Shabby Miss Jenn

Monday 27 November 2006

Christmas trimmings and all the rest!

Christmas is official in our home because today Tim and I got stuck with trimming the Christmas tree and redecorating the house to bring this wonderful festive season into our lives this year. The reason why I say Tim and I got stuck with it is simply because yesterday Lance wanted to get the tree and all it's trimmings down from the roof area in the shed.....ok no problem there and then he did not want anyone else to help him put the decs on the tree after he put it all together.....no problem with that either. The problem was 5 minutes after all the fuss he made he didn't won't to do it anymore and neither did any of the other kids.....lol so my loungeroom was full with boxes of decorations and all the extras that we have gathered over the years. Tree up, lights flashing, santas a many, decorations adorning and now all we need is the snow to make it truly magical. One of the things I desire greatly is to have a White Christmas and sometimes I think with the climates changing that maybe the White Christmas is not an impossiblity here in Australia....one can only hope and dream and after all that's what part of Christmas is all about.

So what else has been happening in the Turnbull household?! Well the air conditioner on our Ford was not going and with those hot hot days we have been getting it wasn't much fun having to drive anywhere so last week we decided (after Tim and his dad couldn't fix it) it was time to pop it into the specialists and see what was going on thinking that it may just need a regas and perhaps a little tweaking, that was the shock of our lives!!They have had to replace everything on it and to top it off it still isn't going. We took it in last Tuesday only for them to ring later that day saying they needed to replace the condenser with a new one and that would fix it along with all the other bits they replaced. Part is ordered, car is in shop overnight, part comes in, part gets put in, car gets regassed, car is started and cabin is filled with gas. NOT a good thing so fellas put car back together ring us to say what is happening we pick car up and the bill so far is just under $700.00, (the fella was nice enough not to charge all the hours of labour which we were so grateful for) and the air con is still not working so they say the evaporator is what has had it and to get to that the dash needs to be pulled out as thats where it is and about 7/8 hrs of work is involved and don't forget it will need another regassing as well. Quote this time round at least another $700/ $800??? and then it should be right. Car booked back in for today and tomorrow and hoping that after all this it will work....GRRRRRR!!!

So what a wonderful shock this time of year with it being so close to Christmas. So I did happen to ask Tim if this is basically a new air con for the car and he said that the only thing they haven't replace are the pipes everything else is brand new and all I could say is it would want to be and also made of gold for that price.

So we won't talk any more of the FORD that I have not named yet!!!

Lance started exams this week and had his first one today being English. Tomorrow is Maths and the rest of the week is full of them so it will be very interesting to see how he goes with them. I did not have them in Yr 9 only in Yr 10 so Lance is really lucky (NOT) to have them this year as he is in Yr 9 as well as next year. Then one of the kids informed me that they are thinking about bringing them in to years 7 and 8 soon, in which I replied that I thought that it was ridiculous and kids don't need any of that pressure at that young age. Down here there has been lots of changes with all its planning and implementing with new schools and new curriculum so nothing would surprise even if I do think it unfair!

Yep so enough of that topic too!

The weather is gearing up and it is getting hotter each day. Our water restrictions are so tight and I hear Melbourne is set to go on stage 4 earlier next year as well. There is no rain there is no water and I do believe things will only get worse before they get better for alot of us. I know Bendigo will always remain on water restrictions.....that thay have already announced and it is only understandable. Australia has taken that resource for granted and we have all wasted so much of it in times past. I have to admit I'm all for water restrictions...or in other words better water education, so long as they don't stay where they are and at least drop down a level or 2 when we get the new pipeline in then that will at least be helpful. I don't care for green grass just so long as we have enough to drink. When you look at it that way it makes you stop and think how precious water really is.

Well I think I have said enough for tonight and it's time to close off, so to all my buddies and mates enjoy this read and as the banner suggests it is just more of my mundane ramblings.

Take care and stay safe.
Ciao!

Friday 17 November 2006

Woohoo another new kit!

Whimsical Summer is my latest creation in this little digi world of mine and it is bright and just in time for summer here down under.






Kit includes:
7 patterned papers and 5 solid papers all with a linen texture, a little shabby and a little grungy.
5 felt flowers
2 felt stems
5 colourful brads
5 ricrac
3 glass elements
4 pins
4 fasteners
1 mini alpha a-z and bonus symbols !'{}&?

So that's the latest and the kit came together so easy as well. Wish they were all like that....lol

Anyway you can check it out over here at PBP


Latest Faer Oak CT LO "Santa's Been has just been finished as well using Faers new Christmas Kit Jingle Jangle, awesome colours in this one too.


You can find this fabulous kit here

What else is new seeing as I'm on a roll blogging twice this week. Hummmmmmm well we're popping out christmas tree and decs up this weekend so that will take like forever cause we have so much stuff. Don't you just love the season....I know I do!
Grace's 2nd season of volleyball finished last night and although her team Eaglehawk Uriah didn't win they played a really exciting game. So until next year and a new season I get to stay at home on Thursday nights now.
Lance is off to a friends b'day party tonight at a place they call Zone 3 where you can book a party and do things like rollerblading, laser tag, go karts and everything else they offer including mini golf so I am happy with that as I know it is safe and secure with NO ALCOHOL or other bad influences that kids seem to get pressured into at parties.
Umm ok I think that's it for today so until next blogging stay safe, take care and happy scrapping!
Chris

Tuesday 14 November 2006

Finally moved over to....

....the newer blogger service. Will be interesting to see how it goes! Now just to find my way round my new home......lol!

Well it has been an incredibly busy week or so here. Tim and I finally got our FTB back from the government that we are entitled each year and this time it was quite alot which was really nice. So it was decision time and I had always told Tim that if we get anything at all and we could afford to I was buying a new couch even if it was just a cheap thing......but it had to be better than what we had which were once new when we bought our house just a little over 8 years ago. Then they were also just cheapies cause I didn't think they would last as long as they did but they were torn, worn out, broken and offered no support to anyone with such a bad back as myself. I found I could no longer sit on them otherwise I simply wouldn't have been able to walk for days sometimes as it would simply put my back out completely. The problem was we really needed a new dining suite as well as we literally were sitting at a trestle table and 6 torn and worn out fold up chairs purchased ages ago from Office Works. So a decision had to be made which was a hard one as I needed both but didn't think we could do it at all this close to Christmas. So we decided that it would be just another 2 cheap couches... you know those ones you can buy for $300 each that don't have any style and that way we would survive the holiday season as well.

Anyway the money came through on Wednesday and it was so much more than I had ever expected and Tim and I went shopping for our cheap couches which kinda felt like a let down but what can you do when you're in that situation. Anyway we went to one place and really liked a few but really really liked one.....only prob was it was $1300 dollars although a great price for a 3 seater and a 2 seater in micro suede leather and comfy .......absolute bliss! So we looked and we looked and also looked at dining settings with a thought that maybe next year if we were entitiled once again to this money we would buy it then. So after looking at what we wanted and not purchasing, then looking in other places like Harvey Norman which was soooooooo exy we decided to leave it head home. Then I got brain storming....it was pay day the next day for us and maybe just maybe we could afford to buy the gorgez lounge suite we had fallen for. So with much talk and working out finances we decided to take the kids out after school and see what they thought and then we also decided to check out the dining settings as well with the kids just for future references....hehehehehe

Anyway 3/4 of an hour or so later we came out with our new lounge suite and would you believe it a new dining setting as well. The fellow gave us a price for the 2 we could not refuse and so we are now proud owners of a beautiful lounge suite and also a solid pine dining setting for 6 and comfort....well I can sit on both with ease and no agony caused whilst doing so.

So after buying our new furniture of course we had to spend all of Thursday rearranging our home and cleaning it up so when the new lot came on Friday it would look fab and I must say it does! I am so happy that we decided to go ahead with it and as for Christmas well let's just say we will be fine with that too. I finished Maddi's shopping and Lance has a new bike on layby. He wanted me to buy it there and then but I know him all to well and there is nothing like a little temptation to ride your bike before Christmas day and have nothing on that day. So I paid for most of it there and then and just told the guys that I would leave it there until Christmas Eve or the day before as they still need to assemble it and already we have asked for modifications......lol....teens hey!!!!! The bike he is getting is an Eastern Neutron Lowdown. Built tough and ready for what he wants it for and one of the best you can get as he came with Tim and I to chose what he wanted and the rest is history. See picture below, Lance is getting the black one.






Now just got to shop for the girls and I have a couple of little things for them but they don't really know what they want so Santa will just have to surprise them well.



So unfortunately everything else has been put on hold and I am now only trying to catch up. I have oodles to do over at PBP and I also have a couple of LO's that need to be done with Faer Oaks latest kit called Jingle Jangle which is awesome as you can see by the preview below and is also available here at PBP.

Well time to run and get some work done oh and BTW I am working on a new kit as well which I started last night and got all the papers done and now onto the elements. No sneak peak yet cause I haven't got that far but it is nice and bright and perhaps by the time I get to blogging again it will be finished and I can upload it.

For now stay safe, take care, enjoy your christmas shopping and happy scrapping!

Friday 3 November 2006

Christmas Traditions!


I love Christmas Traditions and over at PBP we have just started one of our very own. The designers all got together to put this awesome and absolutely huge mega kit together for Christmas and the best part about it is that 100% of the net proceeds go to a fabulous cause.
The Chibobo Orphanage in Zambia which you can read a little more about when you click on the link. For $8.00 (AU) what a bargain. So come on over and help us support such a worthy cause at Pickleberrypop and check out this fabulous kit.



Ok next on the list is my new kit is of course in the shop and last time I blogged blogger would not let me upload the preview so here it is Paisley in Bloom! You can purchase this kit over at PBP here.
You can also check out the rest of my designs here

There is a new kit underway and very much a girly kit and can't wait to get that finished and in the shop. Here are 2 of my latest LO's as well.

Recently my DD Grace had to take some photos of friends and herself for a project for school. This one I found in her own little photo folder of her (left) and Piti one of her good friends since primary school. They are now both in Year 8!

Credits: Holly McCaig ~ Cierra Avenue Kit, DebF Chip Alpha (here at PBP), Ricrac from my Paisley in Bloom Kit (here at PBP), Stephanie Krush ~ paper tear, from Digital Paper Tearing Kate Fairlie ~ 2006 Month Stamps. Julie Mead ~ straight stitching from Keep You In Stitches Kit and Shabby Princess ~ stitched hearts re-coloured from her Splendid Kit. Font: Arial

This next one is one of my CT layouts for Faer Oak Designs!


Earlier in the year we did the day fishing trip with friends from the church we are involved with and Maddison just loved the day out as we all did. No fish caught for him but he had a blast anyways.
Credits:Faer Oak ~ papers and ribbon from her Serenity Kit (here at PBP), Holly McCaig ~ ledger tag from here Office Chic Kit, Atomic Cupcake ~ newspaper from her Office Scraps Kit, ID Plate from my Paisley In Bloom Kit (here at PBP) jump ring also mine, Meredith Fenwick ~ strung hinge and journaling mats from her Dude Kit, Valerie Randall ~ Warning Label as a freebie and Julie Mead ~ stitches from her Keep You In Stitches Kit. Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for chipboard action. Font: Century
Well that should do for now but just want to leave you with a thought...as Christmas is fast approaching and we are all consumed with buying and making gifts for loved ones and preparing for this wonderful and magical season.....there are those around us far and wide and even right amongst us that are not as fortunate for one reason or another. Whether it be poverty that affects them or no-one to share Christmas with, or heartache and tragic circumstances, make the most of your precious moments with one another and take a moment to reflect on what you have. Love each other effortlessly and true and be truly grateful for all you have.
Until next blogging keep smiling and happy scrapping......Chris xx