some party preparations...

as mentioned in my last post - yes - we will be holding a 16th b'day party for our miss goob next weekend - and - yes - there have been just over 40 guests invited.
I know. insane.
one thing though - as goob attends an all girl school - and she has lots of friends - she has decided to only invite girls - and I pray that many can't come!!!!!!!
there have been 3 definite 'no's' - my praying thus far has been working!!

here's a peak of the colour scheme we've chosen for party day.....

and there are plans for a lolly table of grand proportions.....

some call them dessert tables.....or candy buffets.....for now let's call it the lolly table!!
and yes - I'm a brilliant drawer - thank you for noticing!!!

a heap of inspiration has come from the lovely Leanne over at Mrs A in the Cove (and I ordered just a few little things from her lovely online shop Sweet Style). I'll update you on those next week when they arrive.

Leanne also shared her recipe for Cookie Pops on her blog - seen in her wonderful image below - and I'll be trying to make some this weekend so I don't have a disaster trying to make them for the first time on the actual party day!!!

photo from here

don't they look amazing - can't wait to try making and eating these goodies. (ingredients include tim tam biscuits and cream cheese and white chocolate - oooooo yum!!!!)

anyhoo back to me!!
I have been gathering supplies and here's some messy pics of the acquired stash so far.....(mostly from discount stores to keep the costs down).....

 

jars above were great bargain buys from a discount store (similar to '$1 store' or 'crazy clints') - large $13.99/medium $11.99/small $6.50 each. they are the start of my jar collection for the lollies!
(very grotty - and ready for a wash!)

and the below trays were not so bargain - however they are actually made out of melamine - but they look so much like crockery. they are wheel & barrow brand.

the narrow plates were $19.95 each - and the square was $39.95.
(hope you like the artful placement of the crepe paper!!!) ha!!

having a pool and loads of pavers (outside) and tiles (inside) - the option of having platters that won't smash into a million pieces if dropped is a very good thing!! I think these are really lovely. good weight too.


I have started to make some labels - the below will be added onto the lolly bags.....

I downloaded some great free labels (found here) - played around with them a little - printed them out on white cardboard - cut them up - then stuck them onto disks of red cardboard.

a little wonky in places - but I'm pretty happy with them.
I'll be sure to take loads of photos and give you all the details as things move along.

yes - this is all a huge outlay for a party - however all three girls will be having parties this year - and many in the future - so I'm positive all the major items will be used many many times through the coming years.
and besides -there is that mother's guilt thing in play here - they didn't get parties last year - I wasn't working - and we just couldn't afford it.
we're making up for it big time now.

as for activities to keep the teenagers happy - we're hoping the weather plays nice and is warm so the pool can be used. we are also putting together a back-drop and props for a photo-booth of sorts.
other than that - this mob all love to hang out and chill - so I'm sure it will all go well. they're a great bunch of kids.

so that's where we're at with the party plans.

tonight we're off to the first brumbie's game of the 2012 season. (rugby union - our local team - we're members - and the weather is looking great for a lovely evening!)
tomorrow is netball grading for eky early - goob and I are going along to help out.
Sat night - a lovely friend and her baby girl are coming to tea. (her husband has been posted away for 6 weeks)
Sunday - loads of volleyball training for the girls - and loads of homework to fit around in between.

oh - and some huge news - that job I spoke of at the end of the year (here) - well the full-time permanent position (education section) I applied for went on hold - and now it's going ahead again - and I have an interview next Tuesday.  (I'm currently working there now - different section - part-time contracted until the end of April. permanency would be great - and the money is pretty good too!).
fingers crossed for me if you can please!!!


have a wonderful weekend ahead where ever you find yourself!!

loads of hugz from here.
cheryl xox.

crazy busy weekend

greetings from our mad house to yours!!

it's been a super busy weekend - and I think I need another to get over this one.
alas - it's back to work tomorrow. boo!!

saturday saw mr w. and the girls head north to pick up new bikes for eky and goob. no photos sadly - however we will be taking some family rides soon - and I'll be sure to take some snaps along the way and post soon.
early b'day presents for the girls - and they love them. great news.

I stayed home and dabbled with housework and study - procrastinating whenever possible.
I'm good at that!

sunday morning goob and I went for a short bike ride - then both eky and goob had 2 hours of volleyball training each.
hard work - however they are learning so much and getting better with every practice. they are really enjoying this new level of volleyball as they have some fantastic coaches at state level. (fingers crossed the girls both make it onto their age teams)

sunday afternoon - miss eky had 8 peeps over for a pool party.

glasses added by me!

a beginning of the year thing - she had one last year.
they squealed a lot - as girls sometimes do - however they had a great afternoon.
we were super lucky with the weather - it was warm and sunny - phew!!
lately the weather has been mad!
huge storm came through friday night; another on saturday that filled the pool to the brim; then another storm threatened just before everyone was about to go home today.
luckily it blew around us and headed out to the coast.
it's been a terribly non-existant summer down here. green - yes - but not very warm or sunny!

triple j also had a friend over for the fun.

best friends since preschool (age 4) - and still going strong (both turning 10 this year)!!!
it kept triple j busy and out of the big girls hair!

this evening - somehow I got hoodwinked into helping goob make 40 party invitations for her upcoming 16th birthday. (in 2 weeks)

yes - you read that right - 40 invites.
I think I have officially gone mad to allow this to happen.
I'll let you know if we survive this one.
for the invites - goob typed them up online (at invys.com) - we then printed them out on card - did a little hole punching - then added some ribbon for pretties!

oh dear what have I done?!?!?!

the week ahead - we have work, uni, school happenings, more volleyball training for the girls - and the start of netball grading for the year.
oh we're in for another busy week.

hope your weekend and week ahead were/are calmer.

hugz from here.
cheryl xox.

trying to get back into the swing of things...

me = slack blogger.

yep - I know - but life gets busy - and if the blog has to go into a holding pattern - so be it!

however - I am starting to get back into the swing of the new year - and hopefully this wee blog will get some more loving!!

huge thanks to anyone still following out there. I check in on many other blogs often - just haven't had the blogging mojo to actually write a post myself!!

a wrap up of the biggest news items around house-o-nefotlak - just to get you up to speed!......

1. the girls are now all back at school.....

triple j is now in year 4, eky heads into year 8 and goob is now a senior in year 11 (and over 6 feet tall!!).
eeek - how does time fly by so quickly?!?!

2. I'm back at uni - and this is my final year - yayayayayayay!!! it's going to be a big one - especially with all the other goings-on this year - but I am so so so so determined to finish this thing. (primary teaching). feeling good about reaching this point.

3. have bought a bike...

love it!!
(it's a 'hybrid bike' - a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike - brand = trek - super large wheels - I really really love it!!)
we have also ordered new bikes for the girls - and we are embarking on  a new exercising adventure.
so far it's been loads of fun. 

4. I've lost 8 kilos since xmas!! super happy about this achievement!!!
it's a combination of diet, discipline and exercise. (not too much exercise just yet - but I'm getting there!!)
I have started on the dukan diet - recommended by a friend - and so far it's been working really well.  (have probably dropped 1-2 dress sizes - feeling great!)
will keep you posted as I go.

5. my contract (work) has been extended until the end of april - but now I'm down to 3 days per week so that I can still attend uni lectures and tutorials and study. super happy about this - as the need for extra money has been something that we really struggled with last year. for now it's working well - I love the people and the work - and the money is great. we'll see what develops over the coming months.

6. sport is going to be yet another huge chunk of our lives this year. both eky and goob trialled for the u15's and u17's state volleyball teams on the weekend. both went really well - and now have 3-4 weeks of training (twice a week) until the final teams are picked. they will also have club and association rep netball commitments - so we're in for a busy sporting time. triple j will again play netball at club level this year as she increases her skills. I envisage loads of car trips around to games and training ahead of us!!

7. goob turn's 16 in march - and is very excited about getting her L's for driving. eeeeekkkk!!

image from here

I can't believe we've reached this point in this parenting adventure!!
pray for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8. we have bought a new camera - finally!!

photo from here.

 now I just have to work out how to use the bugger!!!

hope this day finds you well.
oh - and happy valentine's day to you as well. 
see you again soon - well - that's the plan....
loads of hugz from here.
cheryl xox.

my new/old job

today was my first day back at a real job.
you know - an office / cubicles / all dressed nicely / computers / printers / lunch breaks - the lot!
and it felt really really good.

the reason for most of my enjoyment was that this job is at a place that I worked at 12 months ago - just for a short 4 month contract (I was replacing someone on long service leave) - but it is a great place to work - and the people are amazing.
today felt like I was coming home!

there were loads of hugz from surprised peoples - the welcoming feeling was amazing.
I only got a call on thursday about the position (I was their first choice to fill in while they advertise the position) - and it all only got confirmed yesterday.
no time for gossip to spread as it does in small-ish office spaces - most didn't know I was coming back.

I won't write on here where I'm working exactly - I'll just say that it's a government agency that may or may not have something to do with this..........

source of pic

I applied for a full time permanent position in another section when I was there last time - and missed out by the smallest of margins. (it wasn't in the section I dreamed of - but it was a foot in the door. someone got the job that had already worked within the section previously)
I was devastated.
at the time I had just met my bio mother for the first time (not a hugely successful meeting) and missing out on the job felt like such a huge personal rejection. I cried at home for hours.

the thing is - I do believe the universe plays out just how it should (on most occasions!) - and if it weren't for that set back - I wouldn't have finally gone back to Uni to finish my teaching degree.

however - today I found out that another full-time permanent position is coming up next week - and it's in the education section of the department - the place that I really really wanted to work all along - my ultimate dream job of the moment. (plus the pay is pretty amazing - about $25 000 more per year than a first year qualified teacher!!).

the hours are quite flexible - so I could definitely still do Uni part-time while doing the job - but I just have to make a decision quick - and get an application together.

lots to think about this evening.

I guess I could give it a shot - and if the universe doesn't want me to have it - then that's the way it will be.

oh dear oh deary me!!!

must go - huge storm hitting down here right now - and I must turn off this computer before it gets fried!!!

(updated - check out the nefotlak. facebook page for an image of the radar over canberra last night - it was a doozy!!)

send me some cyber strength - I need it right now.

hugz from here.
cheryl xox.

shout outs, thank yous and followings

after a frenzy of crafty posts last week and lots of linking to linky parties - i just wanted to shout out to a few lovely peeps for the many extra visitors i've had popping past here this past week.

firstly - thank you to all those that popped past and left a comment - and some of you are new followers - yay!!
seriously - a huge thank you. i know everyone is busy - and i do really appreciate the time commenting takes.
i'm honoured that you would take the time to leave me a little piece of you.
but thanks also to the stalkers !! those that always pop in quietly - have a little read - then move on for the day.
all are welcome here!

thank you also to those that liked my new nefotlak. facebook page.
when i checked my stats - i've had literally hundreds of visitors from facebook within a 24 hour span - most from hungary!! yes...hungary! odd - but lovely all the same.
hi to all those that visit from far far away! when i see those stats it makes the world seem a little closer.

special thanks to all those that have featured some of my many projects - i'm humbled and thrilled that you liked something of mine that much. i've started adding featured buttons to the top tab (titled featured) of all those blogs that my projects have been featured on (click on each button and it will take you to the blog - clever techno thing - yes?!!!). if you haven't checked it out - go - now.....i'll wait............

.....but in case you're too busy - here's the lovelys that have me featured already  (if i've missed anyone - please let me know) .......

another special thanks to the lovely lousie from table tonic....

louise included this here little blog in her weekly bookmark worthy sites she's recently discovered. *blush* - i'm tickled pink about that inclusion - thank you louise.

oh - and some news - i'm going to start a weekly blog share thursday - on thursday's obviously  (i'll try to keep to that schedule - eek!) - where i'll feature a blog (just one blog) that i really like - 'cuz i want to share the love around abit!!! be sure to tune in tomorrow for that exciting feature!!!!!! (now i've added pressure on myself to the mix!!)

i do have some more makings to blog about - uni has just caught up on me - and i really need to get some assignments done. which is really hard when there are so so so many wonderful blog posts out there to keep up with!!!
i'd much rather be crafting and blogging!!!
boo!!

hope you're having a great week.
cheryl xox.

nefotlak. on facebook

morning!!.....(oh bugger - i started this when it was still morning - but now it's afternoon - how does that happen???......)

it's friday - yayayayay!! - and the sun is shining and it's going to be 22 degrees (celsius) today.
nice!!!
i love me some spring in the air!

so - i've finally set up a nefotlak. facebook page for this wee blog.......here's a screen shot.....

pretty basic for now - but it's a start.
if you get the chance - i'd love it if you could 'like' the page - you can do that over in my right hand column - just scroll down and you'll see the facebook icon i've added here.

apparently if you get 25 or more 'likes' on a page (i think that's the magic number?!?!) - you get to request from facebook to keep the name of the page - and that's something that i'd like to see happen.
i have this vision of setting up nefotlak. as a label one day......just a dream......and if i get this teaching degree finished and some rooms in this house in better shape - i can put my head into making some actual things to sell.....perhaps an etsy shop......we'll see.

so for now - please go and like the nefotlak. page - if you feel inclined to do so - and let me know if you have one - and i'll go and do the same.

so that's my self important plug over with - phew!!!

here's some pretties to say thank you!!!
some photos i took last week (it was a rainy and cold day - hence the water droplets on the petals) - gorgeous blossoms on our ornamental pear tree out in our front yard.........

we only planted this tree a couple of years ago and it's been struggling with the drought - but finally with mother nature coming good - the rain has made for an excellent showing of flowers.......

don't forget facebook.........did i just go too far??!?!?!?!............ :)

see you on the flip side - hope you have a fabulous weekend.
cheryl xox.

ikea - usa versus aus prices

this is a definite rant!
and i'm not ashamed to say it.

i have been doing some wee research into some bling for my girls bedrooms - chandeliers and the sort.

ikea is inexpensive (albeit a wee hike from canberra - but i've been known to do a few road trips to get me some ikea love!!)- so i figured i'd check out what they had.

here's the kristaller ceiling fixture shown on the australian ikea website.....

web link here

not a bad price australian-wise - i've been checking around and it's hard to get some bling for much cheaper.
not looking for something too fancy - just something a bit more special than a globe!!

however - i saw someone pin this same chandy on pinterest with a very low price attached and thought i'd check out the ikea usa website to see what was going on.......

web link here

yeah - you read that right - less than half the price of the australian version.

yes we are 'way down here' - miles and miles away - and we're on a different power supply from the usa - but tell me dear readers....(if there is anyone out there....).... why do we have to pay more than twice the amount than our american friends to the north - and our dollar is higher than ever???????????

really cranky right now.

nuff said.

cheryl xox.
(kisses and hugz for everyone apart from ikea....)

why am i here ?

warning - this is a long and sometimes confusing read.
you may either leave now - or you'd better get yourself a cuppa and settle in!
there are no room makeover photos here!!!!!

i have questioned myself as to why i have started to blog here at house-o-nefotlak.
i  know that some of my in-real-life friends and family would question the why of this on-line place - and perhaps be even critical of the choices i make (ie to blog or not to blog).

(i have an incredible fear of being judged for what i do and who i am - it's ingrained - i know i shouldn't - it's stupid - but that's who i am.........i was adopted soon after i was born and have had an interesting life - lots of great things - some not so great. perhaps i'll share more on those topics one day - {i started blogging in 2006 when my search for my birth family really started to take shape} - but let's just say that the happenings of my life have profoundly effected who i am and why i question who i am and what i do.........)

in general i believe i am a great ideas person - but get very bored & lazy with the actual 'doing' (perhaps i really need me a lacky/helper to do the things i dream up!).

right now - with being back at uni - my creative/thinking brain has been switched back on after a few dormant years (you know - when you just do what you think you have to do - to pay the bills - to get by - to deal with the everyday that life throws at you).
right now my head is literally buzzing with ideas.
buzzing so much that i find it hard to get to sleep - buzzing so much that i'm jumping from one project to the next. (containing myself to one room makeover at a time has helped!!)

looking back - i have always been a very 'creative' person.
i can play the piano - once played the flute - can sew and can make art.
often though - i don't.
i was encouraged to play piano - my adoptive mother was incredibly talented - but lessons and practice soon became a chore. i got in trouble for playing the same note wrong too many times - i was made to play for exams - not for enjoyment. so i walked away. (i got half way through 7th grade ameb - so i can truly play - but the joy was taken away - i wasn't playing for me)
as for art - it was never encouraged much - as my adoptive family weren't really arty/crafty.
i did do art for my hsc - mostly print and fine line drawing for my major work - and i had an amazing and encouraging school art teacher - but i didn't grow up around lots of creating - i didn't know if that should be what i should do - i didn't get the encouragement i really needed. (i've since found a sister that is an incredibly talented painter)
as for sewing and decorating - that's all been something i've learned on my own. through books - through magazines - through friends - through blogs - through trial and error.(actually it was my dear patient mr w. that bought me my first sewing machine soon after we got married!)

i'm coming to realise that creating is me. it's my air to breath - it's my rays of sunshine - its just me.

i am currently on uni holidays - therefore have had a lot of time and head space to craft and make and paint etc - far more time than most people would ever dream of.
plus my kids are at an age (finally) where i have more time for me (finally) - and they also get to 'create' with me - which is really great.
honestly - the house is an absolute mess (seriously - it's a bomb site) as i try to get as much of goob's room done as possible before semester 2 starts back on monday - eeeeeekkkk!
i think it's impossible to create and make and keep a house looking nice and clean. (perhaps that's just me - i'm just saying!!)

i need to finish this degree (primary teaching).
i already have a hecs bill (university fees bill) - and no final piece of paper (degree) to show for it.
i was never encouraged to 'do' university when i finished school - in fact i had a step father that led me in the opposite direction for his own monetary gain (very long story - i won't even touch that one here). i 'got in' to university - but ended up working instead.
it was a dream to get into uni  - and i'm now doing extremely well. (although i really really hate the boredom of essay writing - when i know in my heart that i'm far ahead of the 18-20 year olds that are straight out of school studying - but you have to do it in order to get the degree - right?!)
i do love teaching - but ultimately i would love love love to teach art or textiles/design - or dare i say it - be an actual artist of some description!!!! (funny - i don't think i would have the courage to ever actually call myself an 'artist' at the end of the day!)
in any case - i've not taken the route (specifically studying 'art' at university) that would lend to me being hired in that particular field.

this is all why i mentioned in this post
i have only found out in the last couple of years that my family of origin were all very good at any sport they tried.
my adoptive family weren't into sport.
i showed flair at many sports - but that part of me wasn't fostered and encouraged.

my kids are extremely good at sport. goob has been selected to represent her school in netball, volleyball, afl football, indoor cricket and hockey this last 6 months alone!!!!!
i see a self-confidence in my girls that i never ever had. they inherently know that they are good at art/design and sport - because they are genetically part of me and mr w. and part of our families.
(i won't get into an argument about the nature/nurture concept here - both are important - but finally meeting those that i am genetically linked to after 35+ years has allowed me to truly see how much that knowledge of my genetics is a real part of me)

i think - i hope - that our parenting has also helped to instill that self confidence in our kids. however, having those attributes mirrored from us to them has been particularly helpful in their journey thus far.
i encourage now - and will continue to encourage in the future - that my girls attempt to fly high in whatever they choose to take on.
that's the most important thing i think i'll ever do at the end of the day.

so - what was i saying........talk about getting off track.........

this blog helps me to do the things that i love.
this blog helps my creativity and encourages me to complete the projects once i've started.
(until recently i've been a serial non-finisher of projects - see here for goob's room prior to this current makeover for the unfinished border that never went up between the two shades of blue on her wall!).
this blog makes me take photos and document what goes on in my life - and in doing so makes me appreciate it all so much more.
this blog helps me to connect with incredibly talented peoples from all over the world. (i'm looking at you all!)
if my sharing of these projects helps anyone out there - i am so thrilled - as i have found so so so much inspiration through blogs that have helped me in my journey.
i so love feedback (comments & emails) from those that have visited this little space and/or have liked what i've done.
every single message makes me smile.

ultimately though, i think i'm doing this for me. (selfish much?!?!?! lol!!)
i don't know - perhaps i'm doing it for even more reasons. (indecisive much?!?!)

i am here because i want to be here - because i know it's the right place to be - because i get to have contact with incredibly talented peoples - because it helps me to think and create and to just be.........

so that's why i'm here!

thanks for listening.
cheryl xox.

blog neglect

apologies for my absence.
it's been a mad mad time in house-o-nefotlak - school holidays - loads of visitors - lurgies that just won't go away - you know - stuff!!!
triple j was meant to head back to school yesterday - but with all the goings on and having two big sisters still on holidays (they go to school over the border and the holidays this year are all off by one week) - she's exhausted and still home. we'll try for school tomorrow!!

here's the low-down of the last 2 weeks......

we watched our niece who travelled down from sydney to play ultimate frisbee in the uni games held here in canberra 2 weeks ago - and her team/university were the gold medal winning team.

our niece is in the middle knealing with the black visor cap.

my amazing sister (aunty l) popped down from a mild darwin to freezing canberra for a wee 10 day visit. (we haven't got together since x'mas.) much shopping (great mid year deals were found!) and coffee shop visits were had - and loads of cooking going on (she's a great cook). we were spoilt rotten. i miss her dearly already.
a family of 5 also came to visit for 5 days within that same time. very good friends who have lived in new york for the past 4 years - and now they're buying in adelaide. we'll miss them dearly - but our visits together are always loads of fun.
11 peoples in our house was a little bit of a squeeze - but we had a lot of good times.

there has been much use of lego for various creations and electronic devices for gaming pleasure!! there has also been loads of dvd watching - especially since the weather has been so so cold. we watched all 6 movies in the star wars saga - as well as a harry potter marathon in preparation for the final film.

we also managed to catch 3 new movies - mr popper's penguins, cars 2 and transformers 3 (in 3d) - and hoping to catch at least one more later in the week - harry potter of course!!

we loved all 3 - and can't wait to see mr potter for one last time!
we never usually see so many movies in one break - but there are so many good ones out this winter - and we wanted to see them on the big screen with all that sub-woofer rumble that only a cinema can provide!!

so goob and eky head back to school next monday - and i start back at uni on 15th august.
hopefully i'll get some more house stuff done in that time - some more creating - for now though i'm just trying to get this lurgy to leave my poor lungs - and get this household in to some kind of routine once more.

oh sigh!!

hope all is well in your place in this world.
hugz,
cheryl. xox

netball and stuff

well - that weekend just flew by - yes?!
ridiculous how quickly the time went.
here's a rundown of our weekend.....

saturday at our house is usually consumed with netball during the winter months.

(i meant to take a photo of an actual netball game - however i was scoring - and i forgot.)

all three girls play this year - with game times ranging from 8:30am until 1:30pm - at two different locations!
mr w. and i take turns each weekend at the various locations as the games overlap and we can't be everywhere at the same time.
last year was worse - even though we were at the same location - however on top of the three girls playing,  i was also coaching and playing - and two of the girls were umpiring - so we usually spent all day out in the cold, listening to whistles going off every other second.
this year goob has changed clubs - and she's a much happier little vegemite for the change. (she's also playing better too - with a coach that is supportive and encouraging - instead of a coach that is in it for a personal power trip)
she now plays for her school instead of our local club - and she coaches a younger team - and it's getting noticed at school and has been mentioned by quite a few teachers that they are really pleased with the leadership she has been showing. hearing such comments has certainly helped boost her self esteem - which had taken a battering from a club and association that seem to be 'in it' for their own adult ego trips instead of looking after the children's best interests.
so goob has broken away - and made the move.
we now drive around more and juggle pickups - but a happier daughter is far more important than the extra time spent on the road.
netball and volleyball car trips are actually brilliant times to talk with the girls about the world and all that is going on.
we have our best conversations in the car.

so apart from the netballing madness - we were babysitting our neighbours 2 kids for most of the remaining time - as the husband ended up in hospital with pneumonia - eek! he also has type 1 diabetes and his blood sugar levels were all over the place so he ended up in intensive care.
the kids are 8 months (miss s) and 2.5 years (master m).
wow - it's a mind twist to go back to looking after little ones again!!!!
little miss s was a crawling maniac getting into everything! luckily my girls were amazing at looking after them. little miss s ending up falling asleep at one stage on eky's lap - so very cute.
neighbour is doing much better now - hoping he'll be home fairly soon.
both the neighbours and us don't have family readily available on hand to help out in time of crisis - so it's great that we can depend on each other.

in between all of that - a little more painting happened - it's looking great - can't wait to get it all done and show some good pics. i'll hurry - i promise!

mr w. did manage to put that big loungeroom tv inside the cabinet as i was hoping for (after much hole drilling for power chords and shelf re-adjuststing) - and it fits perfectly.
here's the fit (warning - more bad iphone pics ahead...)

and it all now hides behind these -

and i even managed to organise the power chords after some pinterest inspiration here - with some bread tags and a marker pen........

organisation is taking place in this house - one baby step at a time!!!!!!

in food news - i cooked a yummy warm stew - and goob made an amazing caramel tart - we'll take photos and share another time - we just didn't get a chance. sorry! it was a freezing weekend - and comfort eating was the order of the days!!

hope your weekend was great.
i've got to get back to painting!! here's to a great week.
cheryl xox.

another gorgeous sunset

took this one standing on solid ground this time - (unlike these taken with the iphone out the car window!!) - this one was taken 10 minutes ago out the front of our house.
just spectacular.
we're saving up for a good camera here in house nefotlak.
can't get it soon enough.
this is what we're been currently using - (well goob and i - as it is her camera!!!)

don't get me wrong - it takes great little pics - but it's time to upgrade.
we had an slr camera (it's broken in the cupboard) - but really really really want a digtal one.
although i know i will be fighting with the goob - as she's been taking photography this year (she's in year 10) - and she's considering taking it into year 11 & 12.
she has set up a blog to start documenting them - photos that she's been taking this year. (all taken so far with the pink box above!!!)

here's the blog addy if you want to have a peek - 
http://gabriellelouisedesign.blogspot.com/

all of the photos enlarge when you click on them - scroll down and click on the eye photo - it's amazing!!
anyhoo - i'm very proud of her.
ok - back to the books - last assignment due tomorrow....
hugz,
mrs c. xox