Just thought I would share my layout for the sketch challenge over at Scrap the Girls, so many wonderful entries this month! I got these photos of Grace when we were redecorating my scrap room, so cute! She keeps doing funny little things and I try to always have my camera nearby

The other day we were pottering in the vegetable garden and I turned around to find her with my gardening gloves on and holding the little fork doing some gardening, she cracks me up sometimes!

 

 

 

Well here we are again and it’s Friday… and today I am going to share a recipe with you. I was catching up on some Nigella Lawson TV the other day and found this recipe of hers. I’ve made it for dinner tonight with a bit of a twist and had a bit for lunch, scrummy!! I also added some cold cooked boneless chicken thigh meat as I wanted it as a dinner and  also didn’t really follow the quantities to much, just more on how I wanted it

Recipe copied from Nigella’s BBC food page

Sesame Noodle Salad

For the dressing
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp garlic oil ( I used rice bran oil)
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
100g/3½oz smooth peanut butter ( I used crunchy peanut butter)
2 tbsp lime juice ( I used lemon juice)
For the salad
125g/4oz mangetout ( I used fresh podded peas from the garden instead)
150g/5¼oz beansprouts, rinsed
1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into small strips
2 spring onions, finely sliced
550g/1lb 3½oz ready-cooked egg noodles
To serve
20g/¾oz sesame seeds
4 tbsp chopped fresh coriander ( I hate coriander so left it out)

Method

1. For the dressing, whisk together all the dressing ingredients in a bowl or jug.
2. For the salad, place all the salad ingredients into a bowl.
3. Pour over the dressing and mix thoroughly to coat everything well.
4. To serve, sprinkle over the sesame seeds and coriander.

Well it’s Friday and there isn’t much to post about… I’m feeling a bit grey today, exactly how the weather has been around here lately. Just feeling a bit tired and bored… glad the weekend is coming so I can spend some time with an adult! hehe Anyhow that’s enough of the grey’s, I’ll make myself a cuppa and have a sit down while Grace is napping I think.

**Edited to add - Since I’ve had my Nescafe caramel latte and done a spot of creating the greys have left me and it seems Christchurch, yay the sun is back!**

Things on the creative front aren’t going too badly, nothing much to show though. After I finished the desk calendar for my MIL (which she really liked) I sat and pondered on what to start on next. I came across my pizza box full of my wedding album stuff and decided for about the fourth time it is about time I sorted and completed it! So that’s the plan, I‘ve done a heap pages already but I want to get it finished! So yesterday as the rain poured down I sorted the album layout, got the final photos printed and bought even more cardstock. Last night I managed to get one double layout done for it an hope to continue tonight. It’s great to have the space now the spread everything out and believe me, I have! hehe

Finally I didn’t think I had any photos to share but yesterday when I was waiting on my photos to be printed I wandered into a shop here called The Dog’s Breakfast and spotted these on sale. I am trying to gather little things that inspire me for my craft room and I knew I had to have them! This afternoon I dug around in my embellishments to see what I could find and came across these K&Co purses, don’t they look fab!

 

We enjoyed a really lovely relaxing weekend and pottered about home doing some gardening and other odd jobs. Our vege patch had been taken over by weeds and it was about time to do something about it! We were planning of laying shingle paths around it over the holidays but have since come up with an vegetable garden extension plan that we shall do over the next few months. The three beds we have now are great but we are going to move the washing line to another area and add another three identical beds which will give us more space to grow for our family. We just love getting out there and i love to see how much Grace enjoys getting her hands dirty and pottering

Before we weeded the pathways but after we weeded the vege beds.

 

After weeding was complete, we are planning to extend out in front where the washing line is.

 

Then there were these beauties! the first harvest of our own carrots and they were super sweet and delish, Grace loved munching on them. I’ve never grown them before and certainly didn’t expect such straight perfect carrots to turn up hehe

 

Then on Monday I had the pleasure of looking after my new wee niece Georgia while Nessa did some jobs. Snapped this beautiful photo of her asleep, there is nothing more peaceful and serene than a sleeping baby!

I’ve not been doing much creatively over the past few weeks but needed to get this gift sorted and finally got a diary all covered for me.

My 2010 diary, nice and simple but hopefully won’t get to trashed when it gets thrown in my handbag.

 

For Craig’s mum’s birthday I wanted to make her something , then I spotted this Kaisercraft Desk Calendar and decided it might be nice for her work desk. I’ve used Bo-bunny papers (I’m in love with there papers!) and my MM Slice to cut the letters and numbers, add some pearls and flowers, lot’s of sanding, painting and papering and voila it’s done!

 

Just a quick and simple card to go with it, was made at 12pm last night so nothing to elaborate! hehe

We have the in-law’s coming over for dinner so better get off here and bake the birthday cake and make a salad… see you all on Friday with another post

On Wednesday it was such a wonderful day weather wise, Craig, Grace and I decided to head out for a wee road trip and picnic. We headed over to Banks Peninsular which is always beautiful to a bay I’ve never been to before, Le Bons Bay.  We had a lovely drive over listening to some great music. I recently got The Great New Zealand Songbook album, such great driving music, it’s got a bit of most well known NZ artists with their classic songs. Just the thing for a nice summer day.

We found a nice shady spot and had a scrummy lunch.We headed down to the beach over the sand dunes and found a sheltered spot to make sandcastles. Grace enjoyed every moment of paddling and exploring the beach. She has become a lover of sand as we got her a sandpit for Christmas, I think she thought she had found the world’s biggest sandpit! If my memory serves right it was the first time she has been able to splash in the waves, last time we hit the beach it was far to cold.

 

Grace watching seagulls above. She wanted to make friends with them all, they however weren’t so keen when she ran off after them! hehe

 

 

Anyhow I will probably find more to share over the weekend but thought I better keep up with our goal of Friday blogging. Take care

I’ve almost got my December Daily album sorted. I thought I would share the pages I’ve caught up on. The final few pages I will share once done, I’m waiting for photos off friends etc. to get them done.

Day 8 – Santa photo

Day 9 – Christmas cake

Day 10 – Fun day creating

Day 11 - Decorations

Day 12 – Family fish and chip tea

 

Day 13 – The photo we took of Grace for our Christmas cards

Day 14 – Cuddles with my girls at my Uncle’s birthday

Day 15 – Last babytimes group for the year, yet to be completed

Day 16 -  Mini break at Port Levy

Day 17 – Baking Christmas cookies, yet to be completed

Day 18 – Christmas grotto

Day 19 – Craig’s family Christmas, still to be completed

Day 20 – All about me doing my December daily album, still to be completed

Day 21 A letter from Craig and I to Grace, still to be completed

Day 22 – Summer BBQ’s

 

Day 23 – Christmas lights

 

Day 24 – Christmas eve church service

 

Day 25 - Christmas Day

 

 

 

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Running scrapbook crop nights, the thought of it scared me but once I got started it is so much fun and I love meeting and helping other scrappers.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Some of them I did, some of them I didn’t. I know losing weight would have been one of them and I certainly didn’t do that, I gained instead. Health is on the list for this year! hehe We bought our first house, that was on the list but I can’t remember any others so 50/50 is guess

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yup, I am very proud to say my fab sister had a home birth ( so proud of her!) with her second daughter back in November and made me an Aunty again! Yay

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, I’m sad to say they did. My dear Grandfather passed away in July, two days after Grace’s 1st birthday. It was a sad time but we take comfort that we were with him until he end and I know he had made peace with it which helps. As hard as it is, it’s the circle of life.

5. What countries did you visit?

None, I love NZ far to much to leave it! Craig and I are defiantly home bodies hehe

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Health, I want to feel vibrant and full of energy. I haven’t felt that in ages.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Oh so many dates, so many new lives entered mine and some left my life. They are all special dates and will be remembered for years to come.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Raising with Craig a wonderful, happy, bubbly daughter that brings light into our lives daily.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Hmm.. I don’t think anything is a failure, just another learning curve. You only fail if you don’t learn anything.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I didn’t have anything more than a cold/flu. However going through sickness with Grace (being in hospital etc) was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

 11. What was the best thing you bought?

My Making memories Slice, I simply love it! Can’t wait to see if they release more design cards this year.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My Sister, so proud of her having a home birth with her second daughter and coping with being a Mum to two girls so brilliantly!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

No one I know luckily… I was appalled at the guy who mugged an old lady at our local mall though.. total scum bag!

14. Where did most of your money go?

Into buying our house. Biggest purchase we’ll probably make for awhile!

15. What did you get really excited about?

The offer on our house being accepted and then again when finance was finally approved.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Not sure.. I never know who sings the songs I like hehe

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

– happier or sadder? A lot happier!

– thinner or fatter? Fatter… oops!

– richer or poorer? Hmm.. probably richer?

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Creating and early nights reading… I need to get more of that in 2010

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eating naughty food hehe

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We hosted it at home with our family. It was a great one

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Continued to love my awesome hubby!

22. What was your favourite TV program?

I watch to many shows to list United States of Tara is interesting though.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No, I don’t hate anyone.

24. What was the best book you read?

Umm.. I haven’t read much this year but did enjoy The Wedding Season.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Umm.. I really like Gin Wigmore.

26. What did you want and get?

Our home, it ticks all the boxes and it was worth all the effort to get it!

27. What did you want and not get?

Some new bedroom furniture, but maybe this year.

28. What was your favourite film of this year?

I went to see Julie and Julia and loved every minute of it!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 27 this year and I can’t remember how i spent my birthday, it was a really busy time I remember.

30. What’s one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Maybe a few more date nights with Craig but overall it was a pretty good year.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Comfort, Comfort, Comfort… time for a change soon I think.

32. What kept you sane?

Creating

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I don’t think there was anyone,  never been one for crushes on celebs.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

I’m not a big political person but I was happy to see a change in our government and also a change in President in the USA, I was so over hearing from Helen and George.

35. Who did you miss?

My grandfather, but his memory lives on.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I’m not sure if I have met anyone new this year.. must work on that.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
That life is precious and we should live it today instead of waiting until the next stage and looking at life through the eyes of a child is always fun!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Sorry that’s to hard, I suck at lyrics.

 

I hope you too will take the time to fill out this questionnaire, it will be great to read over this time next year and see how you’ve changed If there is anything I missed out just leave me a comment.

Happy 2010, may all your dreams and hopes come true and may you be surrounded by goodness and peace.

Rochelle

It seems I have a bit of a challenge on my hands, yesterday Megan and I were talking about our blogs and how slack we’ve been at updating them. We came up with a plan to each update our blogs at least every Friday throughout 2010, I guess it’s on our resolution lists! So here is the beginning and we shall see how far we get… feel free to nudge either of us if we “forget” he he

Hmm… what to blog about? I’ve filled you all in on my fabulous new scrap room and thanks so much for all your lovely comments I can’t wait to get some time to start creating!

Well I’m sitting here watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it brings back such nice childhood memories, but watching it as an adult it certainly does have a dark side which you miss when young. I’ve got a bowl of Tip Tops new Strawberry Yoghurt ice cream and it’s very nice, well worth a try! Relaxing after a nice picnic with friends today over on the peninsular. Last night was a quiet one for us, we spent the evening at my sister’s place, had scrummy Indian for dinner and watched what was a pretty bad tv countdown show on TV1. My 12.12am we were heading home to bed. I’m knackered as I had a few drinks last night, I hardly drink and they went to my head hehe Defiantly going to enjoy a few days of relaxing around home.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas day, I’m sure you did We hosted our family Christmas for the first time this year and it went really well. My sister, Mum and I  continued our family tradition of attending the midnight carol church service at a local church, it really helps remind me to enjoy the special things about Christmas day and I love any excuse to sing beautiful carols especially by candlelight. I thought it would be really hard going this year as the last time we were in that church was my Grandfather’s funeral and he had attended the Christmas service with us last year. But it ended up being a special way to remember him before the busy time of Christmas day.  Christmas morning we went to my sister’s place for a yummy breakfast and to open the girl’s Santa presents. We briefly popped into my Nana’s place to visit as she wasn’t able to make it to our family Christmas (due to her health), she seemed to enjoy seeing the girls. In the afternoon my family and Craig’s nana joined us for a very yummy lunch and the weather was perfect for relaxing outside after lunch with a drink while Maddi and Grace played with their new toys. It really was a great Christmas.

Boxing day was great too. We decided to brave the sales but headed into town instead of the malls and wandered around, had lunch and enjoyed it as we hardly ever head to town. In the afternoon we headed to my Sister’s for a casual bbq tea and the girls played for ages in there paddling pool and sandpit. A nice relaxing way to finish the Christmas festivities.

Well there we have it, my first blog for 2010! hehe

Finally after many years of dreaming and months of waiting in our new place I now have my scrapbook room painted and it’s finally getting sorted out.

To take you back to what I started with check out this blog post. Remember that awful dark skateboarding wallpaper that we inherited, it really was worse in real life! hehe

So with some time during the holidays we decided to get started.. it took us weeks to decide on the right shade of green and although most wonder what I was thinking I simply LOVE the colour!! It is really inspiring to me and that’s what I wanted. We ended up settling on Resene Vermont.

I still have a few touches to add like getting the chair I bought covered, and hanging up some words I bought “Create” “Inspire” and “Dream”  but here are some of the photo’s from the transformation.

Prepping the walls with horrible wallpaper primer, ick I almost gassed myself with this stage!

A happy goodbye to the awful wallpaper! hehe

Oh my gosh, what colour have the given us !?!  All was ok once we had given it a good stir luckily hehe

First coat going on, looks so lime in these photos but it was taken at night.

The chaos moving back in

My desk area. What a blimmin effort and expense those floating shelves were! I do think they make the room special though so probably worth it all. I have my ribbons sorted in the jars but if anyone has a great idea for sorting and storing flowers please share, they are stashed all together in a plastic bag at present.

  

My cube bookshelf, I finally got to unpack my books.. I seem to have rather a huge collection or interior/garden/cook books.

Here is my bit of genius to display my recent layouts. I headed off to Bunnings and found this railing(not sure of it’s proper name), painted it white, nailed it up and now I have a cool ledge to rest them on.

My pretty shelving, must get a roman blind however so my ribbons don’t fade.

The clock I whipped up many years ago, I must have known I would use this colour as it’s just perfect.

Some more storage, you can NEVER have enough of it!  I love the space I seem to have now, I will be able to have friends over to crop rather than having to move stuff out to my kitchen table when they come over.

Well there it is, my wee piece of heaven. Even Dad (who hates green with a passion) came over this morning and didn’t think it was too bad. hehe

Better get some creating done now. I’m still way behind on my December daily album so watch this space over the next week.

R

Well it’s Christmas eve day and I can finally say I’m totally and utterly sorted for the family Christmas tomorrow. We have spent the morning prepping vege and adding the finishing touches to our food. I’m so glad that all the lists paid off and I didn’t have to venture out to get any last minute things. I plan to put my feet up now with a cold drink and have a flick through the latest issue of NZ Gardener which arrived yesterday.

I hope everyone has a truly special and heart-warming Christmas with family, friends, fun & laughter and great food!