Precious Time

My friends have been asking me, how I manage my time, and honestly, I'm not sure how I manage at all at the moment. Just one day at a time. This month has by far been my busiest in a long time and while I have managed to start a new job, do the usual house loving and tend to the kids etc. I have also managed to fit quite a lot of scrapping in.

At the moment, my theory is that being busy, means getting more done! LOL! Okay, well you know just as well as I do that's true, however I really do enjoy being busy, and it really motivates me to do more, if you know what I mean?

I also really enjoy change, and over at Scrap Pile last month we got to choose someone else's design team kits, and I had a bit of fun chosing Mel's. In return, Mel chose these gorgeous kits for me to design with this month.

They are all so different and hopefully I managed to do them justice, Mel.

Wanna have some fun over at Scrap-Pile?

A little while ago Maree suggested that we run a challenge to custom-design patterned paper... and Maree, I have to say, it was a long time in the making, but it's finally here! Check out our SUPER MINI CHALLENGE - Design your own patterned paper. I had heaps of fun designing a matching range of 3 papers and have done a few other examples which I'll post in the Scrap-Pile gallery shortly... but for now... here's a sneak peak at my 'playful' range... (PS I thought it would be a bit of fun to do it up all professional like the CHA previews)

A change is as good as a holiday...

I've been copping a bit of flack about the minimalistic approach to my blog at the moment, so I thought I'd better right that quick smart!

Firstly, I'd like to explain that I have been awol for a reason. I've just started working for a design company, and have put my business on hold for the moment while I adjust to my new position and evaluate my lifestyle. Yes, it's the midlife crisis thing again! Although I think I've made the right decision and am really happy with the work I've been thrown to date. It seems much simpler (in a way) to work for someone else, and just do what I love doing... designing. I work from Wed-Fri and that's it. No weekends, no all-nighters trying to meet that looming deadline. Although there are still strict timeframes, it's nowhere near as stressful for me, which I am loving. Plus, I can spend quality time with my family after hours without feeling guilty for not working and building my business. All in all, I'm a happy camper for the moment.

On the scrapping front, I've been checking out all those fabulous CHA previews and some of them are absolutely gorgeous... now how's a girl supposed to save money when they keep releasing all this fabo new stuff!!

I'm still designing over at Scrap-Pile and am loving it. They're actually on the look-out for another DT member to fill Melanie's spot when she leaves next month. Melanie, we'll miss you heaps. You are such a beautiful person with loads of creative spark and I'm sure you will achieve all you set out to and much, much more.

I've been tagged

I have been tagged by Melanie

THE RULES OF THE GAME:

Each player answers the questions themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags someone and posts their name, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answers.

Ten years ago.
I met my drop dead gorgeous husband!

Five things on today's "to do list"
1. Cook dinner
2. Play with kids
3. Get kids ready for bed
4. Scrap
5. Sleep

Snacks I enjoy
I have to agree with Melanie on this one... definitely lollies and chocolates...

Things I would do if I was a millionaire
Uhm... this is a hard one... SPEND IT on a custom design for my scrap room, then I'd probably invest the rest.

Places I have lived
Kingaroy, Toowoomba, Brisbane

I am tagging
Jaki

A beautiful lunch with gorgeous people

We went to the Pineapple Hotel to celebrate Mel's birthday on Friday. What a blast we had!! It was fantastic to meet all the Scrap-Pile girls! We laughed lots and the food was fabulous!

Happy Birthday for yesterday, Mel!!!


Here are some of the photos from lunch...


Karen, Justine, Mel, Melanie, Maree, Kristy, Fiona, Tammy, Jaki & Jake


Kristy, Tammy, Jaki, Jake, Donna, Mel, Karen, Justine & Melanie


Tammy and Jaki pondering the gorgeous paper bag album that Deb made for Mel with all our birthday cards. Thanks Deb, I'm sure Mel will treasure it forever!


Tammy & I


Donna and Mel


Karen and Justine (Sorry about the photo, I had to lighten it a lot so we could see your faces)


Kristy & Tammy playing cameras


Melanie with her new glasses


Melanie & Maree

Tammy & Jaki

Thanks everyone for a terrific weekend, I can't wait for next year!!!

Oh, and if you want a copy of any these photos in their original size (for scrapping of course), just PM me your email address and I'll send them on. Can't wait to see everyone else's.

What a weekend!!

I haven't laughed as much as I did this weekend, in a looooong time. It was just what I needed. Thanks guys! It was lovely to meet you all and get to know you in person! We missed all of those who couldn't make it! Jewls, I have a little surprise coming your way shortly, so watch your snail mailbox!

Here's a few piccies of the weekend... I didn't get many, so let me know if you post some on your blog and I'll go check 'em out!


Melanie, Mel, Justine & me working on our girly-boy page!


and from the other side... Justine struggling with the flowers on her LO... PS... Justine, you have to post your final outcome in the gallery when you've finished it! I want to see all those flowers on there!!


Justine, Jill GG & Mel

Leah, Jill GG & Mel


Melanie, Jill GG & Mel


Maree getting comfortable in between the carseats in the back of Subi! I told you it was a tight squeeze, and I wasn't joking!! I have other photos, Maree, but I don't think they're fit for public viewing. Well, we'll give it a couple of weeks, hey! hehehe...

Overall I had a fantastic weekend, thanks to the girls from Scrap-Pile... and like I said, it's just what I needed! I won't forget all those fun times we had, and it was so lovely to get to know you all!

Leah xoxo

Anywhere but here

Have you ever had that feeling that you are in the wrong place at the wrong time? Like a time warp, and you're supposed to be somewhere else, anywhere else, but here. I'm feeling kinda like that with work at the moment. I'm blaming mid-life, but I'm sure there's another reason. I just feel like there is something else waiting for me... something else that I'm waiting for... but what it is, it defies me at the moment.

I've designed websites, been a dental assistant, an accounts officer, a project manager, a scrapbooking design team member and now I'm my own boss. I truly love what I do, but I also feel I need a change. Which path do I take, which voice do I listen to... my head, my heart or my wallet?

Working from home definitely has its perks, but it also has its downfalls too. As much as I dearly love our children, I need some 'me' time to chill out and rediscover myself. I think I've forgotten who I am and what I set out to achieve. I think it's time to re-evaluate my goals and my future.

I'd love to teach scrapbooking or photo editing or something along those lines. I really love watching people learn and develop new skills, but finding a way to combine all the things I love, in a flexible environment and that earns enough money to help pay the bills... now that's the hard part!

New and Fresh

Last night we held the May CC themed, "New and Fresh" at Scrap-pile and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for all the challenges.

My challenge was to:

Create a layout about something new or fresh in your life using two colours you wouldn't normally use together and incorporate one or more of the following techniques (that you haven't tried before).
Doodling, Paper piercing, Painting, Sanding, Stamping, Sewing/stitching (hand or machine), Hidden journalling/photos, Altering embellishments, Paper folding, Bubble-wrap painting, Paper rolling (Quilling).

You can view the entire thread here.

Here's my example...


and with the tab pulled out...


I also published a little tutorial on how to make your own pockets for hidden journalling or photos just like the one above.

Some new work

I've been trying to get a few of the challenges done this month at Scrap Pile and here's some of the outcomes...

This is for Deb's Purple colour challenge and I have also used the PP from this month's Design Team Kit.

This birthday tag is for Jewls' weekend tag challenge


This is the outcome of Melanie's partner challenge. I had so much fun with this one, as I rarely scrap myself. Thanks for the challenge Melanie!


Here's a simple little card I made for a friend of Erin's. I am really loving those little cupcake stamps! I also added a little flap (which opens under the photo flip).


I also created this door hanger for Erin's room from the Design Team kit this month.

Our little baby is growing up!

We've been trying to toilet train Aiden for a number of weeks now, having some good days and some bad... Today, we finally had a breakthrough... he did his first #2 on the toilet! YAY! We were so excited. The first thing he said after he'd done it, was... "Now I can have the big chocolate Easter Egg" (which we'd promised him). On top of that he's worn undies to bed for the last 2 nights in a row, so we're very proud of our little man.

We went to the Carebears concert today at Garden City. This is Aiden's favourite smiling face at the moment...


Erin loved it too, bopping around. I had trouble keeping her in one place (as usual!)... so I was running around chasing her most of the time.


They both had a great time though and are sleeping well this arvo!