I survived...just!

I participated in the Brisbane2Ipswich Challenge yesterday.
It's a 50km bike ride from Brisbane to Ipswich.
I've decided it's way too far! LOL

My SIL Manda talked me into some months ago and me, always up for a challenge I said "Yes". Seriously, what was I thinking??
We ride to do some excercise, as I quite like bike riding, but that was something else! A great ride, but the pain...Oh my lord!
Burning thighs is not something I want again in a hurry!

The ride raised money for the Royal Children's hospital here in Brisbane. Manda works for one of the major sponsors...Brodies. So we rode in that team.

I was very happy to see that finish line, I can tell you.

Here's some pics...
Me looking confident, very early on Sunday morning.


Our first pitstop.


After we crossed the finish line.


It was fun, but exhausting weekend!
It's one of those "things" I can tick of my lifetime list!

Chat soon,

ANZAC Day

They shall not grow old,
As we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning,
We will remember them.
Lest We Forget

I have a favourite song about this special and sacred day.
It gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.
This Youtube video is a song by Adam Brand and it's put to various Anzac images.

The last chorus is...
"So stand for that man we call the Anzac,
those that gave their lives for us
Let's stand for that man they call the Anzac,
fighting for the land he loves".



Every concert I've been to of Adam Brand's the whole crowd stands during this song...makes me proud to be an Aussie.

Thankyou to our amazing service men and women, past and present...for all that you do to keep our wonderful country safe and free.

Chat soon,

Friday Foto

Another busy week comes to a close.
It's Friday again!

Here's today's photo...


I've been busy training this week. My big 50km ride is on Sunday...wish me luck!
I'm gonna need everything to make it, me thinks!!
It's a long way....although, I'm feeling good about it. I must be in some sort of condition, as I haven't been sore at all this week.
Sunday could be a different story though??
I'll let you know how I go?

Apart from that, I've been scrapping. Doing some DT work these last few days.
I'll share that soon.

Enjoy your friday night...

Chat soon,

Market Day

Scrapchat is having it's very first Market Day this Sunday, the 26th April starting from 5am...yes 5AM!!!
Feel free to join in the fun, eithering selling your wares or dropping by to purchase some goodies. It costs nothing to upload your wares, unlike Ebay!
They can be handmade or if you need to de-stash a little...it's a good opportunity too.
Don't be too late or all the goodies will be gone...

I hope to see you there.

Here's the link to the Auction site.

Chat soon,

A little bit of Hybrid....

How much fun is hybrid scrapping??

My good friend, Lucy asked me to be her lab partner just before Easter and participate in a Jessica Sprague class. It was all about creating a photo block, and as I need to learn more with my new PSE5, I jumped at the chance!
I created this layout and this cool photo block...



I had heaps of fun and learnt plenty in Jessica's very easy step by step class.
If you want to learn how to do cool stuff, I recommend it.

Lucy, thankyou very much for asking me to participate with you and be your lab partner. I loved it!

Chat soon,

Some sharing...

I've caught up on a couple of swaps today. I got together with some Scrap friends and had a fun day. It's lovely to have a chat, eat and scrap together.
I also loved finishing off a few projects.

Firstly...the last of the 2008 CJ at Scrapchat.
This one's for Gail. Her theme was "Nostalgia". It was a black and white theme and we had to use an old photo, from our childhood.



and an ATC swap at The Stamp Shak. The theme was "Things with wings".



Just a quick one tonight...

Chat soon,

Nearly over..

It's the last day of school holidays for Zac tomorrow...he's back on Tuesday.
It's gone so fast?? I love the holidays...no routine, no lunches and no uniforms!
Oh well, they all must come to an end, I suppose?

I've done some scrapping the last few nights.
Here's what I've completed...




We've had a quiet day at home today. A sleep in this morning, before house duties.
The lawn looks lovely after a mow this afternoon, and the washing is all up to date...ready for a new week!

Chat soon,

Big Workshop Day

I taught today at The Stamp Shak's Big Workshop Day.
I had the privelege of working with the beautiful Jill Geraghty-Groves. She such a wonderful person, totally inspiring,casual and down to earth...love that!!
Seeing Jill is the only "Aussie Primadonna", ambassador for Prima in Australia, we used some of the scrummy new products from the US!

We taught 2 projects each...I taught two layouts.
Here's mine...

I just adore this range, called "Flirty Little Secret"...it's just divine!!


and this layout about how to mix and match. We also created these cute paper poppies...I think I'm addicted, and so are some of the girls I taught today! LOL




I hope you are having a great weekend!

Chat soon,

Friday Foto

The end of yet another week, so it's Friday Foto time.
I missed last week, due to the camping trip! Oops!

This is me today, early this morning under the mango tree.
I tried not to smile today, for something different. I smile in most photos...not sure I really like this one. I like me smiling better!!


Zac and I have been out for lunch today with my SIL Tracey and my niece Mel. We ended up going to Sizzler...man, it's been ages since we went there for lunch. Not much for dinner tonight! ;)

I'm teaching at a Workshop Day tomorrow for The Stamp Shak.
I'm teaching with Jill Geraghty-Groves...should be a fun day out!!
I'll share what the participants created tomorrow night. I know a few of the girls going read my blog, so I don't want to spoil the surprise!!

Have a great weekend...Oh, and "Go the Lions" tonight!!

Chat soon,

Back from our DIRTY Weekend

We went away on our very first Camping trip as a family this Easter. We spent 3 nights at Rover Park, about 35km's from Tenterfield in northern NSW.
It's a 4WD and MotoX park. Such a fun place to be, and it was packed over the Easter break.
Plenty of rain fell, so the tracks were damp and there were plenty of mud puddles to get dirty in. My car has never been 4WDriving, so it was a great first outing, and my poor baby got VERY dirty. Was a ton of fun though.


This is how she got so dirty...


There was 7 families with 14 kids in total.
All had a ball and can you believe the kids did not have one fight??
The boys were totally out numbered...4 boys and 10 girls, and a variety of ages...from 13 down to 1.

We went 4Wdriving and visited the old gold mine, the gorgeous waterfall and explored the many tracks around this huge 1500 acre property. Such a fabulous place.
The have an animal farm, with deer, donkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs and chooks. The kids loved that.

Here's the old gold mine...


and the waterfall...


They also have a good playground with a flying fox, but most of the time the kids were happy to play footy together, ride bikes and generally hang out together.
They played Spotlight a few times at night...that was entertaining, especially keeping the little ones quiet while they were hiding! LOL

The Easter bunny even found us, and we had an egg hunt.
The bigger kids had to team up with a little one to help find easter eggs.
Here they were waiting to get started on the hunt...


Ella and her some of her haul of eggs...


and Zaccy with one of his eggs...Don't you love bed hair??


We had a bit of rain...it rained one night, and a few sprinkles here and there, but nothing like it was here at home in Brisbane. It seems it barely stopped all weekend. I'm glad we went away.

So, our first camping trip as a family was a huge success. The kids didn't want to come home. So, I can see many more weekends just like this one.

We all had a ball, even if I have done about 20 loads of washing, used a ton of Napisan and took nearly 3 hrs to clean the mud from my car yesterday morning....it was all worth it. I'd do it all again tomorrow!

Chat soon,

A Circle Journal

I can't remember the last time I did a Circle Journal?
It's been quite a while.
I'm on the last few from this swap...one to go after this one!

The lovely lady that owns this one asked us all to do a page about "our favourite whatever". Yep, it could be about anything at all, it just had to be your favourite something. I went for the simplicity look, and my favourite thing was the colour blue.
I love blue...always have and probably always will.
Was very happy with how this double page turned out!


I've also made some cute Paper poppies this afternoon, and finally updated my Chelley Bean Designs blog. Yes, I know...I've been a bit slack with it, but better late than never, right??
Here's a sample of what I made today...




You can find out how to purchase them on the Chelley Beans Designs blog.

Chat soon,

I flew into Melbourne late on Friday afternoon.
My flight was delayed due to the line of thunderstorms that were lashing the city.
After about an hr delay we arrived to a very cool evening.
The storms had brought a cool change, and as it was warm at lunchtime I was not suitably dressed when I arrived. A hot shower, however soon warmed me up!

I spent the weekend shopping, dining out, donating to the Crown Casino, then catching up with family and scrap friends. Jase and I even managed to fit the footy in on Sat night. My beloved Brisbane Lions were playing at Etihad Stadium(formerly Telstra Dome) in the city. I had never been to a game there and with the roof closed it was quite loud and the action was exciting, although the end result didn't go our way!
I even got donked on the head with an awol football in the pre-game warm-up.
Typically it was a Carlton player!! LOL
Note to self: Always pay attention when footballs are going everywhere!! (haha)



We had a lovely lunch on Sunday at Docklands with my cousins, Tim and Kylie and their families.
I love catching up with them. Lots of giggles, chatter, good food and wine!!
I shopped the afternoon away with my cousin, and got a few bargains at DFO.
Onto dinner at the Casino before heading home.
Can you tell Jase took this photo?? He cut everyone's feet off?? LOL


Then on Monday morning I caught the train to my Scrap friend Alz's place. I made it without getting lost!! LOL
I have known Alz for close to 4 yrs but we had never met in person...she's just as gorgeous in the flesh as she is on the computer!!
I spent a lovely morning with Alz, Anthea and Fi...all local Melbourne Scrap girls that I chat with daily. It's nice to be able to catch up. We had fun with plenty of chatter, giggles, great croissants and a yummy cuppa!!
Just what a very cold Qlder needed!!
This photo was taken out the front of Alz and her hubby, Geoff's beautiful 120 yr old house!!


I had a ball. I feel very refreshed...it was a lovely break away, although a little on the cool side!!

Chat soon,

Off on a Getaway...

I'm off on a Getaway to the beautiful city of Melbourne!
I'll tell you all about it when I get back!

Chat soon,