Escape 2 Create 2012

Escape 2 Create 2012

This weekend just gone was the Escape 2 Create retreat and again, the girls wowed us with their attention to detail, wonderful ladies teaching classes, food, prizes, goodie bags... the list goes on. 

Again, like I am after every retreat wether it is a mini one or the big cahuna, I come away feeling so refreshed and inspired, creativeness just feels like I want it to burst out of me... I had ideas galore.

Some photos!! (which I did upload 'in order' but are now not in order... oh well!!)

I love these two and right now am feeling ultra sad that we live so far away, just feel like I am too far away! Have lots of feelings about this but oh well!! Love that we all can go to E2C together!! Yeah!! 

Carrie Speed made Fridays afternoon tea, a gorgeous selection of sweets, and a gorgeous Carrot type of cake which I did not try but everyone loved to bits!!!! 

Dinner Sat night, Scotch Fillet wrapped in bacon, and look at the gorgeous salads!! So spoilt, it was all delicious, we are certainly spoilt for food when we are there! 

Desert on Sat night too... An Apricot Danish sort of thing... I'm not totally keen on Apricot puree or stewed apricots so it wasn't my favourite, but everyone else seemed to love it! I think I saw Tatum have two!! (a few hours apart I might add)

Tatum and Lauren re-enacting part of their flash mob routine!! Lots of laughs Saturday night. Tears rolling down cheeks type of thing. Absolutely funny!! 

T

A snap of my workspace.... Love it!! And a newfound love of washi tape, I have HEAPS coming!! Oops! 

Our table... I love photos like this. A total creative mess. A fabulous mess. At our table we had Nat May, Kate Mason, Mardi Winen, Tatum, Lauren and I. I was in such wonderful company. Everyone creates so differently. To watch Kate and Mardi work at their spaces was very inspiring indeed. And what wonderful women they are. I have met Kate a couple of times, and always thought she was beautiful, but to spend this extended amount of time in her company was truly fabulous... Her mixed media work is absolutely jaw dropping, I was in my element... And totally inspired by the techniques I learnt in her class!! 

Mardi Winen is such a beautiful talented lady!! Smaller than I had imagined... Teeny tiny!! But how gorgeous? I loved Mardi's class, we did two layouts, I have a brand new appreciation for glue dots and the wonder that they bring!! I too have loved reading Mardi's blog for years now, and to sit right next to her, and get to know her a little bit was special. She is into a lot of lovely crafty things, which I love to hear about and drool about!! 

And Nat, well I actually went to Kindy with Nat and we were besties as teeny tiny kids... But then I went to Public school and Nat to private school, and we did rekindle a friendship in High School by writing letters for a little while when she had moved to Adelaide but lost touch again. So it has been lovely to get to know her a bit again since Tatum's birthday high tea in March 2011... To see her LO's in progress and see her ideas come out and onto paper was fantastic. I really love that we are in each others lives again. I'm really enjoying that!! 

Our names on EVERYTHING!!! Loved it!! 

My view from where I sat.... Tatum across and Mardi next to me... Meredith having a chat about something... I won't say what!! LOL!! 

The shed. I love this photo... Can I go back now?

Having a glass of Moet with Tatum and Lauren Friday afternoon....

I love love love my name on my belongings!! Oh yes!! 

Friday nights welcoming!! 

Another pic of the general rabble on the table!! 

I can hardly believe that it has come and gone for another year. I ALWAYS come away feeling creatively rejuvenated, more so this year I think... I have so many crafty/creative things that I want to get into, I think I have better start putting some ideas down and start learning different techniques and get on with it!! 


I can't wait to catch up with my table mates at some stage!! Probably in about a year the way every one is going!! All so busy!! 


Leave me a message if you visit, I do love a message!! 

Neglected

Hi there, well I have been totally neglecting my blog. 

To be honest my Canon kept coming up with ERROR 99 when i was taking photos and I lot the plot with Fat Mum Slims prompts.... I have still been taking photos everyday on my phone or using my Lumix, but it's not the same to me. Just not the same.

Thank God for Google. I googled Canon and the make of my camera and Error 99 and up came a solution. (either body, card or lens)  So I was able to change my lens and the problem has been fixed. I love taking my photos but am severely lacking in the tech side of things... Time to take it up a notch I think, before the end of the year anyway, it will be time for a new camera I think and get right into taking better pics... (I think I have said this before!) 

Anyway, a few pics of the last however long it has been since I have been here!! 

 Overcooked baked Apricot Swirl Cheesecake that I had been promising one of my bosses for about 6 months, I thought I had better make it before I left.... He had one slice and that was it!! Wouldn't even take some home!! LOL!! 

 Hot cross buns that Kelly (a Mum of a classmate) spent ALL day the Tuesday before Easter at school making for her class!! Dedication... I went along after I had finished work for moral support!! 

 My crazy little one!! Enough said!! 

 Special time with Dad!! 

 Beautiful view while drinking a cider and having nibbles at Pt Neill after we arrived and took the kids to the beach for a splash and a play!

 Lexi chilling out in the caraban (that's what she calls it) playing her DS...

 All the kids with their eggs after Triona made them a treasure hunt on Back Beach.... SO much fun for them!! 

 Helping Dad paint the front fence. Mia OMG got so much paint on her clothes, in her hair, up her arms.... She was a happy little helper though! 

 Homemade wonton soup. Very good although must remind myself next time to not put prawns in them, I reckon it made them too sweet.... But it was really really good regardless!!!

 In Mia's bed just before lights out (or not out in our case!!) A cute moment... Just trying to delay sleep time!! 

 New yummies that are going in the garden tomorrow!! 

Mia and Lexi today. 

My girls are growing up so fast. Time is whizzing by. 

Mia is growing like a flower!! She is getting so big physically and mentally too... Have to buy her size 9 clothes and she has big feet too... Almost ready for a size 3.... Such a good girl most of the time. Pushes buttons sometimes but on the whole really helpful and caring... 

Lexi is finally toilet trained and has been for 2 weeks. There really was no training involved, she just did it. Even at night, no pull-ups for her which is totally different from Mia. Lexi has wet the bed twice but both times she was so so tired. She also wakes me up to go to the toilet! Good girl. 

I haven't been working for almost 2 weeks now and although I have missed Leonie, I haven't missed work. I am so enjoying my girls company and we have been kept busy doing things. Easter, Art classes, Playgrounds, Mia has gone with her different Grandparents, and so has Lexi, and we went to Louth Beach on the weekend... All so much fun, and throw in a few coffees here and there too, and it has been a whirlwind.. I'm loving being at home and know now that we made the right decision for us right now!!

x

...

Day 29.

Feet.

Day 30.

Toys. 

Lexi's dressing table. Ok I cheated and took my last 3 pics today. But her dressing table looked just the same on the 30th... HAHA!! Toys and books everywhere...

Day 31. 

Where you relax...

One of the two pictured here. I like to sit up in the recliner or lay on the lounge occasionally after the kids go to bed. If I lay down though there is a good chance I'll go to sleep, so I don't do that so often. I try to hang in the playroom a few nights a week lately. Scrapping is on my mind, but sometimes I just sit at my desk and watch tele there. Weird? yep! 

April. Day 1.

Your reflection. 

I have been grumpy, tired, and picky at the girls all day. Everything is getting to me today. For example, Mia has been asked for nearly 4 years to make sure she puts her stickers from her apples in the bin. But nup, I find them everywhere. I ask her to clean up and she cries. I ask her to help Lexi and she whinges. They say don't sweat the small stuff and I try not to but when there are about 200 small things pissing you off, it's hard not to get sweaty. I simply can't wait for Easter. Get out of this house for 4 days. Drink heaps of alcohol, eat the bestest yummiest foods like my have Camembert, Quince paste, crispy bikkies and let the kids have a ball without a care in the world. Easter Bunny may just visit, I just know he is going to bring me a Darrel Lea easter egg hand rolled in peanut brittle. He let me know a bit earlier what his plans were!! lol!! 

Yesterday I had a Thermomix Demo here. I will admit I was sceptical. I went to my cousins demo but got there too late and didn't really see what it could do. 

 Above we have the most yummiest dip I have had for ages, made from cream cheese, parsley, garlic and probably a couple of other things I can't remember, and also the parmesan cheese that was grated in the TMX ready for the risotto. Apparently grated cheeses have an anti-caking agent in them which can be quite bad, I learnt a few things about what companies put in food and what restrictions Australia has lacking in compared with Europe. I saw Karyn (the rep) make fresh fruit sorbet in next to no time with minimal fruit and ice and home made icing sugar. Which again, icing sugar that we buy has not so good things in it to stop it from being a lump. I saw her make icing sugar in less than a minute. The sorbet was so good. And Karyn said she has no qualms in making her kids sorbet every day in Summer as she can easily control the sugar content. I froze the left over sorbet into block which was lovely in the champagne once the demo was over. 

A beetroot 'salad' that was probably more like a dip which we had with the risotto. It was so quick to make and also was ultra tasty.

Blurry photo of the mushroom risotto. Once things were in the TMX, it took only 16 minutes to cook. And was actually very nice. I would have added a little salt while it was cooking just because I felt that it needed  that little bit of a boost, but other than that, delish. And 16 minutes?? You couldn't even drink a glass of wine in that time. One of my friends said, 'but I really like standing and stirring the risotto when I make it' which Karyn replied that yes, there is still a time and place to do that but when you are busy and want to put a quick and very healthy meal on the table, this is where the TMX is handy.

Karyn, Reah, Michelle and a tiny bit of Monique (sorry) in the photo. THe TMX is on the counter if you want to have a better look. 

And the bread. 

Once I know I am on my way to getting a TMX, my bread maker is definitely going. I am simply going to sell it. I watched as Karyn ground her grain, added salt, yeast, warm water, all in about the space of 5 minutes. She bought the dough out of the TMX and kneaded it for about 1 minute. She wrapped  

up the dough in a silicone mat with room for it to prove. It sat there for a while while she got on with other things and Reah shaped it into knots and the rolls were put in a cold oven, the second prove happened while the oven was warming. Then they were out... And so yummy. Different from bought bread of course as there was NOTHING added extra. I had left over bread rolls with left over dip for dinner last night, the taste of all the food begin so wholesome without extras was really good. 

I didn't take photos of the desert we had which were lemon cupcakes that were made by Karyn's daughter for us and a custard with them which was absolutely divine. Again, made in the TMX with ground raw sugar and milk and so on, I have never tasted such a beautiful lemony custard. Ever. I am so happy to have the leftovers in my fridge...

I am smitten if you can't already tell. It can even help to clean itself. Amazing. I am now going to be on a mission to sell un-needed and un-used things in my house in a garage sale in a couple of months to accumulate the money I need to buy this machine. We can afford one, no question, but I know Brenton won't approve, and now that I quit my job (haha) I will buy this thing off my own back. It won't be bought with any of Olympic Dams money. I am looking around my house thinking, I can sell this, I can sell that, we don't use this, we don't use that. I know already that it is going to be fantastic. I won't be buying dips, custards, yogurts, icing sugar, I will be able to grind my own coffee beans in an instant, truly the possibilities are endless. And making passata, relishes, chutneys, all will be so easy. And wholesome. And quick.

Sorry for the spiel if you even happen to read this, but I just am in love. 

Anyone wanna buy a never used Pie Maker? A Kenwood food processor perhaps?? A Breadmaker used less that half a dozen times?? LOL!!! 

x

Day 22, 

Kitchen sink. 

Clean except for my grill.... Gross.

Day 23,

Moon.

No moon shot, this is all I got. Fail.

Day 24,

Animal. 

No pets at our house, just 3 animals of varying descriptions.

Here is one of them for your perusal.

Day 25,

Breakfast.

Having been suffering  from a cold/cough, I have gone off coffee, so one of these tea bags was my breakfast. They are really quite good.

Day 26.

Keys.

My bunch of keys, I'm partial to a keyring.

My name.

Ali. Made out of fridge magnets.

Day 28,

trash.

I wish I had chooks so that they could have all these scraps so I didn't waste them. We don't have a compost heap going either which would be another good way to used them. I did see on Better Homes and Gardens last week, one which you can make from wooden pallets. Our back yard needs some major overhauling so will wait and plan it out properly! 

In other news, I scrapped. 

Not the best quality photo, but there you go. I for some washi-type tape from Typo the other day and was itching to scrap with it, so I did. And splashed some paint around and had some messy fun!! 

P.S. I'm finishing this post 5 hours after I started which is nothing unusual for a lot of people but I hate that! Anyway, I was going to scrap again tonight as I got a lovely box of Goodies from Scrap Savvy, but the night got away from me and now it's ten and I don't start nothing for nobody at ten. Maybe a good book in bed... Tommorow night maybe?? 

And in some other other news. Next Wednesday is my last day at my job. I gave notice almost 3 weeks ago. Lots and lots of reasons why, but the main one is I want to be a full time Mum again. I want to read to Mia and her classmates in the morning. I want to be able to go to Assembly again. I want to help when they go on excursions. I want to be home in the school holidays. I want to just be here. And when Brenton comes home, I want to be around more too. To be more available so that we can do things as a family. Take off to see his cousin in Clare on a whim, take Mia out of school on a Friday and Monday and just do it. Make the most of our family time together when Brenton is home. I will admit that there will be lots I will miss, a couple of workmates, and so many customers that I have gotten to know since I started. I truly hope that I have helped to make coming into our Pharmacy a nice place to come into and that they know I have really cared for them. All the walks of life that I have met and befriended or been able to get re-acquainted with have really made it all worth while. Truly. Sad but no so much really, the girls that I have worked with I and have become friendly with, we will still see each other, that's for sure! 

I don't have another job lined up nor do I want to. Some people who are friends of mine on Facebook and/or read my blog have got it wrong when they think that I have another job. It's not in the picture. And nothing I have said or written in either of these places should have lead anyone to believe that. I do eventually want to be an SSO in the Education system and am going to take steps to get in that position so that I can always be here for my kids in the holidays and out of school hours. Not lofty ambitions for my life I will admit, but good glory nora, the decision has made me feel so much happier. See 2012 really is about getting back to basics!! 

So there it is. That's me for the moment. x

Another big ol catchup!

Day 12.

Fork.

Day 13.

Sign,

A sign of good times to come in Gertie. Windows getting fixed, screens being replaced.

Day 14.

Clouds, 

Blanket grey round here.

Day 15.

Car, 

My old but much adored Hyundai Lantra. She goes like the clappers.

Day 16. 

Sunnies,

at Surfleet Cove camping with my gorgeous family.

Day 17.

Green,

Dressed up for a party, lovely photo with two of my much loved friends.

Day 18.

A corner of your home,

A chaotic corner of our house.... Not a lot of motivation on Sunday I'm afraid.

Day 19.

Funny,

Mia loves the photo booth on the new Mac. We have amassed some amazingly funny pics so far!

Day 20.

Before/After,

cleaning and tidying our bedroom. Unfortunately there was no after as I just. kept. getting. interrupted. After photo to come after!! 

Day 21.

Delicious, 

Our dinner. I asked Mum and Dad to come and eat with us as Brenton has left again today and I'm not able to cook for just the three of us. Yum, recipe here. I didn't have any parmesan so didn't put that in, and found enough scraggy parsley out the back, but they were really good!! I only used half the bacon they said (sliced it in half lengthways) and on some of the smaller ones I only see one bit instead of two. Served with a crispy cold salad and chicken gravy. Good. 

I have been moaning about my internet connection here for about 12 months. It has been so slow, I couldn't update my blog of a night, or even blog hop, it was so painful. I had rang Iprimus to see what the hell I could do... I was almost pulling my hair out. I know that the internet can be slow at times, but this was ridiculous. 

Yesterday a lightbulb went off in my head. I checked my plan, and I was on a starter plan. The cheapest one available. No wonder it had been so pathetic. One phone call later and we are as right as rain. A few $$$ extra per month and I am no longer going grey or threatening to pull my hair out, or throw the mouse through the screen!!! LOL!! Happy Ali once more! And hopefully more regular posts as I have been having to upload photos and write posts in the mornings which just doesn't work. 

I was going to include way more but tonight I am feeling under the weather and my bed is calling. My back and body are really aching, and I have a ultra painful headache. It's exactly how I felt last year before the onset of Influenza. Please spare a thought for me that it doesn't eventuate. 

I couldn't go through it again. 

Just couldn't. 

Off to pop some pain relief and hop into my bed.

x