Shrove Tuesday

Yep good old Shrove Tuesday in our house this morning. 

The boys organized themselves with making the pancake mixture late last night.

Josh and I woke early this morning to start to make them before the kids had to head off to school on the bus.

Very yummy.  (Better be good for the rest of the day me thinks - not good for the sugar levels.........LOL!!!)

Enjoy your day everyone.

Luv Sandie

Farewell dear friend

Today I will be saying farewell to another dear friend.  It really tugs on your heart when you have to say goodbye to someone.
Dear Lyn has been battling cancer for the last 3 years.  She was such a softly spoken, beautiful woman and friend.  A true inspiration to all who met her or knew her online.

A message goes out to all who are suffering with this terrible disease - you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Take time out today to do something that has been on your "to do list" - none of us know how long we have here on earth - make the most of it!!!

Huge hi to everyone.

Luv Sandie xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

 Here we are - Sandie, Vicky and Lyn at one of the Picture 2 Page shows at Burwood

 Our first catch up session at Geelong on the 31st December, 2007

Next catchup was 9th April, 2010 - in a shopping centre in Geelong having lunch - Lyn, Sandie, Maggie, Wirg and Marion.

Treausred memories!!!!!!!

I am still here - in case you were wondering............LOL!!!!

Yes - I'm still here.

I have just been one busy little black duck with either working, organizing kids or just day to day things and I'm sure you can all relate to that.

Went to see this film last week

..............and boy did I love it!!!!!  I cried, and cried and cried to the point where my shirt was all wet from the tears rolling down my face.  It was such a beautiful and touching story.  If you get a chance you have to go and see it.  (Although, having said that - I was amazed when I walked out of the cinema.  I asked a lady beside me if she liked it - I also asked her if she cried - she gave me this crazy look and said "no - I didn't cry at all!!! Did you cry?"  I went on to tell her that my shirt was all wet and that I had run out of tissues.  But then I do cry very easily). 

What else has been going on.  I think I told you a little while ago that we bought ourselves a little old caravan.  Well we are in the process of doing it up a little in readiness for our maiden voyage.  The kids are getting so excited.

Sat up and watched the Brownlow last night - I love to see all of the fashions.  There certainly were some lovely gowns.  Very pleased to see Dane Swan win - very deserving winner.  As my mob are all Collingwood it's getting a little tense in our household.  Looking forward to a good game this weekend hopefully.  We usually go on our little holiday to Geelong - me thinks we shall have to wait to see how things pan out............LOL!!!!!

Mark you diaries for "From Picture 2 Page" show comig up in mid October.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/From-Picture-to-Page-scrapbook-papercraft-show/118903148209525?sk=photos

Well that's it for now - hope all is well in your part of the world.

Luv Sandie

Cars 2

Took the kids off to the movies this morning - school holidays and all - people everywhere.  We saw Cars 2 which was really funny.  Did a bit of shopping and then came home for lunch.

Plan to do some creating this afternoon.  I need to organize some cards for work "Christmas In July".  Decisions, decisions - I just love Christmas!!!!!

Anyone else started their Christmas cards yet or is that a dirty word!!!!

Luv Sandie

Remember.............

Remember when I announced this

Well it all happened over the weekend.

We flew out on the Saturday, stayed in a luxurious hotel/apartment, went to the show that night at the Lyric Theatre - the show was fantastic - absolutely loved it and then we spent the morning in Sydney - went to mass at the biggest Cathedral in Australia and then grabbed a bite to eat before we flew home again.  I also have to add that Sydney turned on the beautiful weather while we were there too.  It was so nice to see the harbour glistening away.

It was a bit of a rush around but I tell ya what - it was so fun and just what Sean and I needed to spend some quality time together.  All thanks to one little bottle of Taft Hairspray - just goes to prove you've got to be in it to win it!!!!!

Luv Sandie

Blog Award

Well it's been a while since I've received a Blog Award - thanks to Shandell for sending one my way.

Here goes

I need to share 7 things about me and share with 15 others (I'm going to be like Shandell and forward on to 4 others - lazy I know!!)

1. I've never met a chocolate or cake I don't like

2. Love to get home from work or a day out, take off your shoes and socks and wriggle your toes

3. Fave colour - green

4. Fave movie "Pride & Prejudice

5. Fave food - chocolate

6. Love scrapping but mostly card making

7. Fave tool - Cuttlebug. When I first bought it, it took me a couple of weeks to take it out of the

box - I just kept looking at it. Now I can't stop using it.

Now I'm sending this blog award to

1. Vicky

2. Deb

3. Petrina

4. Lyn

Bye for now.

Luv me.

Happy Birthday To Me

Well there you have it - another year older!!!!!

I have to say I've had the bestest day.

It all started early this morning - the kids got up rather early to finish off my birthday cards - all handmade which I just love. Of course in true tradition - I cried when I TRIED to read them..........priceless stuff!!!! I am truly blessed I tell ya!!!!!

I have had lots and lots of text messages, phone calls and Facebook greetings - I am blown away. Thank you so much to all.

Sean and I both had the day off work and made our way into Melbourne. We walked up and down Chapel Street which was lots of fun, took some silly photos in one of those little photo booths, had a nice lunch together and a couple of cuppas. Back home in the afternoon in time for the kids to get home and then headed off for dinner to Sean's mum and dad's home for a nice home cooked dinner.

Fantastic day and feeling rather spesh!!!!

So as my mum would say "you're in your 43rd year now".................LOL!!!! Like I need reminding.............LOL!!!!!

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

Luv Sandie

DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA

I had nearly finished clearing my desk - which was a big task let me tell ya, when I heard some commotion coming from the back of the house.

I got up to have a look and found Sean (husband) and a Policeman running around our backyard with torches. Hello!!!! What was going on?

I went to the door and Sean said "stay inside!". Great!!!! Now I was worried.

The Police were chasing this dude who had earlier assaulted a Police Officer and he was carrying a knife and the dude had fled on foot.

He apparently had run through our yard and jumped the fence. They couldn't find any trace of him. We were all a little shaken then and made sure everything was locked up. The poor kids couldn't settle, either could I for that matter. So hence - I packed up pretty quick smart and got ready for bed.

I only found out this morning while we were all sitting down having breakfast that the Police had knocked at the front door and ran through the house to make sure everyone was ok. Josh said that he heard the police yell "come out or we'll spray you!".
I had a bit of a giggle to myself then - If I had come out of my craft room at that time I would have been sprayed I reckon - LOL!!!!! I was in the middle of getting a bug that had flown up my nose..........that would look good wouldn't it? - just imagine the police bursting into my craft room and here I was chasing a bug up my nose.........LOL!!! I can see the funny side of it NOW but at the time.........NUH!!!!!

So there you have it - my attempt at creating - just plenty of chaos instead.

All is well though - that is the main thing. Hope they caught the dude.

Happy creating over the weekend everyone.

Luv Sandie

Wow it's hot today!!!

How is it in your part of the world? One word here - HOT!!!!

Worked for a few hours this arvo which was nice - bit hot but I enjoyed getting back into it.

We have relo's for tea tonight - good old Fish n' Chips and then we are going to play some board games - Pictionary and Scategories. Love these games. Are you a games person?

Not much else planned for the weekend. A quiet one hopefully where I can find some time to create. Fingers crossed.

Hope you all have a good one.

Luv Sandie

Today

Well today started off nice and early.

We all got up nice and early at 7am, packed a little backpack of orange juice, apple juice and yoghurt and then all headed off on our bikes for a ride to Sean's mum and dad's place for a hot breakfast.

We had a little porridge for starters followed by bacon and eggs, fried tomato, yoghurt and juice - oh and one of Sean's famous flat white coffees.

The boys headed off for a throw of the frisbee and the girlies stayed back and had a game of Pictionary - plenty of laughs - that's for sure!!!!!

We rode home, grabbed some fresh bread and now we are all relaxing doing what we want to do.

Such a great weekend.

Hope you are having fun in your part of the world.

Luv Sandie

Yesterday

We had a beautiful day yesterday.

We headed into the Sth Melbourne Market - one of our faves as it's not too big to cover.

I managed to buy some fresh raspberries - something I'm a little partial too but they are always too expensive. I bought 2 punnets. Yummo!!!!!

We bought some fresh rolls and made ham rolls with sauce and some iced coffee - nice and simple but very yummy all the same.

Had a bit of a look around at the shops on the outskirts of the market and then grabbed a coffee.

It was such a perfect day - little breeze, little sun - perfect.

We decided to come home along the esplanade - there was plenty of activity. We were thinking that a lot of people must have bought Para Sales for Christmas as there were stacks out - perfect day yesterday with a nice breeze happening.

Reached home in the early afternoon and then decided to just take it easy doing what we wanted to do.

Mexican Baked Spuds for tea and then watched Strictly Ballroom on ABC.

Great day.

Luv Sandie

YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!

Can I just say if someone gave me this I would just cry!!!!!!

It is SO me and I naturally WANT ALL OF IT!!!!!!!

Luv Sandie

1.1.11

Josh just pointed out to me that it is the 1st of the 1st 2011 - 1.1.11. Cool huh?

Hope everyone saw the New Year in safely.

I wish you and yours all the very bestest of luck, health and fortune for 2011.

Luv Sandie

Happy New Year

Just popping in quickly to wish everyone a very Happy New Year wherever you are in the world.

PLEASE stay safe on the roads - don't drink and drive especially.

All the very best.

Chat tomorrow when I reveal the new challenge.

Luv Sandie

Merry Christmas

Well it's officially Christmas Day.

To all my Blog followers - I hope you all have a fabulous and fun Christmas Day and wish you all the very best for a fun-filled New Year.

Relax - enjoy and please stay safe on the roads.

Luv ya...............Sandie

A HUGE THANK YOU

Just popping in quickly to say a HUGE thank you to the beautiful person who sent me a little Christmas pressie. I absolutely love the little goodies.

You truly are a great friend.

I would love to know who you are - PLEASE!!!!!!!

Luv Sandie

End of an era

Today marks the end of an era in our household.

Our baby - Josh - is finishing Grade 6 which means the end of the line at our little (well not so little now) primary school.

So many different feelings are going through my mind at the moment (hence me not being able to sleep and getting out of bed to type this post at 2.06am.................)

Must try and dig out some photos to pop up here for you to look at.

Gosh they grow up fast.

Luv Sandie

Wow - look at this!!!!!!!

Look at this

Here

Totally amazing - somebody has too much time on their hands

Luv Sandie

What’s Been Happening?????????

Here I am again. Back with updates.

It's all happening in the Downey household.

Not 1 but 3 new jobs in our house.

I can officially tell you now that I have a casual job at the Scrapbook Lady in Pakenham. This is ULTRA exciting - but not only me - Emily has a little job there too just putting things away, pricing etc. How cool!!!!!

And the 3rd job goes to..........................Sean. He has officially resigned from Bunnings after nearly 10 years and is now the Store Manager of Darren Spargo's Photography in town. We are all very excited about Sean's new move - big decision - but it will great to have him working locally instead of travelling each day. He will start early December - right in time for the Silly Season!!!!!

So there you go - we all went out last night to celebrate - drinks all round!!!!

So hence that is why I haven't been updating my blog as much lately - flat out having fun. I am absolutely loving my job and look forward to the days I work. Yay!!!!!

Speaking of work - I created a Sketch Challenge which runs from November up til the week before Christmas. We are promoting our NEW Mini Banner - customers come in, make a small purchase, pick up their FREE Mini Banner and sketch challenge, go home, create a layout, bring it back into the store and then it will be judged by someone independent and they will win a hamper of goodies. Pretty cool huh?

I know a lot of you are not locals - but you can always just join in the sketch challenge. Just follow the sketch and leave me a link to your creation. Would love to see what you create. (Having troubles updating the sketch as it’s in Word format – if I can I shall convert it and share with you, otherwise you can just follow my basic layout)

I have added the banner - just kept most of it in the raw chipboard and then embossed the little scalloped trims. This is little Stephen's first Christmas. I just adore this photo.

(On the baby front - our gorgeous Sudanese friends - George and Medina are expecting baby no. 3 just before Christmas - how exciting!!!!)

Well that' it from me. I will be popping in pretty randomly with any updates of as my mum used to say as we walked through the door "any news, notes or gossip?"................LOL.

Luv ya.

Sandie

Can You Help????????????????? Please!!!!!

If being a teenager isn't hard enough, well then you need to read Brooke's story.

You can read all about her here. She goes to the same school as our girls. Tammy came home today and told us that she has her own website - you can read here

http://brookecollins.info/

We wish you all the very best Brooke - we shall add you to our family prayers.

Luv Sandie