similar photos, same story, different layouts

Last month, my children, my sisters and my parents, and an Aunty, all went into the city for the day. It was my Dad's birthday, and he just loves Sydney, so that was how he wanted to spend the day - wandering around.

Any trip around the city with my girls requires a walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens. Within the huge gardens, there are these big ponds, and within the ponds, are eels! They are huge (1 metre - 3ft), and totally gross, and all the kids are totally enraptured! Weird story about the eels. The Garden caretakers drain the ponds out regularly to get rid of the eels (who eat the ducklings) and then refill the ponds with water. Within weeks the eels are back - they are self-cultivating. So bizarre, and really, so gross!

Anyway, the story here on these layouts is about the girls fascination about the eels, and at any mention of being in the city there is the questions of "will we see the eels?".

One layout is for each child and the photos on them reflect who's album the layout will go into. Last two layouts can be either of the younger two girls - photos are the same. Like I said, it's easier for me to do different layouts than do the same layout for each of them - I get too bored too quickly and lose interest half way through the second page.

On layouts #1 and #2 I have used some half size photos and on the last layout, I stared with two 4x6 photos and cut one of the photos in half.

I am so stuck on 8.5x11" layouts now. So quick and easy. Hope you like these ones - please feel free to lift any idea that inspires you!

Now go SCRAP! After you go to work, get laundry done, clean up kitchen, vacuum, iron, make meals, grocery shop, put summer clothes into kids wardrobes cause thank goodness spring is almost here, clean bathroom...yeah, after all that, scrap!

Or you could forget all that stuff, and JUST scrap.

Another sketch challenge RESULTS post! (#5)

Well, today I have yet another fab lot of pages to show you. Man these girls are very clever. And very committed!

To jog your memory, here is the sketch. A very easy and adaptable, so if you haven't already tried it, GET ON TO IT!

Here's my layout.

I found this old photo of daughter #3 lying around in a pile of old photos in a box that I was never planning to scrap. At the time the photo wasn't the best, she wasn't looking at camera, not smiling, yaddayadda, but NOW, now that she is 4 years older, I am loving this piccy of her when she was so little! Her 5 year old sister, Amaris, had just done her hair in her first ever pigtails, and the elastics are way bigger than the pigtails! Poor Lucy's hair took SO long to arrive! I love this photo now, that I can look back on it.

Sometimes it takes a few years for ordinary photos to become special.

And that AC patterned paper is a bit cute too. It's called 'Craft Fair - Sophia Tuckett'. You can get some here.

And here is what everybody else came up with. My two French speaking friends can come first again, because I think they have shown up with a layout for every sketch since the beginning! Nice girls.

First one is from Agata in Switzerland. Those squares seem to be risen up on pop dots or dimensional tape or something which is very cool, and oh how I am LOVING the orange and blue....

..and the page below come from Agata's friend, Alexandra, who resides in Chicago. This is quite a different take on the sketch, but I am all for everyone's own interpretations! The whole point of the sketch challenge is to get people scrapping, so mission accomplished! Thanks Alexandra! Seriously gorgeous page, by the way!!

The next layout comes from our very own Di, who finally got off her gorgeous butt, and scrapped! Just kidding Di, I know you have been in PMHSS (post-moving house stress syndrome) and are still half building/renovating etc. It's actually quite miraculous that anything has been done at all!! Thank you for your layout - VERY cute piccys!!

The next layout was the first that I received, so the speedy award goes to Andrea from Texas, USA. Andrea changed the sketch from 4 squares to four different shaped rectangular photos. Nice variation! Thanks Andrea.

This stunning layout below is from Amy in Victoria It is so striking isn't it? The combo of those photos and that patterned paper background is really breathtaking. Thanks Amy, I LOVE it!

The following layout is by Sharon in North West Queensland. After a harrowing week, Sharon did NOT scrap, rather she dug this older layout that happened to match the sketch to share with all of us. Thanks for going to the effort Sharon!

Added later:

Just found this one below from poor Jody from USA in my junk mail - SORRY JODY!!! Lucky I found it - this page is awesome!! Thanks! Will check junk mail heavily next time!

Any favourites, questions, comments, or whatever. Leave your comment below.

Thanks everyone. More scrapbooking in a couple of days!!

some more easy dinner ideas

.
.

Three more meals idea's coming from my kitchen. And one from Shannon's kitchen.

All of these have been well and truly kid-tested - all all have resulted in empty plates.

.
.

Home made pizza's

I found these individual pizza bases in the fridge section of my local supermarket. A pack of 12 was cheaper than my usual two large bases. Good bases are key to a good pizza!

INGREDIENTS:

Pizza bases

Tomato sauce for base (either make by cooking garlic, can of crushed tomatoes, basil and dash of red-wine vinegar OR use store bought pizza base sauce - ps. homemade is nicer! )

light mozarella cheese (I also sprinkle some fresh grated parmesan)

toppings - whatever is in the fridge - I used: diced or shredded cooked chicken, red capsicum (sweet pepper) small diced, baby spinach leaves, red onion diced small, button mushrooms sliced, cherry tomatoes sliced, thinly sliced salami bits, sauted small diced pumpkin or sweet potato (yam), other possible options are green onions, sundried tomatoes, eggplant slices, bits of pineapple, olives etc

The one naughty thing I do, which is the secret of my success (and don't tell my husband cause he LOVES my pizzas and would be horrified at this next step) - I give each pizza a small round squirt of BBQ sauce. This adds a dash of sugar that kind of caramelises in the oven and makes everything moorish!! Then I cover the sauce with a bit of grated mozarella so hubby doesn't know it's there. I tell you , it is the secret ingredient, and suddenly the kids each the vegetables!

All my photographs are HIDEOUS, and my apologies for my shocking night photography. As you can see, the more 'green' coloured pizzas are the adult ones.

And this is what they looked like cooked - yum!

.
.

.

Tandoori chicken toasted turkish bread

Chicken tenderloins/ or fillets sliced thinner.

Tandoori marinade (I use Taylors brand - very mild but very flavoursome)

plain yogurt

Baby spinach leaves

thin slices cucumber

thin slices red capsicum (red pepper)

Turkish bread (one or two loaves depending on how much your family eats!)

Put chicken pieces in a bowl and pour marinade over. Leave for about 20min.

Cook chicken in a frypan for a few minutes each side, til cooked through.

Slice turkish bread into 2 t0 3 inch widths. Cut in half, open up, and 'butter' each inside half with the yogurt (I use a spatular to do it quick).

Top bottom half with spinach leaves cucumber and red capsicum, then a piece of chicken or two. Put top half of bread back on top to make a sandwich, and toast in a griddle, or george foreman style grill, or sandwich toaster etc.

And here is the proof that they all love it!

.
.

.

Morrocan lamb with mint yoghurt and cous cous.

Cous cous is awesome. What a great invention. Apparently its a type of pasta. It takes 3 minutes at the most, and my kids literally fight over it!! I've only just discovered how easy it can be. I even send it in lunch boxes to school the next day (without the nuts - school rules!) with a plastic fork or spoon. They'll eat it cold!

This whole meal takes less about 10 minutes, start to finish. I believe it is greek, in origin.

Moroccan seasoning (found in spice section) - not essential - still a great meal without.

lamb fillet, or some other cut of lamb that you can cook quickly and slice up

plain yogurt with a dash of mint sauce (or tzatziki dip)

COUS COUS

1.5 cups cous cous

balsamic vinegar

a teaspoon butter and a dash of olive oil

small handfuls of currants and toasted pine nuts

1/2 cup of very small diced cooked (sauted) pumpkin or sweet potato - if the pieces are small, they only take a few minutes to cook up in a fry pan.

Get everything ready for the cous cous. Pour cous cous and currants into a glass bowl. Boil the kettle.

Sprinkle lamb generously with Moroccan seasoning, and pan fry or BBQ the lamb, for only about 2-3 minutes on either side (turning only once). We like the meat seared, and not overcooked, so it is tender and not tough.

While meat is cooking, pour 1.5 cups boiling water over cous cous, stir with a fork and let sit for three minutes.

Slice up lamb into THIN slices (kids seem to like it best thin). Cover with foil and keep warm.

Stir pumpkin/sweet potato and pine nuts into cous cous. Add a dash or oil, a couple of dashes or balsamic vinegar and a touch or butter (optional). Stir it all up and spoon out onto plates.

On the plates, top the cous cous with slices of lamb, and top with spoonfuls of yogurt.

Serve with snow peas that have been blanched or microwaved for 45 seconds (ie still firm, not soggy!)

.
.

.

Lamb Tangine

This meal comes from Shannon - it's another lamb and cous cous recipe!
I look forward to trying it - thanks Shannon!!

Serves 4

1 onion, roughly chopped

2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

½ cup roughly chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley

½ cup roughly chopped coriander (cilantro) I usually use the herbs in the tube

1 green chilli, roughly chopped

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

¼ cup pitted dates, roughly chopped

2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

800g lean lamb shoulder, trimmed of fat and cut into 2cm pieces

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup water

1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes

100g low fat natural yoghurt

For couscous

¾ cup couscous (makes 1 1/3 cups cooked couscous)

1 cup boiling water

1 teaspoon olive oil

Blend onion garlic parsley, coriander, chilli, cinnamon, dates and lemon zest in a food processor until smooth, set aside.

Heat a large heavy based saucepan over high heat. Coat lamb with oil and cook in small batches, for 5 minutes, or until browned. Return all lamb pieces to pan, add paste and stir to coat. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until aromatic. Add water and tomatoes and mix well. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer, covered, for 1 ½ hours stirring occasionally. Season lightly.

Meanwhile, place couscous in a bowl and pour over boiling water and olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit for 5 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Fluff up with a fork. Serve tagine with couscous, a dollop of yoghurt and lots of steamed vegetables.

I usually make a double batch and freeze half for another meal. I sometimes serve with mashed potatoes. Another alternative is to serve it like soft tacos on a tortilla with avocado and sour cream. This dish is so versatile. It could also be made in a slow cooker.

Scrappy Friday layouts

Today I'm going to share two layouts that I did on the scrap getaway. They have been lifted and blog posted by other lovely girls (my sweet friends!), so sorry if you have seen the layouts already - they really WERE mine originally - I pinky promise!! The American Crafts daquari thickers were in full swing that weekend!

As usual with all my scrapbooking, there is always bit of a long story that has to be told, and as usual, I have scrapped the same photos for different kids albums. As you can see, I am still using red cardstock like there's no tomorrow.

And apart from my favourite combo of red and ice blue my next fave combo would be red and green! Here is a nook in my living area, that I am looking at right now. Just to prove that I do love red and green.

Yesterday was hubby and my 15 year wedding anniversary. Sounds like such a long time. We are going away for a couple of days in two weeks cause that is when he can get some holidays. Tonight, we are offloading children, and he is cooking me lamb shanks in red wine. He says it will be candlelit dinner, and he rented a movie for afterwards. My role tonight, is to get the children off to their grandparents before dinner, so that is what I am off to do now!

Goodbye - and if you missed the current sketch challenge, you can find it here.

munchie idea.

This is cool. Is it not?

When I saw this picture, above, it stopped me in my tracks. Not only because it was so spectacular and striking, but because I thought instantly to myself "I could do this!'. This was not complicated. I did indeed have a muffin tin. I had little bits and pieces to put in to the muffin holes. This could actually work!!

I found this picture on this blog, but this blogger, found it on another website - apparently this concept is the new rage and there is a whole flicker group dedicated to it. 'It' being what is known as 'muffin tin munchies'.

So since seeing this picture about 8 weeks ago, this is how I do afternoon tea when the kids come home from school/preschool most days now. I quickly prepare it just before they arrive home.

It is especially great when there are friends over. I don't know why, it just seems to work. I put the tray low down on the coffee table in the living area (wood floors) or on a plastic kiddie table in the kitchen, and the kids just grab something as they pass. There are no plates to get left all over te kitchen bench or to clean afterwards. There is no "can I have...?? I'm hungry (right after you give them something)". I give each child a water bottle, which sits on the table with the muffin tray. I fill the muffin cups with healthy items, and they pick what they want. If a muffin cup is emptied, I just refill it. When a friend is over it seems we can chat with this method of feeding, without constantly being interrupted. And because it looks a bit unusual and cool, ie the presentation isn't bad, the kids go "oooh' and are happy to eat what's there.

I tend to bring out my 6 cup tray, because 6 choices seems to be enough for my lot, and possibly a neighbour friend or two. My 6 cup tray is actually a friand tin, not a muffin tin, but it works the same. I can actually fit two choices in one friand cup (I have cheese stick and sultanas together here). If I had a million children here, I would go for my twelve cup muffin tray.

At the end, you just rinse it out, or even wipe it out, if there was nothing messy happening. If you did have something messier, like dip, you could use a paper cup cake holder thing. What do you call those things? You know what I mean. So much easier than lots of separate plastic containers going everywhere!

I am loving my muffin cup munchies, so I thought I would pass along a food idea that is working for me!!!

Here are some ideas for which to fill those cups.
carrots sticks, sultanas, yogurt buds, nuts, cereal (I use miniwheats or cheerios), cherry tomatoes halved, cucumber sticks, strawberries. apple slices, mandarin segments, orange segments, cheese sticks, small crackers, rice crackers, tiny teddies (not healthy but a nice treat), pretzels, grapes, craisins, celery sticks, hommus, cherries, blueberries, halved thin breadsticks etc.

Any other ideas anyone? Give this a go a tell me if the kiddies liked it!

New sketch challenge! (and some photos)

Hi all!

Here is your new mission, should you choose to accept it!

Simple, but totally open to your interpretation. Think outside the box (or these boxes, I should say). These squares could contain three photos and one box journaling. One box could be the heading. One box could be only one photo. Two boxes could be photos, and two boxes could be journaling? You can my drift. Go to town, and have fun - you have til the end of next weekend (23rd Aug). Email me your layout. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Now, yesterday afternoon, I met Renee D's new baby boy Amos! He was on his eighth day, and he came to visit my north facing house, because he wanted some good natural light in which to be a model. Apparently the light in his house isn't as good. So he arrived, he cried, he fed, he got oohed and aahed at by my girls and me, got cuddled, and of course, got photographed!
He laid on my bed, cause the light was looking good in my room, and posed! Kind of.
Amaris took this first photo by standing on the bed above Amos (I was terrified she was accidentally going to drop the camera on him!). If this photo doesn't make one want another little squidgy baby, then what does?

and as Renee took lots of her new boy, I snapped a couple of her! There were camera's everywhere!

Congratulation's Renee! And I sternly told Renee, that we all require her to start a blog, and start scrapbooking again! We miss her inspiration!

Renee, maybe you could guest blog for me once in a while?? Yes?

See you all again soon,

Nicole

PS. Renee liked the gelato shaped baby outfit from my last post, by the way.

Is spring really almost here?

Today we went kite flying.

The weather was good, the breeze was there, and our local beach hosted a mini kite festival, so families came out, to take advantage of the fab weather, and to attempt to fly kites, with their many small children.

I enjoyed(?) laying precariously on the grass, and trying to include the child, and their very high flying kite, in the one shot. Wasn't successful in getting Lucy's kite in this first pic below, but I still like the shot anyway.

My nephew and niece joined us, and personally, I thought my nephew's kite was really very eerie, but the little boys around us all seemed to appreciate it!

My children's grandparents were there loving the kite flying, and all too soon the children had had enough and handed all the kites over to Grandad and Nanny to fly, at once. AS the grandparents were handling at least three kites each, the kids all decided it was time to hit the sand.

Once, long ago, I revealed my fetish for life guard towers and no, Di, it's not because of the lifeguards who can be found inside them. It is because the little towers themselves are so darn cute - and are weird, and have such character. The 4pm sun was hitting this one perfectly, so I snapped a shot or two while my girls waited for their cousins to catch up.

Love late afternoon light.

Then it was into the water. For the first time in a very LONG time. Winter has been chilly this year (well, chilly for us!) and most days require long sleeves and sometimes even a jacket, so when the temperature rose today, the girls, completely without suggestion from me, threw their swimmers and towels into the car at the mention of being somewhere near a beach 'just in case, mum!'.

Well 'in case' arrived, and they hit the waves.

And had FUN. Only 15 day's til spring.

Yes, this is still officially winter. Today gave us a taste of what will come over next few weeks and continue on over the next 7 months or so!

And oh, thank goodness. Winter has been too long! I can feel another layout titled 'waiting for summer' - a sequel to last years layout of the same name.

Another sketch challenge, in 36 hours!

The colour purple and other news.

Here's a layout that I did on our getaway about daughter No.1.

She LOVES when I braid her her, though I only do it once in a while because it takes about 10 minutes and I rarely have 1o minutes to spare while getting everybody ready for school. She is also very very superly independent and other than the occasional braid, won't let me near her hair!!

I very rarely use purple, so was excited to use this purple (called Dahlia by Bazzill) square. I am also loving this mid darkish brown that I have used in my background. It's Bazzill name is Bark. I completed this layout minutes after completing this layout

so I had the -four-rounded- squares concept in my system. Patterned paper and stickers are from American Crafts, of course.
I quickly looked through and found some other layouts where purple has been my main colour. Here's a look at them - you may have already seen some or all - sorry if you have. One of my favourite all time layouts is this first one below, even though it is VERY old and was back in the days when I used ribbon. It just sat well with me, and I love the photos and the story. The second layout, titled 'an issue' is hideously photographed and looks all wonky. The story is about the nightmare of dressing three girls and how every single morning it is a HUGE drama. They are all very opinionated and independent with dressing themselves.

In other news, I took my great friend and new scrap convert to the Mac store yesterday, and she accidentally (but so on purpose) bought a new iMac!!

Robyn G went to the scrap getaway with us a few weeks ago and Di brought her big imac along in the car! After Robyn had a go on that thing, she was totally converted and decided she simply HAD to have one! Robyn had a spare little room in her house that stored a piano, so that is currently, as we speak, being converted to a totally gorgeous scrap room!! Di and her friend, another new scrapper named Robyn, joined us to witness the iMac purchase. We then all celebrated with a coffee! Robyn G said bringing home the iMac was like getting a new baby, and she and her hubby were at home preparing the nursery - with Ikea shelving, new painted walls, new desk, timber cardstock storage etc.

Robyn's done a grand total of about 20 layouts ever, and has totally convinced her husband that this hobby is her new purpose in life. Yay, Robyn, looking forward to seeing some photos of your new scrap room! Here's one I found on two peas to inspire you - not that it sounds like you need anymore inspiration! Eek. And don't include the huge dog. You've already got one.

In MORE other news, do you all remember Renee D who used to blog with me on the Remember When blog? You can go back there and click on "Renee's posts" and my posts if you are new to this blog and want to see some of my older stuff. Anyway Renee is an arty very creative scrapper. You may remember her from such layouts as:

Does that sound like Troy McClure from the Simpsons? "You may remember me from such films as...".

Anyway, Renee was known for her awesome handwriting, and interestingly brilliant photos. She hardly ever used a printer, and was big on hand drawn journaling lines, staplers, twine and all things earthy and arty. I miss seeing her work (take that as a hint, Renee!) Now that Renee has a newborn, as well as a nearly four year old, I'm sure she'll have heaps of spare time for blogging...haha.

This week, Renee had her second child, a boy, named Amos. I made her a card...

and actually used a set of stamps that I bought last Christmas from 'stampin' up, and have never officially used until now - though the kids have loved playing with these stamps. They are a set of heads and bodies and arms and legs (there's even a dog and cat) and you stamp the bits together to make little people and families. It is cute beyond words, but I knew I was only going to use it occasionally. Mostly bought it for the kids. So I made this card to accompany my small but CUTE baby gift...

It is a little white baby bodysuit (or onesie as North Americans call them) all rolled up to look like ice cream!! Someone is very clever out out there. Maybe not everyone will appreciate the coolness of an ice-cream shaped baby bodysuit, but I know Renee will!

See you all soon for more food and another sketch!