What's New..........

A few weeks since my last blog and there has been alot going on. So here is the rundown:

I became an Aunty again on Friday May 30th. My brother and his wife had a beautiful baby boy which they eventually called Nicholas. He was known as 'the baby' for the first few days as they couldn't decided a name. He is absolutley adorable (and I am not just saying that because I am his Aunt), he has dark hair with blonde at the tips. His big brother and big sister just adore him too.

Last night my netball team won the Final's - yeah!!! It was a really good game and we all played really well. We won by about 7 or 8 points which was great too. We even got a trophy which was totally unexpected. I started playing netball this year just for fun and exercise so to win a final and get a trophy was really cool. I won't be playing this season as I am trying to commit myself to more classes at the gym.

My parents have gone on vacation for the next few weeks so my DH and I have the house to ourselves. My parents have gone to Thailand and will visit Phuket and Chiang Mai. They are having a great time there - even though my mum wasn't really excited about the trip until they got there. I cannot wait till I go on vacation in about two months time. I love the whole aspect of travelling -packing the luggage, flying, sightseeing, etc.

Well, I think that is all my exciting news for now. Apart from the above I have been spending lots of time with my sisters and brother and my neices and nephews.

Till next time................

Body Type?................ Peanut??

My DH and I have the body shape of a peanut - and we are so proud!!!!

My three-year-old neice drew a picture of my DH and I while she was at Kindy the other day. We look like two peanuts from a peanut family but I did not care about that. I was absolutley thrilled to know that she thinks of us while she is at Kindy.

Not to brag, but this kid is a spitting image of me when I was her age (absolutely gorgeous of course) and she is the daughter of my twin sister. She isn't the type of kid that will just run up to you and want a hug, she still takes time to warm up to me. Infact, I think she may still be a little freaked out at how much her mum and I look alike.

Anyways, to hear that she had drawn a picture for me and my DH just brought me to tears. I asked my sister if she was prompted to do this and apparently she wasn't. That was why I got all emotional about it - just the thought that she felt like drawing a picture of the two of us was an AWESOME feeling.

I got to spend time with her and my youngest neice yesterday too. It was wonderful to see these two girls playing so nicely together - more like sisters than cousins. My sister's could already see what they would be like in 15 years time - covering for each other to keep from getting in trouble.

It was nice hanging out with all the girls yesterday. I told my sister's we need to do this more often - just sit around, drink tea and chat.

Here is a picture of the peanut people for your enjoyment. I am the one on the right with the big hips!!

It was my oldest step-nephews 19th birthday the other day too. I cannot believe he is 19 already. I, of course, made him a card - he actually appreciates the hand-made cards.

I love being able to create and I put together this cute little card - I also got to buy some new paper too. Since leaving the scrapbooking industry I really haven't kept myself up-to-date as the supplies here are very expensive. I did find some cute new paper from American Crafts. I loved the colours on the paper and new I could mix and match it for either a male or female card.

As for new stamps - I cannot wait to see my friend Eleonor in Vancouver and visit the new stamp store she is working in. I am yet to find a stamp store here on the Gold Coast.

Here is a picture of the card I made.

Well, gotta go. I am cooking a lamb roast for dinner and better not burn it.

Till next time.............

Labour Day Long Weekend

It felt like we just had a long weekend but it was fine by me to have another. My DH and I decided not to go away for the long weekend, so we just hung around at home. My DH helped my father put together a decking around the pool. They have worked so hard all weekend to get it finished. They are just putting the finishing touches on it now.

As for me - I am pleased to say that I didn't do too much this weekend.

On Saturday we had a baby shower for my sister-in-law, Crystal. She is due at the end of the month and I cannot wait to meet my new nephew. It was a great afternoon and a great chance to get to know my sister-in-laws family. I haven't really had a chance to get to know my sister-in-laws family as I hadn't been here so I really enjoyed the afternoon at the baby shower. We played games, ate food and just chatted. It was great. My mum, sister's and I bought Crystal a few baby items that new mum's need like, baby powder, wipes, etc. My DH had a great idea and suggested we buy something specifically for Crystal so we got her a facial to have after the baby is born. Below is a picture of the present we bought for her and the card that I had made.

After the baby shower my mum, sister and I went out for coffee and cake and some girly chat. It was great to hang out with just the ladies in the family and chill out and relax. I decided that we will have to do this more often.

Saturday night my DH and I went to go and see the new Hugh Jackman movie 'Wolverine'. What a great movie. I really enjoyed it and thought it would be a boy's movie but ladies, let me tell you, there is plenty of eye candy for the girls to enjoy it just as much.

Sunday was such an easy going day. My twin sister was coming over to work on an assignment for university and I had decided that I was going to make some cards for Mother's Day and some to add to my collection that I am hoping to sell. So, with ABBA blaring in the background I got creative and came up with these very cute cards. I just love the colours I used and the stamps too. I do find supplies in Australia are much more expensive but it is so hard not to buy all the beautiful paper that I see.

Sunday night I cooked dinner for everybody. I used a recipe from my Biggest Loser cookbook. I made a beef and bok choy dish with Oyster Sauce. It was quite tasty.

As for Monday - what a total bludge day!!! I did nothing.......... literally nothing. The most I did was make pancakes for morning tea and play with my neice Olivia. I had such a great day. I enjoy spending days like this just before going back to work. I do fell just a little guilty as my DH worked is butt off today finishing off the decking. It looks great though but I know he and my dad will be tired tomorrow.

Till next time.............

A Desperate Housewife

Bree Van De Kamp - polite, polished, domestic goddess - she keeps a tidy house, bakes daily and always looks perfect. The ideal housewife?? There are two sides to this woman - she is a member of the NRA (National Rifle Association), she can be a snob and most of all when push comes to shove she can be a right royal B*$#@!! I LOVE this woman!! I don't know her personally but have come to love her character on the t.v show Desperate Houswives.

What I mostly love about her are the more likeable characteristics. I would love to be able to keep house like she does, cook like she does, be artsy and creative like her and most of all - host dinner parties like she does.

Today I got the urge to bake and be creative and to host my sister to lunch - I was Bree Van De Kamp for a brief moment in time.

A day in the life of Bree (or more realiastically ME):

Hosting Lunch:

My twin sister came over to the house to study today. She has a little one at home and she is graduating this year and exams are coming up so she came to the house for some peace and quiet. Come lunch time my DH and I decided to surprise her and make her lunch - she had been studying all morning and needed a break. While my DH made roast beef sandwiches I whipped together a salad and then we set up the outside table for lunch. My sister was so grateful and impressed. It was funny - she actually thought we did this every weekend for lunch, I told her she just came on the right day.

Being Creative:

My nephews birthday is coming up next weekend and I had already bought his present but needed to make a card for him. I really had the creative juices flowing today and put together an adorable card for him. I also made some extra cards and am thinking of selling them. I haven't bought suppplies in such a long time and am still using stuff that I have around the house. I have taken a picture of the card I made - I think it's cute - what do you all think?

Baking:

I decided to bake some cookies for the staff at work. I chose Anzac biscuits - as next weekend is Anzac day so I thought it was appropriate. Also, we had lots of passionfruits at home so I made some cookies with passionfruit in them. If I do say so myself, both batches of cookies turned out really well. Here is a picture that you can drool over.

Well, there it is. My day as Bree Van De Kamp. I also managed to do the ironing, sit with my husband and enjoy the UFC and have a boxing session with my DH later that night. Not bad for one day.

Till next time...................

Health Kick

Since watching this season of the Biggest Loser it has got me motivated to get off my butt and do some exercise and look after myself. I have to say that I am doing well and haven't put on any weight since I left Canada - needless to say I haven't lost any weight either. Although, for the first time in a long time I am happy with my body but would like to lose some of the extra bulge I find from time to time. I know I am not the only one like that in the world............ so I have decided to actively do something about it.

A few weeks ago I joined a woman's gym which is so close to home - it's awesome. Fernwood is located about 5 minutes from where I live and I really enjoy the all female aspect of the gym. They have all the machines you need - bikes, rowing machines, treadmills, etc. They have a weights area but best of all they have amazing classes that aren't overcrowded. This past week I had a trainer go through some of the weight machines with me and tell me which ones I should be doing - basically she gave me my very own programme to follow.

As for the classes, I have only had the opportunity to try two of them out. The Body Balance class is great - it is a mixture of yoga, pilates and balancing. Just love it!!! This morning I tried the Body Pump class - oh my goodness, this one is my favourite right now. You use a bar bell throughout the whole class and do lunges, squats and lots of other exercises while holding onto a bar bell. It was great and was easy enough to follow - next week I am going to use heavier weights to feel more of a burn and workout. One class that I am desperate to try but scared to try as well is the cycle class. I have seen them use these bikes on the Biggest Loser and it freaks me out but I really want to give it a go.

Now, I know it is not all about exercise only........... I have been eating better too. I am trying to follow a meal plan that one of the trainers from the Biggest Loser put together. It is fairly easy to follow and obviously encourages you to eat lots of fruit and vegetables.

Tonight for dinner I cooked a recipe from the Biggest Loser cookbook that I picked up from K Mart a few weeks ago. I made spaghetti and meatballs but the meatballs were made out of pork and veal mince instead of fatty beef. I also made a yummy Greek Salad to go with it. I don't cook very often but do enjoy it when I do. Here are a couple of shots of my yummy dinner.

Well, if anything, I hope I have got some people motivated to get off their butts and do some excercise at least three times a week.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, last weekend my parents bought a Wii and Wii Fit - there's more exercise there to keep anybody entertained for hours.

Till next time...............

Happy Easter To All

What does Easter mean to me.............

*SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY - I will be spending Good Friday and Easter Sunday with my whole family. Good Friday we will get together and have a late seafood lunch. Easter Sunday we will come together at my parents place for a BBQ. I will be making dessert - apple crumble and apricot upside down cake (hope they turn out)

*CHOCOLATE - as a kid we used to get so much chocolate at Easter time. It would last right into winter time - that's how much chocolate we would receive. Now that I am older I don't need the chocolate anymore - infact I really shouldn't be eating it. Now, I get to buy chocolate for my neices and nephews. I also made some really cute little gift tags to go with the chocolates - I haven't scrapbooked or made any cards in such a while so to put these together really made my day.

*FOUR DAY WEEKEND - my DH and I both work in a bank and have got Good Friday and Easter Monday off - which means a four day weekend......... woo hoo!!! Yesterday at work was like crazy town - people really freak out at the thought of not being able to do their banking for two days so they all come in on the Thursday in a mad panic. Let me tell you...... we did not stop

at all all day so I really couldn't wait for Friday to come around.

I hope you all have a great Easter and enjoy your days off from work too.

Till next time..............

A Lazy Weekend

When there is nothing planned on a weekend to me that means it is open for anything, everything or nothing at all. This was my weekend in a nutshell

1. two days of sleeping in

2. catching up on watching my taped episodes of Desperate Housewives (and there were alot)

3. Brother, Sister-In-Law and the kids came over for dinner - Burgers and Fries (homemade of course)

4. Watched Love Guru (a really stupid/funny movie) and Sweeney Todd (great movie with Johnny Depp)

5. Lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe on Sunday

6. Went to vote on Saturday to be told I was not on the list................ wait till next time.

7. hang around the house and chilled out with my DH

8. DH made some really good dinners - I am so lucky I have him.

9. Did three load of laundry and some ironing.

10. Enjoyed some wine and coolers :)


You know, sometimes it is nice to have nothing planned on weekends - you just don't know what to expect.

Till next time.............