Mel's Place

Crossing off my to do list!!!

2009-12-12T09:46:00.000+08:00

I actually feel a whole lot better today about Christmas than the beginning of the week. Why?? Cause I have crossed off so many things that needed doing...like

Bought the girls pressies as well as my niece and nephews
Ordered 2 of our family secret santa's
Found a cool kit for Jess (and her best friend) and ordered it through deals direct
Found a spit we can borrow for Xmas day
ordered the pork and lamb for the roasts on Christmas day
Have got all our crayfish for Christmas eve
Made 6 Floating frames as Teacher pressies and the ornate frame shadowbox.
Costumes with dancing are just about completed - just waiting on a leotard I bought on ebay cause Jess can't find hers
Weather has been good and DH is out working his butt off so that means the $ are coming in - the mad christmas rush has taken a bit longer to get going this year but now chasing our tails.
Taught my teach the teacher class to Perth stores this week and launched my new job lol!
Chrisco has arrived so my pantry is chockablock full as is my freezer and all expired stuff has been tossed!!
managed to post my 12 days of Christmas on time today hehehehehehe
Wrapped all my presents up and sorted them and hidden them away
One week of school left, one day at daycare left forever Will miss a couple of the ladies there - they are awesome

My schedule for this coming week
Today - Chionia dancing 10.30am - 11.15am, run to Wangara to grab some product and then Jess has dancing from 1-5pm
Tomorrow - Jess dancing 1-5pm
Monday - Kindy graduation for Chionia, Jess dancing 5-8pm, school reports
Tuesday - Chionia's last day at daycare, Chionia dancing 3.45-4.30pm, Jess dancing 5-8pm
Wednesday - Hearing appt for CHionia, dress dance rehearsal at UWA from 4-9pm both girls
Thursday - last day of school :) Helping Kindy kids at Go banana's, REST DAY FROM DANCING
Friday - Concert night for both girls
Saturday - Concert night for Jess and I am helping backstage
Sunday - all over Red Rover I can concentrate on Christmas!!! :) Sandra's birthday BBQ

Scrapping wise - asked to do a mothers day feature for SM, should have had a LO in SC 73, classes getting booked for me to teach through TBZ lol and it goes on!!! :)

Snowglobes.....

2009-12-06T11:56:00.001+08:00

I just love them!!!! hehe you should see my coffee table atm. So after gaining inspiration from someones blog (lol went blog hopping!) I knew I had to try a funky house in a large Moccona coffee jar......

It still needs some tweaking - off to Myers tomorrow to get little lights for it and need a few more large snowflakes for the top from Twiddleybitz!!

and a sneak peak at 2 LO's for upcoming articles in SC

Bugger......

2009-12-01T15:29:00.000+08:00

well no phone call today - actually no-one has heard any little whisper - nothing - zilch!!! But SM said the calls would be made today and I didn't get one :( Congrats to those who did get through - there were so many good names on the list I had an inkling I wouldn't get a phone call. Anyway Life goes on..

I have a sneak peak or two!! Just to cheer me up :)

Off to do the dance run for Chionia before coming home and rearranging the furniture to fi the Christmas tree in. Then Jess has dancing then home to dress up the tree!!! Ciao!!

Escape 2 Create

2009-11-16T13:29:00.000+08:00

here i come!!!!!!!!!!

I was so excited when Amanda asked me several months ago if I would be interested in coming over to SA to teach at their retreat!!! Would I ever!!!!! Of course it was a YES straight away and until now have had to keep it a secret until it was announced on the E2C blog I can't wait to meet all the wonderful ladies I have heard so much about and of course to meet up with Amanda and Meredith again. Roll on March!!!! (lol hope the weather is a little bit cooler than what you have been having the last week or so!!)

Anyway here is a sneak peak or two of the class I will be teaching - as you know my LO's are full of texture and chipboard and all things messy and fun!!! Enjoy :)

Christmas cards

2009-11-15T10:50:00.001+08:00

lol I know!!!! I don't tend to do cards but I am trying to get organised for Christmas....Secret Santa draw for the Forbes will be this arvo - hopefully everyone turns up!

3AS DT work this week is cards so using up my leftover Graphic 45 Christmas Past frames and getting my stamps out I had fun with this little spin on cards lol!!

TBZ is going great guns in Melbourne - last day of Paperific today so pop along if you are in Melbourne and say Hi to Andrew & Nic and a couple of the DT girls :) Me I am off to fo some secret squirrel stuff for SC :)

Take me to .......a Funky Town!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-11-13T08:57:00.001+08:00

lol Introducing TBZ new funky town!!!!! ABsolutely LOVE THESE :) :) :) Being released today at hte Paperific show in Melbourne - go and see Twiddleybitz at Stand 11 for a squeezy - they are so much better IRL!!!!

Funky Town

Post number 4 for the month already beat last months lol!!

2009-11-08T17:00:00.002+08:00

hehe!!!

Just a quick post - 3 Angels Scrapping has just had a up and down month - the web server went MIA and we lost a good week ro so and all our history :( But Jo and Rosy have got it all happening again and to launch it off we have a sketch for this week...so here is my flipped over Mels version!!! I added more journalling in as I ran out of room if you compare to the sketch!

TFL :)

ANd jsut to prove I did get out the sewing machine!!

Christmas Wall hanging.....

2009-11-07T18:48:00.003+08:00

lol but first of all a HUGE BIG HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD :)

Once he decides what we will be doing to celebrate we will!!! hehe

Hope the sprinklers behaved and the rain didn't hang around for too long dad - :)

anyway back to....

A few weeks ago Jill GG did an awesome wallhanging and it isn't often I want to completely scraplift something - well I did - but made it my own lol by adding and adding!!!! rofl!!!

hhmmm my photo link has gone missing.....

brb.....ok - no idea but have worked it out!!! lol no i haven't!!!! Blogger has changed on me!!!!

During the week I got my kit from 3 Angels scrapping and having the wall hanging in mind loved the fact I got Graphic 45 and the Christmas diecuts!!!! Add to that some Twiddleybitz and I love it so thankyou for the inspiration from all my scrappy area's!!!

Secret business

2009-11-05T14:01:00.000+08:00

sshhhhhh... all to be revealed shortly but I am sooo excited with an upcoming class ;)

AND believe it or not - I have scrapped - just a little but some gorgeous new TBZ products have got me fired up again - out has come the texture paste and thinking Graphic 45...... :)

Whoah - slow down!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-11-04T11:26:00.000+08:00

blimey - can't believe it is November!!! Crazy few weeks here but good crazy!!! Started with mum and dad coming up for mum's birthday last Monday so all the family came over for dinner and it was Alice's first official family do YAY!!! She is sooo cute!!! and so well behaved!!

Unbeknown to Riss - mum and dad brought Monty up for her so when she arrived at midnight on Wednesday there he was wagging his tail and so excited to see them again :) so all week we had to keep Monty and Casper apart - at one stage I did have both of them on my knee without any hissing or fighting lol!! Riss stayed till Sunday and we also had Neil stay over one night inbetween so Jess has just moved back into her bedroom! Now to clean up all the mess! hehe

No scrapping - I did do up a photo box for mum but silly me forgot to take a photo of it before presenting it!

Classes coming up in November - check the sidebar for info!! :)

Toodles :)

Massive clean up in the back yeard a couple of weeks ago as well - the date palm has been trimmed several meters (stupid spikey fronds - so glad that job is done!) and we now have a vegie garden growing with tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, chilli's, capsicum, basil, chives, cucumber, baby carrots, snowpeas, sweet corn, leeks, radishes, lettuce, watermelon and rockmelon!!! Roll on 10 weeks when we can pick and eat them YUMM!!!

photo time!!!

2009-10-19T12:40:00.004+08:00

stealing 5 minutes to pop some photo's up for you all :) Finished reading Diana Galbadron's new book over the weekend and already want the next one!!!!! Love the series - has anyone read the John Grey book she wrote?

Anyway here are a few projects I have done lately!! Must run - need to finish a headache of a quote!!!

WOOHOO Phew I did it again!!

2009-10-14T18:01:00.002+08:00

Life never stops - even just for a minute does it!!

All sorts happening here atm and most of it great!!

Firstly I made the top 67 (??) in the Masters comp again this year - Looking at the list of ladies there is awesome talent in there and everyone is so good - it will be a hard choice to chose :) So roll on December and good luck for everyone :)

Twiddleybitz had our demo day today where I taught a lot of the Perth stores - met a lot of new people :) including some of our new DT for TBZ - great class - we had no probs whatsoever (always a good thing when you are cutting into canvas's etc!!) And everyone walked away with some gorgeous masterpieces!!! In their own style as well which I love :) ALso announced I am freelancing for stores - a few have taken me up already which is great - Just Scrapbooking has opened up my class for November which is already filling up fast - will post details later - nearly time to collect Jess!

Some awesome new releases too - will be back with photo's

Poop - just checked the time - need to run and get Jess from dancing before sitting down tonight and working out a 20+page quote with specifications for sealing with the Gorgon project up North.

TBZ announces new team and website :)

2009-09-24T09:29:00.003+08:00

It is my pleasure to announce Twiddleybitz's latest Design Team - it was a tough choice with all the stunning creations that were submitted

CONGRATULATIONS to

Carol Thompson
FLick Malyszko
Georgia Keays
Jo Kinder
Louise Williams
Rebecca Beattie
Sherry Mendoza
Sonya Thair
Teresa Abajo
Tracey Holdyk
Tracy Wyldman
Tiff Sawyer
and me!!

I will get all the link happening in a tic!!

Also TBZ has started up their own social network with NING - come and join us for your chance to win a prize or 2 over at www.twiddleybitz.ning.com

:)

One last thing

GO CATS

scrapping :)

2009-09-13T13:05:00.004+08:00

been busy creating for 3 Angels who kick off again this week with the DT :)

YAY

Firstly - use up those leftover alpha's on a page for this months challenge and load it into the gallery for a chance to win a $15.00 voucher!!

Then this weeks challenge was using a sketch which you can find in the DT weekly challenge over at 3Angels (please excuse the crookedness of it!! I obviously can't take a straight photo lol!)

and shock horror some cards (lol very basic and trying to get the hang of a new punch - bit hard to line up....)

need to run - time for Jess's dance exam practise!

Licorice All sorts

2009-09-10T11:08:00.008+08:00

lol!! Yummy too!!

Lots of bits and bobs today!!

Where to start

Family run down - all well now - Miss C had a gastro attack on Monday night where she just wouldn't stop throwing up all night long - so we both looked like zombies on Tuesday. Noone else got sick so knowing Chionia she licked or ate something she shouldn't have hhmmm....wonder where she got that gene from....

Jess had Sports day last Friday - beautiful day (we even got a little bit sunburnt!) She came 3rd in her running race and 4th in the star relay. She has also been selected for the first time to do Pass ball for the interschool carnival YAY Go Jess!!! Chionia had her first kindy running race and came third - too cute before the race she said to me "Mummy I can't run in a straight line I wibble wobble!" So I said to look at me and run straight at me and she did!!

Busy weekend - Jess also had her first Piano Concert where she played for the first time on a grand piano and did a fantastic job!!!! Very well polished - brought back memories of quite a few piano concerts from my childhood lol!! One girl played a beauitful song called "River runs in you" (I believe it may be in Twilight) which I have managed to find free on the net, have printed it out and learning it! It has been a while since I have learnt a new piano song hehe.

Both girls have a fun day at school today - Jess is off to Subi to see a new theatre production called Fatty Wombat and Chionia has the farm animals coming to visit! Pity it is such a wild and wet day here (can't wait for summer I know we need the rain but it hasn't stopped raining for weeks!!!!!!!!!!!)

Fathers Day - we let Gary sleep in for a little while so I could get brekkie organised and the girls cause they woke soooooooo early. Gave him his pressies and the girls spent the night before making cards. I let them loose with my cuttlebug and cardstock and watched them come up with awesome cards - Chionia was funny - she came up to me after embossing her card and cutting out butterflies "Mummy can I please have that black stuff for the edges of the butterfly?" meaning she wanted to ink it - I let her have my ink sponge and she soooo carefully inked them all - I think she has been watching me more than I realise - quite often when I scrap she stands and watches over my shoulder...

We had a yummy lunch at Helens before coming home to relax :)

Anyone interested in buying a 28foot Razorline boat - just needs fitting out!!! Call Gary on 0417 919 442!!

OK Scrapping.........

Also a couple of spots left in my Twiddleybitz class at Just Scrapbooking on September 19th... Here is a sneaky peak for you of what we will be doing.....

3 Angels kicks off again next week - keep a look out from Sunday for the DT :)

and

Mystical Scrapbooks September Animal Instincts Cyber crop
Let's get wild and bring out the animal is us all!!

Scrap the pets, zoo or the 'animal encounters while on holiday' photo's....or the other animals in our lives! like the kids swinging in a tree!

Lets get right into the fab range of animal colours and textures, and animal word play for titles and quotes!

Mystical Cyber Crop starts 7pm Friday 11th September....get ready for a week-end of fantastic challenges, fun games and lots of chatting!

To be in the running for vouchers from the fantastic Mystical Shop Head over to the forum and sign up (http://www.mysticalscrapbooks.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=162&t=5468)

And there is more.........

Sissey Kits has been taken over by the lovely Kat Hall who asked if I would be a guest designer for her first kit - of course I said yes so have been busy playing with it - check out www.sissey.com.au for some great kits!!!! First kit is being released next week :)

Di is also having a HUGE CLEARANCE SALE - 50% off everything in store starting 9.30am sharp tomorrow.Be early cause it will all go!

hhmmm I think that is it for the moment - my toes are cold and I am going to go searching for a pair of socks and to fold up my huge pile of washing.......before tackling Chionia's room where I can't see the floor.

Happy happy happy

2009-08-24T13:21:00.003+08:00

just continuing Nat's happy Conga dance ...........

why you ask...... well several reasons!!!!!

3 Angels is back - Jo and Rosy have missed us all and the forum is up and running again after a bit of rest and relaxation!!!! YAY - so good to see some familar faces back there and I hope you all pop in and say hello!!!! Yes I am still on the design team and can't wait to bring you some great challenges in the next few weeks!!!

Secondly - I have had lots of cuddles from my newest gorgeous niece Alice - she is now the average size of a newborn bub and has just had her 8 week old needles so we allowed to get to know her!!! YAY I snuck in last week for a cuddle as I knew when the girls were with me I wouldn't get much of a chance - so I have had double cuddles this week!! :)

Isn't she sweet!!! Love how she is looking straight at Jess!! Chionia did a huge dummy spit at Jess as we hopped in the car to leave having a go at her for hogging Alice - we promised Chionia she would get first cuddles next time lol!!

Also been asked to teach interstate again next year and of course I have said yes - what a great chance to meet up with some good friends :) More on that later!!

Classes have been announced at Just Scrapbooking and I believe they are filling up fast so if you want to have a go at some awesome OTP items give Jordie a call at the shop for details Ph 9417 3665 - September 19th :) All day!!!! :)

Ok must run and do that paperwork I have waiting patiently for me! Take care all :)

PS Thanks for all of you who replied in regards to my last post - will update you further down the track on that one but most definately a good possibility!!

to those who scrap I ask a few questions.....

2009-08-18T19:12:00.001+08:00

to do with retreats.....

I just want to know your experiences - what you loved, what you hated, what you remember - how far you would drive, how much you would pay, what was important - a nice hot shower, private accommodation or were you willing to revert back to high school years with a bunk bed in plastic just for a few hours sleep..... was scrapping space essential, how about how far would you drive, how much would you fork out or are you interested in classes, beauty treatments, alcohol.....lol!!

I want to hear all about it.......you can email me if you want to keep it quiet - let me know what you love and what you hate......

more later from me - will keep you guessing lol!!

just after feedback from a variety of sources - even if you are from oversea's - all comments I will take on board!!!

Puzzle completed!

2009-08-17T10:19:00.006+08:00

Just a quick update from the Forbes household. Due to such a wet and windy weekend we stayed indoors for most of it! Given I had a clean scrap room again I scrapped!!! Girls did some cooking and made yummy sausage rolls for tea on Saturday along with some Banana puffs (made the recipe up as we went!)

Recently I have been investigating the additives in our food - before it always seemed too hard to work out which of those numbers were bad and then looking at each of the individual grocery items would take me forever and a day. BUT someone has done it for me!!! Odette is one of the mums in Chionia's kindy year and due to her sons allergies to additives etc she has created a fantastic business to help people like me!! I attended one of her lectures at the school which is a quick breakdown of the additives and which foods are nasty etc! An eye opener to say the least. A few weeks later I did the supermarket tour which involved going through Coles after hours with her and a small group of others where we were actually shown which products are good and which ones are not so good. Vegemite is a nasty - yeast extract is basically just about pure MSG so we are now a Marmite household (lol for those of you who know me I am a vegemite girl from way back so not happy Jan!!) Anyway we have cut out a lot of unnecessary additives in our food and along with the $10.00 book which lists it all for me we are slowly getting rid of those nasties - it is surprising that a lot of the well branded foods such as Kraft are some of the worst on the market - because of the mass production of the food, extra's are added into it. So if it means buying the Nestle vanilla ice-cream instead of Peters then we will and we have noticed a huge difference in the girl's behaviour as well. If anyone is interested in the booklet just leave me a massage and I can give you Odette's contact details.

Alice gets her needles today so guess who is having a cuddle tomorrow all by myself!!!!! I have to go by myself because when I take the girls on Sunday I don't think I will have much of a chance!!

Twiddleybitz is going great guns - lots of exciting things happening atm - Aussie Scrap Source have picked them up and it is going really really well YAY!!! Lots of new releases coming up as well as some interesting idea's floating around - My first lot of Twiddleybitz classes start next month so have been busy working on those projects - check out the DT blog www.twiddleybitzdt.blogspot.com for Sonja's challenge

Here is a few things I created over the weekend! Loving the fern leaves atm!!

Also in my clean up I pulled out the puzzles pieces I got the girls to do at last years retreat in Melbourne - I had popped them away because I am still waiting on 2 to be sent back to me but figured I could just glue them on if they arrive!! Love this - I now have it above my scrap table as a reminder of a fantastic weekend!

lol I also found my camera battery charger in the clean up!!!

Just a Retreat

2009-08-11T10:05:00.005+08:00

but boy did I have fun and I even managed to scrap a heap!!!!! Funny what you can achieve when you just go to a retreat for yourself and not teaching/working etc!!! Loads of fun and lots of creations :) Some I can only give you a sneak peak of - sorry!!!!

On a more serious note I have a few upcoming classes - Just Scrapbooking in Jandakot has me booked in for 2 classes on September 19th - here are a couple of sneak peaks and if you ring the store they can give you all the info you need - hurry as I know places are limited!!!!!! :) Ph 9417 3665 :)

For Sale

2009-07-31T18:19:00.003+08:00

One very good condition 5 seater portable Spa :) (ideal for renters hint hint!) Colour green + all extras such as lockable top :) If interested please leave a post and I will forward on your contact details to my SIL Price $3500 ono

I am loving Ikea!!

2009-07-30T10:17:00.005+08:00

A few weeks ago (lol and a few months!!) Sonia posted a photo of some decals she had won and had popped up on her walls - I thought they looked awesome and really changed the area they were placed in!

Anyway as I am shopping in Ikea - went there for Ellen's hooks (which were out of stock sorry Ellen! will be going back though!) and also was chasing their additive free cordial which is YUMMY!!!!! Browsing through with Chionia and discovered these poppies so had to grab them - very cheap and I love how they have just brightened up my hallway!!

I also got a heap of wicker baskets for Jess to organise her shelves with and some things for the fridge - it is amazing how much more in control you feel when things are tidy and organised!! YAY!!

Been busy - a crap day yesterday - Telstra's mobile network tower just up the road from us is being repaired so it will take 2-3 days but atm no mobiles for us (carol did you get a text from me last night????) This was only discovered after spending about 2.5 hours on the phone with them yesterday - I wish you could just speak to a human - I have learnt though if you keep asking with the word consultant after about 3 tries you will be put through to one :) Car also decided to fall apart again - this time something to do with the brakes so I am borrowing cars etc till we work out what is wrong.....

BUT on a good note I spent the weekend creating :) Twiddleybitz will be at the craft fair at the Claremont Showgrounds this Friday - Sunday so you can pop down and see these creations irl if you like!! I will be there one of the days (all depending on cars atm!) and Sherry has flown in from Sydney and will be teaching a small easel frame as well :) Please excuse the green pool in the background and I am stil lusing the point and shoot so not that happy with the photo themselves but my charger is winging its way to Perth as I type YAY!!!!!

Nic's here to pick up my TBZ stuff :) so take care all :)

Its all ok!!!

2009-07-28T09:39:00.002+08:00

I just competely and utterly forgot what day it was yesterday!! I am fine :) just can't believe I forgot to go to Di's last night!!!! Thought this poem seemed appropriate - I just found it on Lynnette Van Barrelo's blog!!

My Rememberer is Broke

My forgetter's getting better,
But my rememberer is broke.
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke.

For when I'm "here" I'm wondering
If I really should be "there."
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven't got a prayer!

Oft times I walk into a room,
Say "what am I here for?"
I wrack my brain, but all in vain!
A zero, is my score.

At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!

When shopping I may see someone,
Say "Hi" and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, "who was that?"

Yes, my forgetter's getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And it's driving me plumb crazy
And that isn't any joke.

Been busy busy creating for Twiddleybitz - finished off an advent house (yes for Christmas lol!) and a Halloween easel - LO is done but just needs sticking down

House - well yesterday morning I walked from one end of the house to the other and EVERY room looked like a pigsty - so I did a dummy spit - told the girls they would be in their rooms till is was spotless - went to Big W and got a big plastic bucket thing for all of Chionia's soft toys and a large plastic under the bed container for the umpteen jigsaw's - came home and I even mopped the walls in the bathroom (don't ask me how the girls got dirt on it up so high!) So now I have a clean house (just about!!!!)

Off to Canningvale for a little (!!!) drive to pick up more product for a job!

you never know what will happen when you go bushwalking!!

2009-07-20T12:58:00.005+08:00

perhaps an impromptu photo shoot!!!! Not very far at all from mum and dads place is this quaint little wooden seat between 2 trees in the middle of nowhere.....noone around except a few kangaroos and just perfect to get some photo's of the girls!!! I just love them - guess what I will be scrapping in the near future..... Thanks dad :)

Got back yesterday from a few days down south - always love escaping down there but has been a bit hard inbetween work etc. A bit of a delayed start due to my car grrrrr and then Chionia got a tummy bug (I am thinking she ate something she shouldn't have perhaps like perfume.....) Rain nearly all the way down there - took nearly 4 hours instead of 3 and the rain didn't stop - it was on and off the whole time we were there - BUT - I love it down there in winter so it was ok!! Nothing like snuggling up with a dog or 4 and a roaring fire and great company! The girls had a ball with their cousin Ben and little Monty I think will sleep for the next week!

Back to reality now - work school dance piano swimming.......the list goes on - throw in a few classes and I will still be chasing my tail I think.

However one thing I won't be doing is my design work for 3 Angels Scrapping - Jo and Rosy have decided to close the forum and gallery so they can spend more time with their family - I know at the retreat when Heike announced she was leaving to start her own site up.....that they told us things would go on a more casual approach - since then though they found out a few truths that perhaps should have been announced more honestly - as a result the design team shrunk down to just me with others going elsewhere ......I think with all of that and the time it takes to run such a wonderful forum and gallery their families were needing them so it is goodbye to all at 3 Angels as of tonight it will be no more :( :( :( I would have loved to stay on - the ladies there are awesome - no bitchiness that you get at other forums (although a bit more honesty could have helped I think!) so I will miss a lot of the friendships I have gained since joining 2.5 years ago. I am so glad I was able to come to the retreat and meet you all :) Thankyou Jo and Rosy - you guys are gorgeous and enjoy your time with your family :) THe shop is still open though and atm you can grab a bargain with everything 30% off till the end of the month :) :)

Me - I will be kept busy - although I have resigned from Di's shop I am still teaching and have decided to go freelance with Twiddleybitz - so if you are in Perth you can contact me (melanieforbes@bigpond.com) or Nic at Twiddleybitz if you would like me to teach a class or two at your store. I can design classes especially for your clientele or I will have some on standby!! You will be able to catch me at Just Scrapbooking (08) 9417 3665 in September for a fun filled Saturday with 2 classes being planned as we speak (hehe I have got the photo's - above - and the idea so now to create something special!)

School goes back tomorrow and I must say I have enjoyed these holidays the best in years - normally I am running around with work etc but this time no work and no car meant a bit more time at home to catch up on things..

got a few loads of washing to do and a roof to nail down so it doesn't flap like it did in these winds and rain... :)

Bali Safari continues.....

2009-07-12T12:21:00.015+08:00

But first has anyone seen my camera charger.....................not happy Jan - It has gone for a little walk - just as I need to take photo's of my masters stuff!!!!

Just finished my double LO for the masters comp so all that is left to do now is work out the material list, write my blurb on me, find a half decent photo and then pack it all up and post it off!! Love my double - it turned out just how I wanted it to using those particular photo's :)

Anyway before life got busy I was blogging about Bali and had got up to my favourite day there - the Bali Safari park :) It was just a totally magical day and I would recommend anyone going to Bali to go and visit it. It is located about an hour out of Kuta - we hired to mini buses for the day to take us there - the girls went with Aunty Maurs, Uncle Neil Jason and Eta in one car and we went in the other - we lost them not long after leaving the hotel but half way there we found them pulled over at the side of the ride with a cop on a motorbike hehe - all the cop wanted was a cigarette!!!! Gary on the way bought a newspaper through the crack in his window for about $10.00 only to find once he opened it and we had taken off at the lights that it was about 3 months old pmsl!!!!

We go there eventually lots of laughs along the way (remember I was in the car with NO KIDS!!) lined up and got our passes - before we left Perth I organised for us to have the Leopard pass which entitled us to just about everything in the park - orangutan cuddle, patting the lion, tram ride etc - otherwise you had to pay for each adventure in the park on top of your admission - all up about $200.00 for the 4 of us including lunch - great value!!! We also received a welcome drink and hat upon arrival as well :)

In we went - grabbing a stroller for Chionia as well (YAY!!! Well worth the 50000rph to hire it!) First stop was to Cuddle the orangutan Ronnie - this is what I wanted to do - had to do and oh it was so worth it - Ronnie was gorgeous - his skin was so so soft and his fur quite wiry!! His long fingers kept tickling the back of my neck - sad to think that perhaps in a few decades or our lifetime that orangutans may become extinct - a once in a lifetime opportunity we tried to explain to the girls..

Then on past the beautiful stunning birds

and off to see some lions!! This one though was very dopey - I think a bit drugged up perhaps which is a bit sad.....He did look a bit old with a few battlescars as well but not many people can say they have patted a lion so here you go!!

Then we jumped aboard the tram to take us on a 30 min tour of the animals - we saw owls, deers, crocodiles, elephants, orangutans, gibbons, sunbears, birds, tigers, leopards, hippos Lions, zebra's camels, water buffalos and more I haven't even heard of lol!!

The tigers were just stunning - literally only meters from the tram - they had a platform they were on and then jumped off when they heard another vehicle approach - apparently it was feeding time for them!!!

Still with me!!!! Lunch was next at the Uma restaurant - now we had a set lunch in aircon - the others were suppose to be sitting outside but we persuaded them to let them sit in the aircon with us!!! hehe

We then went in search of the elephant ride. On the way we found the beautiful white tigers and one that I could even pat!!! THis tiger was only 15months old and very frisky - kids were not allowed to touch or pat him and had to keep their distance - needless to say I was ready to run!!!

Then we found the elephants......down the ramp so we could easily climb on their backs! and Off we went - I am glad it was only a 20 minute ride as they were bumpy!!!! CHionia's and Gary's elephant wouldn't stop eating!!

Time was running out and we went in search of the rest of the Forbes in the rollercoasters......not for me!!

Our lifts had arrived to take us home and on the way we stopped into a silver shop where I got 2 special pandora beads - a lion and a spacer!! THen back to the hotel for a longed for swim and a bintang!!

One of the best days ever!!!

Well what have I been up to....

2009-07-04T17:27:00.003+08:00

I have been visiting here....

visiting Sydney for the 3Angels Scrapping retreat where I taught my fairy xhadow box class to my biggest class ever!!! From what I believe - they all got their hands dirty so they passed!! Great bunch of ladies - I hope they enjoyed it!

It was a long flight home - 6 hours due to the severe storm weather Perth had been experiencing that Vic and SA have had in the last few days.....so glad that is over with! Ocean Reef had the highest wind gusts recorded during that time - I swear the pergola was going to fly away!! A big thanks to mum who came up and took over mummy duties whilst away - this included a swimming lesson, a school disco which got cancelled at the last minute via text to me who then had to forward it onto 3 people as I didn't know who was taking Jess to her first senior disco! a piano lesson, ballet lesson, a visit to the girls new cousin Alice who is going great guns!! 2.5 weeks old already!!!

Then on Sunday Chionia had a ballet and tap exam - lucky mum!!!

I was suppose to be home by 8.30pm but it was nearly 10.30pm before I got my cuddle from the girls and Gary! SO ready for bed - mental note - fly qantas - much more leg room!!!

Had my last day at the shop on Tuesday - sad yes but i am enjoying not having the job of being there!! I miss all the gorgeous customers who would call througha nd thankyou to those who turned up to say good bye - it isn't goodbye I will still be teaching there!! Just getting priorities in order at home and enjoying it!!

Scrapping wise - done a few things - masters is due in a few weeks so busy finishing all of that off - yes I am entering again -I must be a sucker for punishment but as I have told others I love what I have done and if I can join along the ride then YAY!!!

End of the school term - both girls got awesome reports - just need to work with Chionia on learning how to sort out arguements - she can't do it like she does with Jess!!

Also proud mummy moment - a few weeks ago Jess was watching Random Acts of Kindness on TV where a girl her age raised a heap of money fundraising - unbeknown to us she wrote a letter to her school principal asking if they could do a free dress day and if they could give the money to her to donate to the hospital where Aunty Maureen went for her breast cancer journey. Mr Smith called me up and asked (obviously they couldn't give Jess the money but) where would we like it donated - the Breast Cancer Foundation. Well yesterday was the free dress day Jess had asked for and the school raised an even $550.00 :) :) :) and all it took was some guts and a letter.

Must run - have some birdcages which need turning and made white on the other side lol!!
Take care all :)