December Countdown..

It's almost December, and you know what that means..?

Yes, the Starbucks red cups.


The reason why it looks a bit distorted is because I've flattened this one, and it's going into my December Daily album.. It is unused, really. I've also ordered this year's December Daily from Cocoa Daisy and I'm going to have such a ball when it arrives. I can't wait.

I get excited (deliriously) when I walk into a Starbucks these days because I'm seeing these happy red cups. I just love them. Every year, there's a different pattern, and I missed last year since I was in Norway (boo!) but my friend Lisbeth sent me one (yay!).

Today I was over at my friend Nikki who hosted our regular women's crop this week. The other two ladies were working on their December Daily too.. and I'm green with envy. Instead, I worked on my London album - which has photos from my January trip to London - that I stopped working on. I actually managed to put all the photos in now, at least, and it's just the journaling and embellishment left. So felt very productive today.

There's a LOT of things I have to do from now until mid-December and I'm kind of ticking things off as they go.. some exciting things like:

1. AWA Christmas Luncheon - organising this one this year and the date is approaching so quick.
2. Singapore - we've got a date with some yummy Singaporean food. Oh yes, that and family visits.
3. Lara's Nativity play - we got this play at school and she's an angel. Sweet, huh? Imagine the photos I'll have.
4. Literature coursework - for this literature course I'm working on... deadlines fast approaching.. yikes.

I'm off now to finish up dinner...

Love so much and more soon!

xoxo,
Sue

Sometimes you gotta..

Before I go on with this tale, let me explain that in our family, we love screens. TV screens, laptop screens, iMac screens, handheld PS3 screens, the old GameBoy screens.. anything with a screen with a moving picture, we love it.

This is, I guess, generally okay when you're a grown up and you can decide how you want to entertain yourself. But, not so good when you're a five year-old and the only thing that entertains you is watching a screen. Not good.

I do realise that it's so so so convenient for me to put Lara in front of a screen to entertain herself - play a game on any number of websites out there which have interactive games for her to play and click. Then, there's of course the TV. Not good. She doesn't watch it at the expense of homework or the 'must-dos' but she does watch it a little too regularly for my liking. Not good at all.

So, since Monday, I decided enough. For all intents and purposes, my TV screens and computer screens are not working when Lara is awake.

Day One, Monday, was a crazy day. She basically looked at all the things she had and said, she didn't know what to do. My daughter has paints, coloring books, maths, writing, dolls, board games, puzzles, GALORE. There's nothing that her little world lacks. Except, she doesn't use her stuff as much as she should. Words like boring, grrrrr, and a lot of anger, frustration and foot stomping. Because she literally didn't want to tap into her things. My daughter had forgotten how to entertain herself.

Okay, this added to the fact that she has just recovered from swine flu did not help her disposition.

Day Two, Tuesday, was just as nuts. Paints were taken out and she threw a real tantrum because she wasn't happy with how I tested the paints (!!!). Can someone say, eat me? We were two frustrated little people yesterday. I'm not so little, I know but.. She did calm down and she did read to me (yes, she can read, if she chooses). And went to bed happy.

Day Three, Wednesday. There was no question of barnetv (Norwegian for the kiddy channel), and no asking to play PBSKids - that's pbskids.org - website entertainment. She wanted to listen to the audio recording of Charlie & Lola from a CD we got, (and that's fine) while she colored and had her snack. And then she did the activities in her magazine without prompting, that Daddy and her bought on the weekend (she wouldn't have wanted to if she could watch TV, I promise you!). She then read tonight, we played charades, played Guess Who? and then she went to bed happy.

Needless to say, I couldn't possibly predict how things will be tomorrow. Who knows, right?? But, one thing I do know though, is that there will be no more screen time tomorrow either.

And I do pray that this will not only improve my little girl's ability to cope and learn to entertain herself. But also our relationship, as we craft, learn, count, write, and play together.

I'm so excited to see how this week will progress! There's a lot in our plans - including creating Christmas cards.. :)

Will keep you updated.

xoxo,

Sue.

December Sneaks: Cocoa Daisy Kit

Yes, it is that time again.

After all the fun we've been having at the crop, I'm exhausted, yet exhilirated..

And, of course, now we'd like to share with you some delicious goodies (or at least sneaks at them) from the upcoming December Kit which will be revealed in a few weeks time.

I am in love with this kit. I know I say that every kit. But the rich colors, textures and just pure loveliness that's in this kit is amazing!

Think Marie Antoinette, the Chateau at Versailles, Faberge eggs.. and pure elegance.. :)

Here are sneakies at my layouts:

What did I tell you? :) You'll have to wait for December 1st to see it in all its glory...

And in the meantime, I've got a busy day ahead.. :)

Catch y'all later.

xoxo,

Sue

Computer Crash..

Those two words send shivers down the spine of most of us who do a lot of computer work.. and on Friday the 13th, it happened to me.

There is a good back up of my system though so I won't be losing too much.

The problem is finding the 'bug' that's driving my system nuts.

I'm hoping to be back on schedule and playing properly with my images soon.

in the meantime, I'm cropping with Cocoa Daisy, and enjoying what's left of a long week of staying home with the sick girl :).

Tomorrow IS another day :D

xoxo,
Sue

This was vacation..

I've been home with the little girl as you know, and really, feeling like I'm in a funk. But then my printer ink replacement arrived yesterday so I could start printing some pics that I have ready in inDesign..

so I could make this fun page :



American Crafts Fabric Letters, those delicious rub-ons, and some gems from Prima's Pearls & Crystals e. range. I had fun doing this simple page. A brief and simple summary of our vacation in Florida & the Caribbean last month. Which seems like an age away.

Yippee, tomorrow is Friday and we'll be at the Cocoa Daisy Online Crop! Hope you can join us? :)

xoxo.
Sue

This was Crathes

I am home today for the 3rd day in a row because my precious princess is sick. She went to bed with a fever on Sunday and here we are, Wednesday and still home. At least she's not complaining of immense suffering or pain, so we're just monitoring her. But there were some commitments today that I had really wanted to fulfill but couldn't because she's sick. Alas.

So as sick days continue, I'm busy catching up with house work and organising. And then there's my literature coursework which I have to do - 1,500 words on Frankenstein which I can't wait to get to.. but all the distractions are lining up in my way.

Let's just say, a few tough days.. I'm sure I'll perk up soon enough.

Here are some photos from Crathes Castle that I took on our visit on Saturday. It was a really tiny building (not very majestic) but still adorable. The Laird (Scottish for Lord) still lives in the area and there's a lot of history in this one place. I loved reading the story (fictional but still) Outlander and the mysteries of Scottish history was unveiled slightly and definitely got me wanting more..



Then there was Lara who looked really cute with the contrast to the fall colors in the background. We were experimenting with taking photos of her jumping..


And then something went wrong with gloves..
And this is probably my favourite one.


Have a lovely Wednesday.. we'll try to recuperate and get back on track!

xoxo.

Come Crop With Me

We had so so so much fun the last time we did this back in the Spring..! Come crop with us at Cocoa Daisy this weekend, starting on Friday!!