Shellshocked

Hi there all ...

Just thought I better make it official and let you all know that I was taken by complete surprise and selected to be a member of the inaugural Allcraftz for You Design Team!

I shrieked when I saw my name on the screen, and virtually fell off my chair! I read the words over and over and over again ... thinking surely there's been some sort of mistake ... but no, I'm in!!! Soooo excited, if not a little overwhelmed, and really looking forward to working with my fellow DT members Hannah and Jo, along with Guest DT members Sandra and Alishia, and of course the lovely Mandz. Some very talented ladies there - I'm going to learn so much myself in the next little while ... I can't wait to see where it all takes me.

So, I'm sure it will take a little bit to get everything sorted out and up and running, but keep watching this space to see some of the creations my fellow DT members and I come up with!

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

To submit or not to submit ...

for the Allcraftz for You Design Team Call ??? I'm really torn here - I am seriously considering applying, but I also know the quality and standard of work of some of the people I'd be going up against, so therefore give myself a snowflakes chance of being selected. Can I handle the rejection :D

To be a part of this DT would be absolutely amazing ... such talented people associated with it and such great products to work with .... oh well, as they say, you're only young once! I may as well give it a go ... now I just need to decide which 5 pieces to submit for consideration ... how on earth will I choose? I have made a few new pieces for this submission especially, but going through the back catalogue and choosing others to complete my 5 pieces is going to be SOOOOOO hard. At least I can hope for some 'constructive criticism' about my work, so I know where I can look to 'improve'.

Wish me luck! Submissions close on Wednesday 12th, with the winners to be announced on the 13th I believe ... I'll keep you posted :)

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

Oooh, it's been a while ...

since my last blog entry - sorry about that! Guess I've been pretty busy just with day to day life lately ... and trying to get some things sorted out before the mad Christmas rush. I've already got 4 presents sorted - most unlike me :)

Well, Family Bradford had a lovely day again today - we decided to head down to Werribee Mansion for the annual Harvest Picnic - never been before, but heard through a friend that it was a great day.

Was great wandering around and trying all the food - pastries, olives, dips, nougats, spanish donuts, bruschetta, sausages, kebabs - and the boutique beers, wines and ciders were a nice way to wash it all down of course! And the homemade icecream was a hit with Ashton too! In fact, he was having such a good time he actually agreed to have his face painted for the first time ever - he's always been to shy for it in the past. So, we spent the day wandering around with a little spiderman - he looked especially cute when he had licked off the paint around his mouth while he was eating his icecream ...

We called in to Williamstown on the way home and Nick and I had an icecream, and we all wandered around on the foreshore, and then walked out along the pier and Ash and I went on the the retired navy ship that's moored there and had a little sticky beak. He loved it!

Another great family day ...

Talk to you soon,

Ness.

I have been tagged by two lovely ladies - Gypsyangel and Lexie - and I'd like to nominate them right back for this wonderful award, as well as Chelle and Miss Cropalot.

Thanksfor thinking of me ladies ... :)

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

What a start to the day!

Well, I had the most interesting start to a Monday that I've ever had today ...

It was about 12.45am this morning when Ashton came down to our room with a terrible croupey cough, and he was getting really distressed. He's had croupe a few times before, so I'm familiar with the whole 'barking' cough thing, but for the first time he was actually really having trouble drawing in breath, and was gagging and reaching and really struggling for air, so we called for an ambulance for some assistance.

The MICA ambulance arrived in about 6 or 7 minutes, and then a normal ambulance arrived shortly after that, but by the time they had arrived, I had managed to calm him down enough that he could get some air in, but he was still very tight in the throat.

So, they decided we'd need to take a little ride and head to hospital, so he could have some steroids and open up the airway. My first ever ride in an ambulance! Nick stayed home with Liam who was fast asleep and totally oblivious to the whole thing, and I sat at the hospital with Ashton while he was given medication and monitored for a while. We headed home shortly after 3.00, and then I settled him back in bed, and made it back to bed myself around 4.00am.

Needless to say I'm a little weary today, but happy that we got him treatment so quickly. This was the first time I have ever really considered calling an ambulance, and I'm glad we did ... he got the help he needed in super quick time, and is all the better for it!

What a start to a Monday ....

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

Family fun!

Well, the Bradford family had a lovely day out in the sun today.

We headed to Eltham Lower Park, where they have a fully operational miniature steam railway, and took the boys for a couple of rides. This place has been going for as long as I can remember - half of my photos of me as a kid were taken there! The ride is such good value too - tickets are $3, but you're on the train for just over 10 minutes, and it winds through lovely parklands, and goes over bridges and through a few tunnels (where all the kids scream, of course!) - it really is great fun. If you're interested in taking a look-see, here's the link! http://www.dvr.com.au/

Ashton also had a ride on a shetland pony called Toffee, then we headed over to Warrandyte, and grabbed some lunch at the bakery while the kids had a run around the playground, then wandered along the river, grabbed some icecream, and made it home around 3.00. All in all, a great family day!

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

Here are my layouts from the getaway ....

Hello everyone ... sorry it's been a while since my last post! As you've no doubt gathered I have returned safe and sound from the weekend retreat, and had a fabulous time. I was hoping to get a few layouts completed, but nowhere in my wildest dreams did I expect to get 17 done! Very pleased with myself about that. Had a few late nights, had a few drinks, did karaoke for the first time ever (don't ask!), went for a lovely walk, and hope to be able to go back again same time next year.

If anyone's interested, the retreat was run through the Remember When Paper Company. Here's the link to their site ... http://www.rememberwhen.com.au/

Thanks for looking!

The time has come ...

... for me to head off to my very first ever scrapbooking retreat. It's being held up in Toolangi in the mountains and I'm really looking forward to it. Nick's even letting me take the RX7 for a spin! :) Woot woot!

Finally got around to packing all my stuff up tonight - oh the dilemma of deciding what to take!!! - so, no doubt I've taken way too much stuff, but oh well, at least I'll have a nice selection of materials to choose from.

Anyway, you won't be hearing from me for the next few days, but I'll post some pics of what I accomplish on the weekend once I get back. Here's hoping I do get SOME scrapping done this weekend ...

Oh, and a quick thank you to all the people that check my blog - I've only been blogging for 2 weeks and 2 days, and already I've had 99 hits. Not bad considering hardly anyone knows I even exist in the blogosphere ... so thanks for reading my ramblings!

Speak to you again in a few days,
Ness.

Mmmmmm ... massage .....

Hi all -

I ended up having a great weekend - Friday night was our usual card night, and then my friend from Mothers Group and her hubbie and kids came over for dinner on Saturday night and we had an absolute blast ... apart from the littlest kidlet falling down the stairs (which was not good but she's ok!), everything was awesome! Just ask the hubbie who, I'm told, passed out the second they got home :)

And today at work I got the nicest surprise - the only nurse that was rostered on had called in sick so Claire and I had to reschedule all the patients, but then we got an email from the boss saying that he'd organised a 1 hour massage for each of us! On work time! How cool was that?? It was a deep tissue massage, and I'm still a bit sore now, and slightly afraid of how sore I'm going to be in the morning, but it was one of the best massages I've ever had. And, on top of that, we got to knock off early because no one was around, and I was home in time to have dinner with Nick and the boys ... great day!

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

Chris Cornell ROCKS!!!

Last night I was fortunate enough to go to the Chris Cornell gig at The Forum in Melbourne. For those that don't know of him, he was the lead singer for Soundgarden, and is currently the lead singer for Audioslave, and also does his own solo stuff.

The gig was fantastic - they performed lots of the Soundgarden greats, including some of the really early stuff from Temple of the Dog, all the Audioslave faves, a smattering of his solo stuff, as well as an awesome accoustic set in the middle. The band were on stage for all of 2 hours, and then came back on stage for the encore, which lasted another 40 minutes! Just awesome...

Apparently they're coming out to Oz again in another 6 months or so, and I will definitely be getting myself a ticket to go see him again. Such a great night - would definitely recommend the gig to other Soundgarden/Audioslave fans! :)

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

Here are some of my layouts ...

My work is done ...

Well, after a busy couple of weeks, I have finally finished my cards for the PINK Card Drive ... I pledged to make 50 cards, but rocketed along and ended up making 62 in total! Not a bad effort I reckon ...


Here's a pic of just about all of them - I've just finished off the last 4 tonight, and will hopefully get them off in the mail this week. I've well and truly had my fill of pink for quite some time ! :)

Looking forward to getting back to my normal scrapping now ... heaps of photos building up ...

Just a quick update from the weekend - Nick made it home safely from his little trip to the Island ... I'm told he just about equalled his best lap time there, but official placings for his class won't be known for another couple of days or so. But, he was beaming when he came home, and didn't break anything (which makes a nice change!), so all is good.

Now I'm off to tidy up my scrap space and put all the pink stuff away, and get back into some real scrappin' !

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

Fun in the Sun ...

Hello again! Today I spent the morning at work, which was particularly frustrating because I could see a stunning 25 degree day waiting for me outside. I finally made it home about 2.30, and had a lovely time out in the garden with the boys. 15 month old Liam has discovered the joy of swings, and chucks a wobbly every time you even look like taking him out of the swing.

So he amused himself for an hour or so while I moved Ashton's worm farm (yes, that's right, a worm farm - thank his grandparents for that one!) over in to the shade of the garden, as they were getting way too hot where we had them and were probably about to expire, and then Ashton helped me do some 'weeding'. Although, he actually did more 'grassing' ... I really need to teach him what a weed looks like ... :)

Nick spent the rest of the afternoon getting his car ready, as he's off racing at Phillip Island tomorrow. He normally does the practice days on Saturday, but for the first time tomorrow he's going to do the competitive sprint races, and is a little nervous! I am too to be honest, but I'm sure he'll be fine. I have to visit a friend in hospital tomorrow, so I don't think we'll be taking the drive down to watch this time.

Anyway, I'm off now to do some scrapping and make some more PINK cards ...

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

Pink Card Drive progress

I have signed up to take part in the inaugural Pink Card Drive, being run by The Scrappers Stash, where greeting cards are made and sent to women around the country who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Here's a bit more detail ... http://www.thescrappersstash.com.au/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=1683

If I was unwell and undergoing cancer treatment, I would be so chuffed to receive a RAK from a complete stranger, so how could I not join in?

I've pledged to make 50 cards, or more if I have the time. I'm well on my way, having made 34 so far ... I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Here's a shot of some of the cards I've made so far ...

So, here we are ....

Ok. Here we are. Day 1 of me having a blog, and I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing! I'm not even really sure that I need a blog ... but I may as well give it a go and see what all the fuss is about. After all, I only discovered the wonderful world of online forums a few months ago, and I'm already addicted and have made some great online friends. I'm sure I'll get the hang of blogging eventually...

So, bear with me while I learn how to set this all up, and while I work out what goes on in my life that might be even vaguely interesting for someone out in the blogosphere to read about.

I'll do a bit of content planning and a little bit of research into other blogs, and will hopefully be able to have something up and running fairly quickly. Wish me luck!