Happy New Year 2011

And I am in a very good place. Spent a fantastic night last night at Daniel & Sarah's place. Great laughs, water fights, soaking wet kids and plenty of the bubbles to go around....alcohol bubbles that is (just to clarify to those who are still waking up!!).

Sara asked the other day on the Scrapbook Savvy Forum if anyone had a "word" for the year. I decided my word would be "Organisation". Organisation of my mind, body, house, scrapping....you know what its like! I did try this in 2010, but it all seemed to come in spurts. I got everything under control, but then I let things slip so it took me a while to get it all back again.....

So, day 1 of Organistion 2011.....

Show you all the 1st fantastic sketch for the year over at STUCK?! Sketches; I will admit this one stumped me a bit - not sure why...perhaps due to its simplicity?? I am not sure, but whatever the reason I am pleased with the outcome in the end as I am sure you will agree when you check out the STUCK?! blog showcasing so many versions of the sketch.

Here is the sketch:


And her is my take:



Our very excited girls doing their bit to cheer on the St George Illawarra Dragons during the 2010 NRL Grandfinal. Of course they won - could it have anything to do with the "Jnr Cheer Squad?"

You have probably been asked this already, but is there a New Years Resolution for 2011? I dont really have one - I never seem to keep them anyway.... what about a scrapping challenge?

Last year was the 52 Weeks of Me. I have not yet finished it, but I am determined to do so in the next couple of weeks. Sar managed to get hers done, and I am very proud of her - the album looks awesome.

I was wondering whether a "food" diary would work? I am always looking for new ideas to feed the family, and I was given a couple of new cook books for christmas to add to my collection which I love. If I could aim for 1 new dish a week - whether it be a main meal, dessert, even just for a treat?

This morning we had Dutch Pancakes. Ben got a machine for Christmas from his "secret santa" so he tried it out this morning. They were yummy, and yes I took photos!!!

OK, thats it.... 52 new recipes for 2011. Thats my aim..... See how it works out!!!

Best be off to continue "organising" the toys these kids got for christmas - I need to find new homes for them all so we can have our pool table back.

BUT, OMG.....just while I was sitting here typing this post, look what Oliver did.....




Well, thats about it from me. Will come back later and post some pics from last night and a few more scrap pages I did last week at Scrapbook Savvy Crop.

Hope your first day of 2011 is a fantastic one - thinking we will need to be getting in the pool soon. Cant waste this gorgeous summer weather!!

Until next time

Leesh xx

Merry Christmas with a Sketch

A STUCK?! SKetch that is..... the very last one for 2010. I have to say the sketches which are designed by the very talented Sara, ahve gotten better as the year has gone on. I hope you would agree....I know this time is extremely busy, but you wont be disappointed if you were to win one of the fabulous prizes on offer, by simply submitting your take on the following sketch:



My take on this one was actually another page for my 52 Weeks of Me Album (which is so far behind oopsie!!). The size is 8.5 x 11 and if you look really closely, you will notice its actually a LO of a LO I did the month I won DT over the month over at Scrapbook Savvy. I also used the same papers from the He's Savvy Kit to complete the LO.

And here it is....



This has been, and will continue to be a very big week.... The lead up to Christmas is a busy yet exciting time. I will spend this time with the most important people in my life - my family and friends, and it makes me so happy to know I have them around.

Oliver is being very misheivious, trying to pull the decorations off the tree and he has even tried to open one of the presents under the tree. Surprisingly, he is learning the word "NO" very quickly...... Now that he can crawl, I guess he has other exciting things to explore.

Well, this may be my last post before Christmas, so I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my blogger/STUCK?! Sketches/facebook/forum friends a wonderful Merry Christmas and all the very best for a safe and Prosperous New Year. I look forward to continuing the "time" we spend together in 2011.

Love to you all, and Happy Scrapping.

Leesh xx

'Tis the Silly Season Allright!!!!!

Yep it sure is.... December is here, and so are the crazy people, impatient people, just plain rude people.... Why is this so? Is it really that stressful shopping for Christmas? I always get stuck on one or two people, but its Christmas. Its the thougght that counts, so lets think about what Christmas REALLY means and be happy for what we have and who we are!!!!

Speaking of being "stuck"....I so need to share 1st December's STUCK?! Sketch with you. I have to say this one is on the top of the list for my faves for the year:



And here is my sample.



Paid a visit to Santa yesterday with the kids. I didnt think anything of it, but when we got there and started to walk up to the big fat fella, Oliver started to make a funny face....which turned into him being less than impressed and crying. We tried to give him his "doggy" which he pushed away, and even gave him his dummy, but he cried under it anyway..... We were laughing which sounds so mean and cruel, but you have to capture every aspect of your childs life, not just the happy smily ones - so here it is:



So being the end of the year, everything is finishing up. Charlotte has finished pre-school before starting big school next year, dancing has finished - with only a couple more swimming lessons still to go. I just cant believe how quick the year has gone, and next week I return to work after more than 12 months maternity leave. Its certainly going to be weird going back, but I am sure I will be fine once I get there and get back into it. I was hoping to be super organised before I went back, but with the past few weeks, this has just been unachievable. I have so much ironing to catch up on, the general keeping of the house etc...not to mention trying to keep up with the washing in this rediculous rainy weather.....Oh well, I can only do so much, but will be working on it over the weekend thats for sure.

Tonight however, I am off to Scrapbook Savvy Christmas Crop. I havent been able to get to a Friday night crop for quite a while due to Ben's shift changes, so I am looking forward to it thats for sure.

And in case you missed it, Scrapbook Savvy Cybercrop last weekend was "Pre-Christmas" theme, with the idea being to scrap last years (or previous if you are slack like me) Christmas photos before we go and take more for 2010. I am very pleased to say I managed to complete all 4 challenges and I love them all... Here they are:

Kerryn's Challenge - to create a LO using a Christmas Song as the title, including stars/circles/and glitter



Anthea's Challenge - Colour Inspiration + use 2 or more photos:



Sar's Blind Scrap (I love it....)



And finally Sara's Challenge - creating a christmas LO using "Non Christmas PP's"....this took some thinking, but again I love how it turned out.



Well, best be heading off....I have booked my kids in for make-up swimming lessons this morning and they are both tucked up sound asleep in bed, maybe I should cancel the lessons and go back to bed myself!!!! Na, just kidding.

Stay safe everyone, and venture back soon

Leesh xx