LO's to fit the challenge - here they are :)

I warned Peter I'd scrap these silly pics of him - he can't help himself when the camera's around - he has to pull funny faces! Well now everyone can see them.

Saturday morning I went swimming while Tara had her lesson - and that's the only "good" thing I've done all weekend! Been very naughty with my food and no exercise today!

Saturday afternoon Tara & I visited Scrapbook Princess, Karen (to drop off Tupperware) and Tracey (to drop off a CJ) and then we all watched movies Saturday night (Divinci Code & Poseidon).

This morning the girls and I met up with Chelle (Chellejamo) and her lovely family at a Brisbane Riverside park (so I could collect a CJ). The children enjoyed playing in the park despite the mozzies which were fierce! I took a few pics (see the lovely one of Chelle's daughter Ella on her blog) but my camera battery died :( Chelle also took a nice one of my two! I needed a nana-nap this afternoon too!

Proud as Anything

We're all smiles here today.

Danah (11 ) received her Year 7 badge today at assembly - can't believe she's in her last year of primary school (her Year 1 teacher said much the same thing to me today). I'm so proud of her.

This afternoon she has more good news....I'll be back at assembly next week.....as she's been voted House Captain!!! I was so thrilled for her and very very proud! They take on the role for first semester and then give someone else the opportunity for the second semester.

Better get my camera working properly before next Friday - not very happy with the pics I took today.

Would also like to share another CJ entry for the Scrapbooking Memories circle I'm in....here's my entry in Chelle's "Self Portrait" journal. Hope you like it Chelle. Had great fun finding and using this old "self portrait" that I took while I lived in Melbourne....don't you love that perm!! Not! I tried to capture how much my life has changed over the past 20 years.

Beautiful Products

My friend Julie who lives on gorgeous North Stradbroke Island (Straddie) makes the most divine soaps and other natural products.

Looking for a special gift or something to spoil yourself....then check out her web site, Nourish Naturally, for all the product details and how to order.

Check it out...

Cath at LSBS has tonight announced a big new scrapping competition - check it out here - the prizes are great!

Congrats to those I know who've also made it through to the Scrapbook City competition Top 20 - awesome work ladies (Chelle, Fran, Leone, Miranda +....) Good luck with the rest of the comp!

We're back into the swing of things here at home....each morning the girls and I keep waiting for the usual morning bedlam to occur but so far we've been quite organised. Won't last of course!! We've had the Year 3 information night tonight, dinner @ Mum & Dad's tomorrow night, Year 7 information night on Thursday and then Danah receives her YEar 7 badge at Assembly on Friday morning! PHew... I need a holiday.

Danah's actually been writing her campaign speech for House captain voting tonight --- she's very excited about the prospect of giving this a go. There's a selected few who are choosen to make a presentation about why they should get a position - so it's great she made it this far. There's four houses with two captains in each I think.

I went back to swimming on Monday night and then had my last personal trainer session today at the work gym. Hope I can walk in the morning - the young 'boy' who trained me today (he was probably about 21) really made me work hard and my poor legs are still like jelly!

A special thank you here (already done so at LSBS) to Narelle - who sent me the most beautiful "Inspiration" Artist Trading Card this week - to congratulate me on my weight loss so far. Very sweet of her to go to that effort. I've taken it to work to keep me 'honest' when I contemplate those rotten freddo frogs that still live on our work bench!!! Come 3pm each day I hear them calling me!!! I'm looking forward to meeting Narelle in real life when I go to Melbourne for a conference at the end of the month.

The mind can play funny tricks...

First off....survived my first day back at work. It took me most of the day to go through my email inbox and my intray on my desk.

Now....today's Thursday and I used to do my weigh in at WW on Thursday's in the city until I went on holidays and I've been going to a local meeting on Saturday's. Well I decided, now I'm back at work, I should go back to my Thursday city meeting.


BUT....I was really worried about doing this. I had myself believing that the weight I'd lost while on hols mightn't show up on the scales at the city meeting and I'd get this horrid weight back at today's meeting. Am I making any sense here??? I thought the local scales might have been too good to be true.

Well I went along and am very very pleased to announce that the local scales are just fine and I've even lost another 1.6 kg since SAturday!! So I'm now 14.5 kg lighter than I was at the beginning of November!!! Relsi @ LSBS Losers even pointed out to me tonight how I'm down 1/3 of the weight I want to lose!!! Yay!

At the meeting today there was talk of support....got me thinking....(here goes that 'mind thing' again) - how I've found having the LSBS losers online support has been fabulous and blogging it here for all to hear/see + amazing role models like the lovely Ms Zane :) has also helped. I guess having support from family/friends/peers etc in any activity is a BIG plus!

Okay - now I'm just sounding plain soppy!!!