Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  Wishing you a wonderful, exciting and safe 2012!

Just a quick post to share some photos from our afternoon/evening down by Sydney Harbour watching the fireworks.

And so......

As one year comes to a close, another one is about to start!

2011 hasn't been a fantastic year for us as a family!  I would say that we've just gone through the motions really.  Em in particular has had a difficult year, with some nasty emotional bullying happening at school, she has had a planter wart on her foot that has taken 9 months to get rid of, and has had a hard time just dealing with some growing-up things like friendship shuffles and finding her place in the group.  But I have good feelings about 2012!  It's going to be a good positive year for us!  I hope so anyway!

I've chosen my significant word for 2012, deciding on ........

CHOICE

Most of the time I tend to rush into decisions around my food choices, family choices, financial choices, life choices.  I figure that by having this word as a focus word, it will help me to think about the choices I make, before regretting the choice after the event.

I'm really keen to do some sort of project 365 or 52 this year, but I don't necessarily want to be tied down to having to take a photo everyday, or even scrapping about it every week.  I've started another blog called My Everyday to keep track of things.  I think this project is going to evolve over the months ahead, into what I feel comfortable with. 


We're heading off shortly to go and watch the fireworks at Sydney Harbour with millions of others!  It's something that Emma is excited about, and secretly, I'm quite looking forward to it too!


So as the year comes to a close, I wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year, and here's to a fantastic 2012!

Link With Love

While reading The Daily Digi today, the post had real impact on me. Here's what Link With Love is all about.

Make A Difference.

It is our goal to inspire positive change in the way art, photography, design, words, music, film and ideas are shared on the internet. We believe that intellectual property needs to be handled with love and respect. We believe in the goodness of people. We believe in the power of the internet. We believe that Maya Angelou was absolutely right when she said "when you know better you do better."

We need your help. We need your support. Learn more. Spread the word. Post our badge on your sites to show that you LINK with love.

There is more information here. We are just starting to build a site and add content. Visit linkwithlove.org to get a badge that you can post on your own blog or site that shows the internet YOU RESPECT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. That you LINK WITH LOVE.”

I've grabbed my badge. Have you?

30 Days of Blogging - Day 13, 14 & 15

Boy...I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I've blogged, and in that time we have seen another awful natural disaster in the world! I find all this devastion quite disturbing. My heart aches for all those who have lost life, their loved ones, their homes, their work.....I just can't quite comprehend it all. Pictures like this just break my heart.



What I am sure of through, is that all these earthquakes and tsunami's are building up, and it feels like there is going to be a HUGE, MASSIVE disaster in the not too distant future! Let's hope that I am wrong.


Day 13 - so today I'm meant to talk about my goals. I've had my time of chasing big career goals and things like that. Today my goals are a lot simpler. And that in fact is my word of the 2011...SIMPLIFY! So, firstly I want my family to be healthy and happy and have lots of fun together. We pretty much are, so I hope it stays that way...LOL! I want to become fitter and thinner....but fitter first and foremost! I would like to be able to afford to send our daughter to private school. We would like to move further out of the city....so we can live a less chaotic life! And you know...that's pretty much it for now!

Day 14 - share a picture I love. There are so many, but I love this family photo that was taken when we on holiday in the UK last year. The picture was taken in March 2010, at Warwick Castle.

{image linked for credits}

Day 15 - share a bible verse! I like this verse, as I believe if everyone lived their life like this...irrespective of faith or belief, the world would be a much better place.

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling … ” (1 Peter 3:8)

WOW...I'm half way there, only 15 days to go on my little blogging journey. It's taken a while, but I'm getting there, and am determined to finish!

A Day of Contrasts

Boy...what a day.

This morning both of the Superliners - the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth - arrived in Sydney Harbour. It looked quite a sight.


Then at around 10.50am Sydney time, an earthquake measuring 6.3 hit Christchurch in New Zealand. The devastion is incredible.


Talk about a contrast of the extremes!

30 Days of Blogging - Day 12

Hmmmm....what I Believe. Very philosophical!

I believe things happen for a reason.
I believe you have the ability to create your own destiny.
I believe the decisions you make affect your life and the life of those around you.
I believe there is a GOD, and he/she means different things to different people.
I believe in life after death.
I believe that we have been on this earth before.
I believe that I am a good person.

..........and so much more. But that will do for now!


And here's a little layout I've done this week, using the gorgeous Where Poppies Bloom by Amy Stoffel at Scrap Matters and SHCO.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 9, 10 & 11

I'm playing catchup, so I've got 3 days of posts today.

Day 9 is to share a picture of your friends. I really don't know if I have a picture of all my friends together. My friends are from all different circles, and while they have all met each other, they don't all socialise together.

And to be quite honest, I don't have a huge number of friends. I have lots of acquaintances who I see regularly......but I can probably count my true 'friends' on one hand.



I found this photo of my best friend and I, and by the look of the photo I'd say we were around 14 or 15 when it was taken. (I'm the one on the right...with the dark hair). We met at Sunday School, and have been friends for around 40 years! How awesome is that! We don't see each other very regularly these days, but we when we do, it's just like we saw each other yesterday. We just pick up where we left off last time. I guess that's the definition of a true friend.

My Day 10 post is to talk about something I'm afraid of. Well, I'm not really sure what I'm afraid of. I don't like bugs and snakes and cockraches, but I wouldn't say I'm afraid of them. I guess one thing that comes to mind is not being around for my daughter. As an older mum, it does cross my mind from time to time, that when Em is 20, I'll be 60! I'm not afraid of dying, but we do have a family history of dying young. I do hope that I'm around long enough to see Em settled with her own family to care for, and to care for her!

Day 11 is all about my favourite TV shows. That's easy. I am a reality TV junkie.

• Amazing Race
• Masterchef
• My Kitchen Rules
• The Mole
• Survivor
• The Bachelor
• Idol
• Australia's Got Talent
  

Oh! And I do love Glee!

30 Days of Blogging - Day 8

Today's post is about my travels.

I feel so lucky that I have been able to travel to the most amazing places in the world. That's one of the perks of working for an airline, I guess! I have travelled to every continent, and have seen some incredible sights, and met some absolutely fantastic people. It's hard to pick just one place that is special to me.

But if I had to narrow it down, then I think the UK would probably one of the most memorable places I have travelled to. I actually lived in the UK for nearly 5 years, and it's where I met my husband....so it has a special place in my heart.

Wherever you've travelled, be it near of far....I hope you've been able to soak up the magic of the place.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 7

Happy Valentines Day! I was surprised in such a nice way this morning with my daughter bringing me breakfast in bed. I thought it was really sweet! We are heading off to dinner tonight as a family, so that will be special.

I'm up to Day 7 in my 30 days of blogging challenge, and today I get to tell you about my favourite movies.

I'm a sucker for romantic comedies....the cheesier, the better! And if it's an 'old' romantic comedy, all the better. Some of my favourites are:

• Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn (my all time fave)
• Love Actually
• Under the Tuscan Sun
• 27 Dresses
• The Wedding Singer
• Bridget Jones Diary
• Pretty Woman
• Sleepless in Seattle
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding
• My Best Friends Wedding

I think you get the picture....LOL!

30 Days of Blogging - Day 6

So I'm up to day 6, and today I have to share a picture of something that makes me happy. WOW...hard to pick just one.

I totally adore this series of pictures of my daughter, taken in October 2005. She was 4-1/2, and I just love how the photographer has captured all of the different emotions she showed at that age. Needless to say, she loved having her photo taken and was quite a poser back then.


The picture takes pride of place on our lounge room wall, and it just make me smile everytime I walk past it. I wish I had the negatives, so that I could scrap some of the individual photos.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 5

So today I have to share my favourite recipes.

I have to admit, I'm not a very good cook. I do like to cook....but I'm just not very good at it. And these days, anything I cook needs to be quick and easy!

Here's one of my favourite summer recipes, Zucchini Slice. It's from the Womens Weekly Best Ever Recipes Cook Book.


I've used La Cucina by Amy Stoffel to create the recipe card. You download the recipe card here.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 2 & 3

For Day 2 I have to explain the meaning behind my blog name. It's pretty self explanatory really, I blog about my life, my loves and my scrapping. I added the catch line - just the way I see it, as sometimes my look on these is rather quirky!

And for Day 3 I'm blogging about my first love. WOW...that takes me back a number of years! I was still at school actually. I fell in love with the guy of my dreams - tall, dark, and very handsome. He was one of the guys in my youth group at church. We had an awesome relationship for around 8 years, and I thought he was going to be the one I spent the rest of my life with. My family loved him, we were constantly together, had so much in common and it was just expected that we would get engaged and be married. We'd already bought some land together, and were planning for our future. But sadly that wasn't to be. He fell in love with someone else, and our relationship fell apart. It took many, many, many years for me to get over it. We don't have contact today, and I often wonder what he's done with his life, and whether he married the 'other' girl. I don't think you ever forget your first love!

But life moves on, and once I could reflect impartially, I realise how wrong my life would have turned out! I wouldn't have had all the wonderful opportunities that have come my way. I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and the course that my life has taken is exactly the way it should be. I can't imagine my life any other way. While my husband wasn't my first love, he is definitely my real love!


I'll be back tomorrow with a couple more days and then I'll nearly be caught up with the rest of the girls.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 1

I found this awesome idea over at Jenn's blog about 30 Days of Blogging. The original idea was from a Scrap Matters thread that you can read here. I'm going to give it a shot...but can't promise I'll be able to post everyday - but I'll do my best to complete the 30 days worth of prompts...even if it means I have to combine a couple of days. Here's the complete list:

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your favorite recipes
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite TV shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-What's in your makeup bag
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture


OK...so here's where I start....Day1 I have to tell a bit about me, add a recent picture and tell 15 interesting facts.

A bit about me. Well I'm Di (was born Diane...but no-one calls me that these days). I live in Sydney with my husband Aidan, and we have a 10yr old daughter Emma. I'm known as scrappy*di around digiland. And here's a recent picture


And here's my 15 interesting facts. Well, I'm not sure that they're that interesting...but they are facts....lol!

1. I met my husband in the UK. I'd moved to London to study Drama, but got a transfer to Qantas up there so I had an income to support myself. He was working there, and we became freinds. Friendship turned to romance, and the rest as they say is history.
2. I'm seriously addicted to reality TV. Amazing Race is probably my fave. But I love Idol, Masterchef, Escape to the Country, The Mole (when it was on)
3. I love soppy, girly, chick-flicks. Love Actually is one of my all time favourite movies, along with Roman Holiday and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Yes...I'm an Audrey Hepburn fan too!
4. I'm addicted to coffee! But I am seriously trying to cut back this year.
5. Chocolate is my friend! But I am seriously trying to cut back this year. Do you see a pattern happening here...LOL!
6. My favourite colour is pink.
7. I work part-time for Qantas Airways, working out the airfares to charge between Europe & Australia and Africa & Australia. It's the best job I've had in a long time.
8. I love most genres of music and can often be heard singing at the top of my voice.
9. I adore being a mum, and always wanted to have a large family...but life doesn't always turn out as you plan. We have one gorgeous princess who came into our lives quite unexpectedly after 9 years of infertility and much heartache!
10. I have one brother who is 7 years younger than me. So I grew up as an only child for the formative years of my life. I definitely have 'only child' tendancies...LOL!
11. I want to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
12. I have 5 piercings, but no tatoos.
    
13. I love to travel, and have been lucky enough to travel to every continent in the world.
14. The farthest I have been from home is Iceland.
15. My iphone is my friend!
    

So there it is. I've just realised that I am a couple of days behind everyone else, so I am going to try and do a bit of a catchup tomorrow.

Happy Australia Day!

WOW...Nothing like a warm, hot day to be celebrating our Australia Day. It's meant to reach 39 degrees celsius at our place today. We plan on spending most of the day in the pool!

Happy Australia Day to all my Aussie friends and family!

Here's a little bit of Aussie patriotism for you to enjoy....

Back to Normal Broadcasting!

We're back from holiday. Don't think I mentioned it before we headed off. We had planned to drive to the Gold Coast in Queensland, but with all the bad weather, there have been multiple road closures, so it just wasn't worth taking the risk.

We flew to Brisbane instead, and had a great day with my brother Matt before driving down to Hope Island.

It was a great week! Lots of sun, lots of fun and lots of action packed days. We got to meet family we hadn't yet had the pleasure of meeting, Emma got to play with a seal, and we watched a movie while swimming at Wet N Wild.

I'm feeling like I need a holiday now! Isn't that the way! And I think it will take a day or two to the washing and ironing done!

Oh well....off to dream about the next holiday. I'll be back with pictures laters.

Queensland Floods!

I have sat in front of the TV today, in absolute awe at the ferosity of the floods in Queensland. As of today, 9 people have lost their lives, and 59 people are still missing. My heart goes out to all the people who have lost family, friends, their homes and their livelihoods.

This video shows just a little of the devastation in Toowoomba.


My brother lives in Brisbane, right near the river, and is currently on evacuation watch. They are expecting the river to reach over 6 metres in the next 24hours, and over 9000 homes to be flood damaged. I hope he stays safe.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this incredible natural disaster.

I hope you didn't blink!

In a post a couple of days ago, I said our names were going to be up in lights, as part of the John Baldessari project at the Sydney Festival.

We were all crouched around the laptop, waiting very patiently! Well sure enough, at 9:40:20PM tonight, our names were flashed across the wall of the Australian Museum. Lucky I was able to grab a screen shot!

Here they are:





So there is it...our 15 glittering seconds of fame! Lucky we didn't blink, or we would have missed it...LOL!

Abbaworld!

Aidan has been volunteering at AbbaWorld at the Powerhouse Museum, so we took the chance to go in and have a look around.



Em's cousin Olivia was staying and they both had a blast getting up on the stage performing with the hologram puppets.



We also had our pictures added to one of the album covers, got to sing karaoke with the group, re-mix some of their albums, and do some quizzes. It was very interactive, and the girls had heaps of fun!

My Name in Lights!

As part of the Sydney Festival this year, they have been asking for people to register to have their names put up in lights. It's a John Baldessari project, with 100,000 people involved. If you are selected, your name will be streamed across the wall of The Australian Museum for your 15 glittering seconds of glory.

My time is 9:40:20 PM on Monday 10JAN11. And my name will be followed by that of my husband and daughter.



If you're interested, there is still time to find out more about the project and sign up.

And for something completely different...

It's been 20 degrees today, and was even cold enough for me to put a cardigan around my shoulders. What's with this weather. No wonder there is so much sickness around. Too hot one day, too cold the next....hmmmmm!

We headed out for lunch today at Macarthur. Aidan got a JB HiFi gift card for Christmas, and wanted to see if he could spend some of it. I took the chance to head off to Mum & Dad's for a visit. Nice to catch up with them.

Well today is officially the last holiday day of the Christmas period for us. Some offices will be re-opening tomorrow, and that means more traffic on the road. I've enjoyed the summer road hiatus. It has only taken a 20 minute journey to work instead of the usual 1 hour 10 minutes. And the office has been so quiet, I've managed to get more work done than I expected.

We still have another 4 weeks of school holidays though. So things won't actually get back to normal for me for a while. Emma is off to a 3 day Tennis Camp with her girlfriend on Wednesday. She's really looking forward to it.

I am already behind in my scrapping commitments, so I best go do something!