a-new

Yes, everything is going to be focused on NEW in 2009.

I have my new word
NOURISHED

Rainer begins a new school (or two LOL) and has a fantastic NEW occupational therapist.

Mackinley begins a new year and has a NEW teacher (god help her! i've seen her class list, she'll need it!!)

I'm working on some NEW projects
I'M A TOP TEN GIRL FOR AN UPCOMING ISSUE OF SCRAPBOOK CREATIONS!!!! (yipee..)

and I've made some NEW year resolutions

(Thank you for those who have shared their NEW WORD for 2009. I think it's great that each of us has a focus for the year because sometimes lots of individual goals get lost in the busy nature of the year. )

I'll be stamping the words from 2008 and 2009 on my craft room wall (if DH lets me).

Here's another pic from the ScrapBoutique day that I need permission to upload first (you'll see why)
Me and the fabulously funny/hysterical/naughty KERRY MURRAY

Jolene Pienaar had made these truly decadent meringues with caramel in the centre. I suffer from loopy sugar overload now when I go to these crops. I just become too silly.

I scrapped too.
This is Peta's sketch challenge at Bon's Scraps

Chinese New Year is the same day as Australia Day this year. I hope the gang can all make it again. Angela organises a great night for everyone.

I went to visit Belinda's blog and found a link to this

on the American Crafts blog/gallery. Then had to go to the Williams' last night to see their new house and have NYE drinks. PERFECT INSPIRATION.
Came up with this...


in one day!!! How pleased was I with myself??? We filled it with chocolates which went down a treat after copious amounts of champagne (for me and Jo) and a big BBQ steak dinner. Yummo!

MORE BIRTHDAY GOODNESS
A lovely card from my friend Michele in San Francisco. Thank you my dearest. We met on a Contiki tour in 1992 and haven't missed many Christmases of writing since.

This is THE book Michael gave me the night of my birthday!

sooo special.

Maybe I should upload one piece of advice a week and let's see if we can be better women. You'd be surprised at how "modern" some of the advice is. I was pretty shocked that this was coming from women in 1913!!!

Absolute pearlers...

There are so many NEW CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS to dip into already this year. However, I will remain my NEW focused self and not give into temptation at the first whiff of a "dare you to do...". I'm hoping that the boys will settle into the new school year and for the first time in a long time, I can relax and breathe a little deeper.

I deserve it!!

NOURISHED....