Kim Archer | Mindful Living

BITS & PIECES

A HUGE happy birthday to my best friend Margaret for today!!!! Woo hoooooooo. And still running with Julie's theory that 40 is the new 30, Margaret is celebrating her 29th birthday today!

More congrats! This time to Janelle who posted my 2000th comment this morning!!! A little surprise is on it's way to you:)

Happy belated birthday to my very special friend Fiona!!! She has been away on a mystery holiday with her family to celebrate her birthday ;o) Hopefully she will update her blog soon and tell us all about it!

And speaking of updates...RENATA - update that blog will you!!!!!

Ngaire has posted all the GREAT prizes on offer in her breast cancer research fundraiser SUPER RAFFLE! Go here to buy a ticket and then email Ngaire (I don't know how to do email links!!!)to let her know. And then click here for a list of all the wonderful prizes donated by so many businesses, magazines and scrapbookers!!

And a HUGE *thank you* to everyone who stops by and says hi and especially those who commented on my car crash post!! And a HUGE hello to all the new people who have said hi!!! So glad to hear from you and I hope you call in again.

have a great Tuesday.

Oh and one more thing..

I think it's time

for another...

ONLINE WORKSHOP.

Check back tomorrow for details:))

MONDAY - ITIS

I can't seem to get moving today. We were all in go slow mode this morning. And it's FREEZING today.

Saturday I taught a canvas wall art workshop at the Scrappy Chic retreat.

Fun class. Another great venue. I see SO many great venues as I travel around from place to place. From a beach setting to a mountain get away to a country town or middle of the city. Always interesting. And I meet so many great people.

And I do love meeting people. Oooh that sounds like I am a contestant on Perfect Match (loved that show:) - I love going out, nightclubbing and meeting people! But I do. Well not the nightclubbing bit(LOL), but the meeting people. Getting to connect with others who love this craft with a passion like I do. Catching a glimpse into their world through their photos and their stories. Chatting and laughing and being SO welcomed at every place I teach at. Love it!

And Cindy and the gang from the Scrappy Chic retreat were no exception. So obliging, friendly, welcoming and helpful. A pleasure to work with. Cindy and her sister in law own the Scrappy Chic store in Rathmines so if you are in the area, pop in and say hi!

 

And the girls were great. Lots of fun! And producing such gorgeous canvas works of art!!!!!! I LOVE seeing how each creation turns out. Once everyone put their own spin on things and added their own photos, their canvases took on a life of their own! All individual!! Wish I had taken photos of them closeup as they were gorgeous!!!

{a few girls were missing in this photo - including the lovely Donna! Here we are together!!}

And Cindy and the girls presented me with a bottle of bubbly and a beautifully handcrafted thankyou card!!!! How lovely!

SO THANK YOU TO SCRAPPY CHIC FOR INVITING ME TO BE PART OF YOUR WEEKEND RETREAT!!! It was F - U - N!!

FOOTY & MY NEW CAMERA!!

The new camera got a workout on Saturday at the footy!

Lots of action shots.

Shame I was on the wrong side of the field as I have HEAPS of shots of Jamison's back!

But here's a couple.

This is WHY I spend a lot of time on the edge of my seat! All that tackling and flying and sliding around on the ground. YES, that's Jamison (orange shirt) on the ground in the midst of being tackled. I hate all the tackling. And he is always right, smack in the middle of it.

And some more action shots:) (I LOVE my new camera - not that I know what I am doing yet!!) Jamison scored two of the only tries for his team during the game and got player of the match. So he was pretty pleased with himself:)))

He SO loves his footy!

I taught a workshop at a retreat yesterday.

Photos and details to follow after I watch Big Brother:))

 

   

   

ON A GOOD NOTE...

Head over and visit Ngaire.

She is organising a FANTABULOUS, WONDERFUL AUCTION.

There are heaps of prizes. And all money raised goes toward breast cancer research. You can check it out here Stay tuned for a full list of prizes to be revealed on Ngaire's blog on the 19th June.

There's over FIFTY PRIZES donated ALREADY!!!!!!

So worthwhile.

And SO Ngaire to organise something like this:)

What are you waiting for???...click here and read all about it:))))

CAR CRASH!

So yesterday I was heading off to pick up the kids as I do each afternoon. I travel the same road at the same time of the day most school days and I was only a few minutes from the school when I slowed to a stop at a giveway sign in one of the back streets I head along.

its a tricky intersection and you do need to come to a complete stop to check there's no traffic before heading through. I hadn't even had time to look both ways as I had JUST reached the giveway sign.

When, out of the blue, another car came hurtling at me and in a split second, before I had a chance to do anything, say anything, throw the car into reverse or get out of the way he hit me head on.

He was young. On his Ps and had run straight through the give way sign opposite me. I sat in shock for a few minutes and then realised, two young girls had been driving up the hill as he drove through without hesitating and they they hit him full on, sending him straight into me. They ended up on the other side of the road. Their car was a mess.

He was barely seventeen. And he was very distressed. he said his parents would kill him. He told me he just didn't need this as his dog had died the day before.

Um, well, hey I didn't need this either as MY KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL WAITING FOR ME TO COME AND COLLECT THEM AND THEY WILL FREAK OUT IF i AM LATE AS I AM THERE EVERY SINGLE AFTERNOON FOR THEM UNLESS WE HAVE MADE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS!!!!!

And it was now after 3pm. And my mobile was sitting at home being charged.

I NEVER leave home without my phone. Except for this day.

Thankfully I was able to use a mobile and ring my dad who THANKFULLY was at home and dropped everything to get to the school and collect the kids. Jamison was really worried and told me later he KNEW something was wrong as I am NEVER late. He said he just had a bad feeling.

So the police arrived. We were all breath tested (and do you know you don't breath into a little bag anymore!! You count to 10 while they test you!!) and interviewed at length.

There were tow trucks everywhere. And neighbours all out to have a look. And all the mums from our school were starting to head home that way and you could see their shocked faces when they saw the scene and saw I was there.

The two girls in the other car were complaining of sore chests and feeling sick. Their car and the young driver's car were totally written off.

In fact had any of us been going any faster it could have been so much worse.

My car is smashed up but not too bad. well, bad enough to now be inconvenienced while I get quotes and get it fixed etc but not written off.

I held it together at the scene. While I was interviewed and gave my statement. And while we exchanged details etc. But once I got home the shock set in. And I was pretty upset and distressed and shaky.

But I'm fine today. A bit funny about driving through that same intersection this morning to do the school run but ok.

So that was my afternoon yesterday. So cliched, but it all happened so fast. No time to think. Or work out what happened. Just the impact. All in a split second.

I did feel for the driver. He was so young. He had no idea what to do. He was too scared to ring his dad. And I kept thinking, he's not much older than Brandt.

And to top it off, he wasn't insured.

IT'S OUT!

Another Boxx newsletter.

If you don't have it delivered to your inbox (then why not??? LOL) you can check it out here!!

Filled to the brim with so many ideas and projects:)

Here's one of my layouts...June for our family means footy season. Early mornings, two training sessions a week, driving all over the place for away games, freezing cold Saturday mornings and me cringing every time Jamison tackles or is tackled. And believe me the older they get the harder they seem to fall!

And I spent a lovely day with Fiona today for her birthday!!!!! She's turning the big 4-0 later this week but as Julie told us the other weekend, 40 is the new 30!!! So happy 30th to Fiona.

AND so that means I am only 28 so I am pretty happy with that idea!!!

OUR LONG WEEKEND + SCRAPPY CHIC RETREAT

{warning...long post below}

The weather was FREEZING but we had a great day at The Entrance on the Central Coast with our good friends Rob & Lyn and their kids from Canberra yesterday.

We have known these guys forever! Ken and Rob went to Pre School together and they are very close friends of ours:) The type of friends we all feel comfortable around, the kids get along without any problems and we have holidayed and stayed with them and them with us, so many times they are just like family.

The dads took the kids fishing while the mums took two of the kids(Brandt & Nikki) shopping at Erina fair.

Personally, I think Lyn and I scored the best deal! Cause it was beautifully warm at the shops!

And bitterly cold out fishing.

We enjoyed woodfired pizza for dinner and headed home late last night. A fun day!

Other news:

* I BOUGHT MY CAMERA!!!! Yay. I finally decided to buy the Canon 350D Digital SLR. I am one of these people who talks about something for so long I drive everyone around me crazy. I very carefully consider purchases like this before taking the plunge. And I deliberate and discuss it and research it before buying something!! But I did it.

And I am not 100% happy with the photos I am taking so far but that's because I have NO IDEA what I am doing yet!

* AND - I am teaching a canvas class for Cindy from Scrappy Chic at her retreat this weekend.

There's still places if anyone from the Newcastle/Central Coast/Lake Macquarie area is interested in coming along. You can attend just the workshop or book in for the weekend retreat. Details can be found here on Cindy's blog or email Cindy directly at [email protected] 

Here's a sneak peek of my canvas workshop project:

 

Have a great week everyone:)))

HAPPY FRIDAY

So, here's my latest layout.

I have had heaps of samples and things due but tonight I took some time out to make something just for me.  I was dared by Fiona, Julie, Megan and Janelle to create a 'poppet' page.

It was loads of fun. Used some of Jen's scrapping pack from her party the other week. And wanted to make us all hip and happening - don't we look funky:)

  My plan is to have the girls sign their 'poppet' when I catch up again with them all at Kiwi Scraps. It took longer than I expected to piece us all together but I am so happy with how it's all turned out. I think we look pretty cool!!!

Happy Friday everyone.

{edited to add: thanks for such lovely comments on my funky poppets!! Katie - yes, I did hand draw all our footwear:), just used a Zig writer and then coloured them in using the new Heidi pencils.

AND - Fiona, what have I done to you!! Your top doesn't fit properly, not to mention you have a bit of a lean happening..I will fix that! But I did give you a pretty darn cool skirt:)}

SCRAPBOOK HQ

Last Saturday I travelled down to Stanwell Tops (looong drive:) to teach a workshop at the Scrapbook HQ retreat.

Had a great time.

The venue was great. Mega sized classroom and such friendly ladies!! The whole centre had burnt down in the bushfires and was rebuilt 3 years ago so it was all nice and new.

Some of the ladies had stayed up all night scrapbooking and they were still scrapping away enthusiastically!!! So much energy!!

Scrapbook HQ is located in Sutherland in southern Sydney, although the retreat was held further south down the coast. Their website is still under construction but you can still check it out here.

The store is owned by two lovely sisters Jen & Kate (pictured with me to the left) who were wonderful to work with and so friendly and welcoming. Thanks girls for inviting me to be part of your retreat!!

Don't they look cool in their lime and pink aprons!!

I must make special mention also of the lovely Scrapbook HQ staff - Louise, Lisa and Nancy who helped me in my mega sized class.

I'm pictured here with Louise and Lisa.

THANK YOU ladies for being my happy helpers throughout the class - it was lovely to meet you all:))))

In other news:

• I have been busy, busy creating samples for upcoming retreats:)
• I visited the dentist after putting off my visit for far too long and have to have two wisdom teeth pulled - which I knew about and that was WHY I had delayed going back. So I am all booked in and will actually be relieved when it's all over.
• we all breathed a sigh of relief when we got the all clear on a biopsy we had done on Brandt last week for a suspected melanoma. There was a 1% chance it was melanoma and I freaked out big time! Wasn't expecting to hear the words melanoma even if it was in the same sentence as 1%!!!
• and I have been enjoying my nights at home in front of the heater in my new snuggly, got it for Mother's Day off the kids dressing gown!

ONLINE CLASS

Friday night was my very first online class for Maria at Scrapboxx.

I had no real idea how it would all go as the format was very different from how I have been running things with my own online classes.

The instructional part of the class was run through the chat room at the Boxx and I was a little worried about the chat room as I haven't had lots of experience with chat rooms and in fact my few times in them freaked me out!

Too many people talking at once. Too many conversations happening at the one time. It was all so frantic.

BUT I am thrilled to say that the entire class ran brilliantly. I was really happy with how the chat room worked. It was NOT intimidating at all and like with ANY class I teach, I always encourage the participants to contribute as much or as little as they want. There is NO expectation to chat or communicate at all throughout the class.

All the participants had all received their kits prior to the class and very detailed step by step instructions including lots of visuals so it was a matter of guiding them through the project via the chat room and answering any questions they had.

Also, you can purchase the kit and create the layout in your own time. There's no pressure to even come along to the online part of the class. (But of course its lots of fun if you do:)

Everyone was quite chatty and SO friendly. AND I had one lady in my class who I had taught over 2 years ago here in Newcastle who had tracked me down and joined in. It was lovely to meet up with her again:) (Hi Lois)

Within about 10mins of the class finishing the first of the layouts were posted in the gallery!! I love that part of the class. Getting to see what everyone has created.

It was a FUN class. And these classes are going great guns at the Boxx. All of the DT girls are designing and teaching classes over the next few months and theres some great classes coming up so stay tuned.

IN OTHER NEWS: I will upload pics and details of the Scrapbook HQ retreat I taught at on the weekend later today..