11 Years Ago Today...

....I married my wonderful husband.  It was the best day of my life and I was so happy that day.  11 years on and although I didn't think it possible, I love Dean more now than I did then and my love for him grows each day.  He is my best friend, I know he loves me unconditionally and I can't imagine my life without him in it.  I wanted to share a couple of photos from our wedding day as they are my "favourites".  I have also, as promised, included the layouts that I completed at Kristy's place last Sunday (they just need photo's and a few more embellishments to be finished).
Love Nic x

Easter Long Weekend

The Easter long weekend is almost over and I have had a really great one.  Normally we travel somewhere or have visitors come and stay with us which is always lovely but this year we decided to stay at home on our own.  I feel really good this afternoon because I have achieved quite a bit in the last four days and even had some time to scrap!!
Yesterday morning I received a text from Kristy inviting me around to her place for some scrapbooking and "High Tea".  We had a wonderful 7 hours....YES 7 hours!!! scrapping, eating and talking about anything and everything.  It was just what I needed!
I sometimes lose my confidence if I haven't done any scrapbooking for a while so I decided to take some Kaisercraft kits with me that I purchased from Circle of Friends as they have written instructions with them and this makes it so much easier to do.  I ended up completing 5 layouts!!!  The first layout, I created by following the instructions to the letter but by the time I got to the fifth one, I was creating a "Nic Original"! 
While I would love to post photos of my layouts now, unfortunately my camera is currently charging so I am unable to take photos of them but I will definately get them loaded onto the blog as soon as I can.
I have also been working on Project 366 and have a couple of pages to share with you.
Take care
Nic x

Cards and Project 366

I had a fantastic time yesterday afternoon scrapping with Rachel, Dee and Jenny.  I made a card and completed two pages for my Project 366 which I was really happy with.  
This year I am trying to make a few more cards as I really enjoy making them and they are a great way to use up "scraps" of paper.
One of my "New Year resolutions" was to make cards prior to when they are actually due so I am not making them at the last minute.  Well my first card this year was made at the last minute and I wasn't really happy with it but the next one, which I made yesterday, I really love.

Love Nic x

Card for Adrian - my beautiful Nephew























Project 366

Project 366 Begins

I have started my "Project 366" based on Becky Higgins Project Life
The general idea is to take a photo everyday for a year and scrap each photo. 
Here is my title page and my first page!
Love Nic x

Title Page
























First Page

Organising

The lead up to Christmas was so busy I didn't have any time to scrap and therefore my "Scrap Table" ended up being a dumping ground for anything and everything so I couldn't scrap even if I wanted to as there was no room!.
For the past couple of weekends I have been sorting out my scrapbook room and table and trying to find a place for everything.  Here is the before and after photos of my table! 
I was actually able to start a layout the other day!!
I have since added another set of drawers in the bottom section so it looks even neater now!
P.S.  Who can spot Agro?
Love Nic x

Before

After

Things To Do!

Dean and I constantly talk about "The List" which is a list of jobs and things that need to be done around the house.  "The List", until now, has only existed in our minds so after a chat the other day (and the gutters overflowing, which reminded us that they needed to be cleaned!!), I decided to buy a white board that we could hang in the kitchen to jot down anything that needs to be done like general maintenance etc.
So, here is my white board which I decided to "pretty up" a bit.

Love Nic x

Before and after photos.

Home Again!

Dean and I have just arrived back in Kalgoorlie after a few lovely days in Perth.  I had a great time as I got to spend 6 days with my lovely Mum and I feel really relaxed and ready to take on the world!!  I start back at work tomorrow and Dean has his RDO so he doesn't have to start work until Wednesday, lucky thing. 

I am now 2 days into "Project 366" and have managed to take 2 photos so I am on track :-) 

I also received an email from Blue Bazaar advising that they are running a "Bootcamp" again from 01/01/12 - 31/01/12 with a total of 15 sketches so I think I will try and complete that as well!  If Kristy and Jenny are reading this, I think you two should join me!!!

I also really need to get my scrap room back in order ASAP as it is a crazy mess so that will be number one on the to do list before I start any scrapping!!

Take care

Nic xx

Welcome 2012!

Well 2011 is over and it is the start of a brand New Year.

I have not posted a blog for over 3 months due to various reasons and due to having a lot going on in my life but one of my goals in 2012 is to blog on a regular basis.

Please note that the next part of my blog may be upsetting for some readers, especially my family.

On 28th October 2011 my Nanna's partner, John, passed away after a six month battle with Cancer.  John wanted to die at home so he was nursed by my Mum and my Nanna for approx. 9 days and passed away peacefully with Nanna, Mum, my Sister and I all by his side.

The days that Mum and Nanna were nursing John were extremely hard for them as there were several complications for them to deal with.  Jock and Fiona also needed to help out with caring for John at times to provide some much needed relief to Mum and Nanna.  I found these days so very hard to deal with as being 600kms away from everyone makes you feel so very useless and helpless.  I was due to fly to Perth at the end of October and I did not expect John to be alive when I arrived but he was. On the first night I stayed at Fiona's house and the next day she took me up to Nanna's house.  Within one hour of us being there, John had died.  Even though I knew John was dying, I didn't expect it to happen so suddenly....I know this sounds really stupid and even as I am typing it, I know how stupid it sounds but I really didn't expect it to happen when I was there. 

My Nanna knew the time was very near so she tried to protect all of us and Fiona also told me that John was close to passing so she told me to go outside if I wanted to but on my way outside I passed John in his bed and something made me stop.  I knew I had two options, I could go outside and wait, or I could be brave and comfort someone in their final moments.  I chose to stay and I held John's hand as he took his final breath.  Standing with my Sister, Mother and Grandmother as someone we loved passed away was a moment in time that will be forever etched in my memory. 

                    *                       *                     *                    *                    *

2012

I love the start of a New Year as it is a great time to reflect and focus on what is important in your life.

Like many people I have a few resolutions and one of the things I am wanting to do this year in conjunction with my scrappy friends Kristy, Jenny, Sharyn (and anyone else we can rope in) is "Project 366" which is based on a concept that has been around the scrapping world for quite a while now.  The idea is to take a photo of your life every day for a year and then scrap the photos.  I very rarely scrap any photos of myself so with this project I will have no choice but to do so.

I have also resigned from my job and am looking forward to having lots of "me time" to do the things I enjoy most in life like spending time with my family and friends, scrapping, looking after my wonderful husband and being a "Domestic Goddess!".

Take care.

Love Nic xx

What a Weekend!

"Race Round" is over for another year in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the 3 major race meetings have been blessed with the most glorious weather (much to the delight of all the ladies and their hats, fascinators etc.). 
Yesterday was the final day of race round and this is celebrated by "Coolgardie Day" which is basically a fun day which has markets, stalls a parade etc.
We had the AGM and a club run at the gokarts so we went there for the day.
Again, the day started off perfectly, the sun was shining, the birds were singing etc. but then a bit of wind started to blow....and it got stronger and we could see big black clouds descending on us at a rapid rate.  There was also thick dust and it was getting worse.  Chairs started blowing away, 44 gallon drums started to blow over and I was getting a bit concerned.  We were at the pit bays which is a fancy name for a concrete floor and a tin roof!!  As the wind got stronger and the dust got thicker I said to Dean "Should we go and shelter behind the sea container", to which he replied "No, I don't want to leave the gokart on its own"    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
So, realising my status in life, I suggested that we take the gokart with us and seek shelter behind the sea container.  Dean thought this was a good idea so he carefully wheeled the kart to safety.
Once the gokart was safely protected by the sea container we decided to put a few things in the boot of the car and as we were doing this we heard a horrendous roaring, cracking sound and saw people running.  I looked up and saw that the timing tower was completely gone and all that was left was the uprights at the bottom of the building.  I will never forget the feeling that I had when I saw this as, like just about everyone else there, I thought that there were people in the timing tower and I knew that there would be death or serious injury due to the fact that there was nothing left of the building. 
Thankfully, the ladies that were in the building had decided to evacuate it 5 minutes before it was destroyed and no one was hurt.
The building and everything in it that was lost can be replaced but precious lives can't be.
Here are some pics for you.
Nic xxx


The storm moving across the track

Image provided by Lee-Anne Martin


What the timing tower used to look like

Image from http://www.speedcafe.com/2011/09/18/karting-officials-escape-death-in-wind-storm/

What the timing tower looks like now!

Images provided by Lee-Anne Martin

Sketchabilities

I found another challenge blog the other day called Sketchabilities.....I am so addicted to these blogs!! If only I didn't have to work I would have more time to scrap!!!
Here is my layout for the sketch provided.

Nic xxx