Melissa's Blog

True Scrap 3 - Sneak Peek and BIG NEWS!

2012-02-02T21:10:00.000+08:00

Join me for the most awesome scrapbooking event EVER!

I'm so excited to share with you that I've been invited to teach a class at True Scrap 3!

Read more about what I'll be teaching here! Find out what's coming in True Scrap 3 and join the mailing list for all the news
I'll be sharing much more about this event in the coming weeks, but in the mean time, here's the basics:

What is True Scrap?

Inspiration and Education from 15 A-list instructors…
Five virtual project make-and-takes…
All from YOUR computer!
All for one low price… $127 (if you register by April 15)

On April 20-21, fifteen instructors will share high-def video classes with you, live, in our state-of-the-art webroom. By signing up for True Scrap 3, you’ll receive access to our state-of-the-art webroom where you can hobnob with the rich and famous (okay, the not-so-rich and kind of famous!) and hundreds of other fanatical papercrafters, just like you!

Be the first to know about teacher and class updates, special announcements, and more…

Join the True Scrap “Early Notification” Email list here: Sign up today!

Wondering if True Scrap is for you?

Check out the recordings of the previous True Scrap events. You can sample classes from Spawn of True Scrap for only $9.99!

Spawn of True Scrap

Featuring Cathy Zielske, Noell Hyman, Renee Pearson and 14 more!

The Original True Scrap

Featuring Ali Edwards, Katrina Kennedy, Erin Bassett and 10 more! Buy the classes in a bundle or individually for $9.99

I hope to see you there!

Melissa
*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

One Little Word in Focus: OLW Blog Hop

2012-02-01T20:00:00.000+08:00

Welcome to to my stop on the One Little Word blog hop for February. If you’ve come from Karen’s blog, welcome! The full list of blogs is at the end of this post.

After completing a hybrid album last year, I’ve decided to stick to my usual digital pages this year. I just love the slim finish of photobooks, so I’ll just print my book out as a soft cover photobook at the end of the year.

In the mean time I’m using this page as my January cover and photo of myself.

To keep it in plain view, I’ve also made this page my desktop background.

Credits: Simple Album Template 3, Tangie Baxter Wish you Well mini kit, my own Handwriting Font

If you’d like to see how I created this layout check out my latest Digital Scrapbooking Workshop.

About the Class

Ali Edwards sends out monthly emails with a prompt for the month and you just complete it as you are inspired to throughout the month. Did you know that the One Little Word class is open all year?

Want more OLW inspiration?

Check out Devon’s Blog

Here’s the rest of the stops in the One Little Word blog hop:

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
Sharyn http://www.lavieenchic.com
Jill http://jillconyers.com
Lynn http://www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
Jenn http://www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
Carmen http://www.carmenpaulsorthner.com
Marilee http://rose-brier.blogspot.com
Kristina http://hrinspirationfromthe403.blogspot.com/
Cindy 1 http://www.cynthiacrysdale.com
Kelly http://mindingmynest.com
Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
Cindy 2 http://seriousplay.typepad.com
Brooke http://www.everysnapshot.com
Naomi www.poeticaperture.com
Melissa http://www.smudgetime.com
Karen http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com
Melissa S http://blog.mshanhun.com – YOU ARE HERE!
Devon http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com
Donna http://holimess.blogspot.com/
Dawn http://sunshineandcreativity.com
Katrina http://www.katrinasimeck.com
Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com
Monica B1 http://scrapinspired.com
Kimberlee http://scrapsandsass.blogspot.com
Missus W http://mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/
Kaylea http://www.myscrappylife.com
Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au
Erin http://erinsparkes.typepad.com/optimstic-fascination/
Jo http://www.curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.com
Coley http://coleybelle.blogspot.com/
Beth http://www.thesingularlyordinary.blogspot.com
Veronica http://www.veronicanorris.typepad.com
Jamie http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com/
Monica B2 http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/
Lisa http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog
Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
Veronica http://www.veronicanorris.typepad.com
Cate http://www.lifebehindthepurpledoor.com
Karen http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com
Stephanie http://www.scrapworthylives.com
Orange Gearle http://orangegearle.blogspot.com
Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/
Junelle http://yesandamenblog.blogspot.com/
Becky http://www.becky-handforth.blogspot.com

Thanks again to Margie for organising this hop!

Happy hopping!

Melissa

*Thank your for using affiliate links to support my blog*

Join me for Layout a Day

2012-01-30T15:18:00.001+08:00

Do you want to get more scrapbook layouts done this year?

YES? Of course you do! Why not join me (over 300 other scrapbookers) in February's Layout A Day.

Layout a Day is a month long event that will leave you with a stack of completed layouts, tonnes of inspiration and even some new scrappy friends! I've been invited by Lain to provide some help for digital scrapbookers in the class - so even if you are new to digi you'll be able to participate!

Join me for LOAD!

Are you looking for something to help you get into your scrapbooking for 2012?

Here’s what you’ll get:

2829 daily prompts on the topic of Past Perfect: Looking Back to Look Forward -
28 29 daily videos
Private message board
Private gallery
Interviews with cool scrappy folk (guest stars announced soon!)
PRIZES -Inspiration, fun, and companionship galore!

All this for only $30! Sounds good, doesn’t it? Here’s what others have said about Layout a Day:

“Sometimes my inspiration chamber is empty. I struggle to put together a layout, any layout and cannot manage it. With LOAD, I get inspiration, a fired up group of supporters and no chance to sit around and contemplate. It is a great way to push myself to focus and enjoy scrapping again.” – Jana “The community is so supportive… I’ve ‘scrap-accomplished’ more in LOAD & YSM than in any of the other online classes attended. Perhaps I’m getting more savvy or, more likely, our fearless leader keeps it simple and real.” – Rita

If you want to join me - I've got a special deal just for you!

Sign up to LOAD and receive my Photo Fixes for Real People photo editing workshop as a BONUS gift (valued at $20). That's right - you get more than double the value for your purchase! Get your photos looking great with just a few quick edits. All you need to do is click here to sign up to LOAD, then forward your receipt to me and I'll email you Photo Fixes for Real People!

Hoping to see you in February! Melissa

PPS Don't forget to Register now!

Take 12

2012-01-29T18:13:00.001+08:00

I just wanted to share my layout from January!

Credits: The kit is the exclusive member kit you get on joining the Digi Files and the template is part of the Take 12 Template Pack from Ella Publishing

What is Take Twelve?

The goal of the 2012 Take Twelve Project is to take 12 photos on the 12th day of each month for a full 12 months—and scrapbook them! You can join in the fun any month of the year, but we hope you'll join in starting January 12. Get the scoop at ellapublishing.com/taketwelve.

Learn more about the history of the Take Twelve project and see Ella’s FAQ section.

Melissa

PS Have you got the free Ella Sampler ebook yet?

Mozzies attack

2012-01-22T15:38:00.001+08:00

On the 28th of November 2010, I started writing this post…

On the 21st of Januray 2011, I wish I had followed my own advice.

I was innocently waving goodbye to Phill’s brother at about 9pm last night, just 5 mosquito bites made me violently ill. Was the busy week, pregnancy and tiredness as factor? Perhaps?

Over the years I’ve found the insect repellents to make me itchy, ineffective and I come up with hives anyway. Then I found Bayer’s roll on repellent! Then they discontinued it!

Aerogard Odourless pump pack is my weapon on choice now. I can wear it happily for several hours.

Tips and tricks

Don’t go outside after 4pm without bug spray on! (Especially near water, damp gardens or on humid nights)
Do allow yourself to be ‘rude’ and stay inside rather than wave goodbye (reminder to myself – I often forget this! No one really minds if you say goodbye at the door)
Do drink lots of water
Do take it slowly
Don’t let people convince you the mozzies aren’t all that bad!

I am thankful for my husband, mum and the locum Doctor who cared for me. I am thankful I didn’t end up in hospital.

Take 12 Giveaway Winner

2012-01-12T10:22:00.001+08:00

Congratulations to Melinda T who commented over at Digital Scrapbooking HQ (I did a random drawing between this post and the one over there!)

What is Take Twelve?

Melinda’s Prize: Take Twelve Guided Inspiration Kit

This Take Twelve Guided Inspiration Kit is packed with photo-taking ideas, beautiful photo examples, useful checklists, bonus project ideas, alternate approaches, and more to inspire the photos you take—making it easier than ever to preserve important slices of your life in pictures.

And on top of all that, you'll also get a full toolkit to help you complete 12 unique and inspiring scrapbook pages, featuring 12 photos each! Those tools include expertly designed sketches, layout ideas, journaling lists you can instantly print and use, and page titles and mini-calendar accents to boot.

Learn more about the history of the Take Twelve project and see Ella’s FAQ section.

Melissa

PS Have you got the free Ella Sampler ebook yet?

Want to learn about digital scrapbooking?

2012-01-10T18:40:00.001+08:00

Calling all digital scrapbooking newcomers!

Do you want to get started digital scrapbooking?
Are you upgrading to Photoshop Elements 10 and want to learn the most efficient way to get a page created?
Wanting to participate in LOAD using digital layouts without spending your whole time fighting software?
Do you open up Photoshop Elements unsure where to start?
I’ll give you the essentials you need today – in under 20 minutes!

To read more and see 4 short video tutorials to help demystify Photoshop Elements 10 head over to Layout a Day and find out about the only 4 tools you'll need to get started.

Ella Publishing Giveaway and BIG NEWS

2012-01-10T11:03:00.001+08:00

I’m beyond excited to share the news that I’m an Ella Friend!

Ella Publishing is an ebook publisher for the scrapbooking industry, and has absolutely gorgeous ebooks! If you haven't yet check out any of their books - why not head over and pick up their Free Super Sampler?

I’m joining Elizabeth Dillow (Ella Friends Ringleader)…

And 11 other talented ladies (that’s me – top right!)

This year you can expect to see lots of awesome Ella inspiration over here on the blog – starting with today’s giveaway!

Take 12 Giveaway!

How do I win?

I’ve got one awesome Take 12 Inspiration Pack to give away – just leave a comment by 8pm EST on the 11th of January to be in the running! I’ll do a random drawing and contact you later that night (morning my time!) with your access to the Pack.

What is Take Twelve?

Your Prize: Take Twelve Guided Inspiration Kit

Learn more about the history of the Take Twelve project and see Ella’s FAQ section.

Good luck!

Melissa

PS Don’t forget to leave your comment to win!

On the twelfth day of Christmas

2012-01-08T13:06:00.001+08:00

Well it’s the 13th day of Christmas I guess and the tree is down…

Emily and Daddy went to Carbatec and Bunnings

We got our new Robomaid up and running (Oh the pain of waiting 12hrs while it charged before trying it!)

Emily didn’t seem too upset about the tree being down, as we had pre-warned her for a few days. She really enjoyed helping put the decorations in their boxes.

You are never too late! Memory Logbook 2012

2012-01-06T21:24:00.001+08:00

Think it's too late to start recording your memories for 2012?
Never! Last yearI didn't get to start my logbook till late January and I still love 2011's Logbook and all the stories I recorded!

In an aim to simplify my life in 2010, I decided to combine my scrapping ideas, monthly round-up, diary and journal into one and so the Memory Logbook got put on my wishlist for Christmas 2009. My husband bought the printable version for me and it sits on my desk. After 18 months later, I’m using the new half-year printed version, and still loving it! I’m planning events on the notes pages, smashing bits and pieces of receipts, business cards –writing my monthly summaries for a quick and simple overview of our year, events and snippets of life for future journalling and being inspired by the weekly challenges. I created a whole scrapbook album in 5 weeks using my Memory Logbook to prompt the journalling and help me find photos.

For 2011, I printed my own copy from the downloadable version and created my own cover and dividers.

I'm a big fan of the Memory Logbook having used is for the last two years, and this year I'm on the design team!The 2012 edition is more streamlined than ever and I've already started recording my memories in there!

Here’s my video review of the Logbook and Challenge Book

See the Memory Logbook and Challenge Book in the flesh!

Want to learn more?

Here’s some more information from Log Your Memory

:

2012 Memory Logbook Our one-of-a-kind journal, idea keeper, sketchbook and planner created especially for memory keepers!Useful for jotting down memories, thoughts & ideas as they occur in one easy-to-find place. Handy for later reference when scrapbooking or as your primary source of documentation, with room to jot down a daily gratitude or goal list, your food or fitness log, sketch layout ideas, attach photos, journal about your day, track your schedule, or just about anything else you wish to remember, track or log.

Use the 2012 Memory Logbook alone or as the perfect companion to our Real Life Scrapbooking Weekly Challenges books!

Real Life Scrapbooking Weekly Challenges: Time Capsule

Capture your everyday real life through a complete year of memory keeping inspiration based on the theme: Time Capsule.

Through our 52 Weekly Challenges, each beginning with a list of possible inspiration objects from your everyday life and supported with a list of questions to help you think about potential related stories, you will develop the habit of looking around you to find the inspiration for your memory keeping.Get added inspiration from the 52 never-before-published sample scrapbook layouts created by our awesome 2012 Memory Logbook Design Team, including both paper and digital scrapbook pages by designers hailing from 10 different countries!Get even MORE inspiration from weekly blog posts from those same designers throughout 2012, including behind-the-scenes looks at how they created their sample layouts and additional ideas to help you tackle each challenge yourself!

Check out Kindle edition: Real Life Scrapbooking Weekly Challenges

Familiar with prior Memory Logbooks?
Take note of the changes for 2012…

The Memory Logbook and Weekly Challenges are now two separate items… Use the 2012 Memory Logbook as your journal/calendar and our Real Life Weekly Scrapbooking Challenges with our new Time Capsule theme to get the inspiration you’re used to finding each week.
Purchase of each of the above books entitles you to special access on our website with extra resources to help you make the most of your book(s). This includes an email feed for Weekly Challenges book owners which will replace our current Memory Minder service.
In addition to our downloadable and coil-bound editions, we are now offering the Memory Logbook in a loose-leaf, unbound version for those of you who want the convenience of binding, rearranging or otherwise customizing your logbook without the hassle of printing it yourself.
All editions of the Weekly Challenges book are in FULL COLOR!!
The print version of the Memory Logbook now includes monthly tabbed dividers with small pockets for holding memorabilia, questionnaires and other loose items.
All editions of the 2012 Memory Logbook are full-year, and the calendar pages contain no holiday listings to better accommodate our international friends.

Want to start right now?

Did you know you can instantly download a PDF copy of the 2012 Memory Logbook today? You can print it out yourself and get started today!

Need a little more incentive?

For every purchase of the Memory Logbook you buy I'll give you a free workshop from my selection at Digital Scrapbooking HQ.

Just email me a copy of your receipt to melissa @ mshanhun.com

I hope you enjoy using it as much as I have!
Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

Boot Camp Perfect: Scrap Happy Blog Hop

2012-01-04T08:37:00.001+08:00

Welcome to the Scrapworthy Lives Scrap Happy Blog Hop.I've been loving reading Stephanie's blog about the Scrap Happy project over at Scrapworthy lives, so I was thrilled when I found out she's got a blog hop going. You have probably found me from Kiss and Tell Scrapbooking.

This month the theme is:

Boot Camp Perfect

This month we are looking at all the of the Happiness Project ideas and implement a few of them during the month. Here’s some things that have stood out to me from this series in 2011:

PS Want more Scrap Happy goodness?

Contemplate the Heavens. Keeping the big picture in mind helps me stay positive!Scrap happy blog hop: Contemplate the heavens
Pay Attention This is part of my One Little Word this year – Focus. Pay Attention: Scrap Happy Blog Hop
Pursue a Passion I’m doing this over at Digital Scrapbooking HQ and the December Daily podcast so many opportunities have come my way because of it!
Keep a Contented Heart. Oh this is such a big one – I already have so my and just need to Keep a Contented Heart.

I think my aim to focus on whatever I’m doing will take me a long way towards happiness – being present in the moment.

What have you learned through the Happiness Project? Or about happiness in General in 2011?

Head over to Scraps & Sass for the next stop in our journey.

In case you get lost, here are the rest of the blogs:

Here’s to a happy 2012!

Melissa

Enjoy this post? You may also enjoy Lisa Day’s Journey to Happiness What Matters Most class at Big Picture.

What matters most in your life? Have you really taken the time to think about the answer to that question?

“We will be working towards celebrating and creating a life
dedicated to focusing on what matters most to you!”
- Lisa Day

In Lisa Day’s latest workshop, you’ll spend four weeks setting up creative action plans to make sustainable changes that will help you focus on and stay true to what matters most. In class you will create two layouts and two mini albums which can be used as a guide to creating and celebrating a life – never losing sight of what matters most.

Do you want to make some changes in your life so that you can experience greater happiness and really focus on the things that truly matter to you? The journey to happiness is an on-going process, but with a clear focus, you can enjoy that journey every step of the way. Only $19 for the class!

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

One Little Word: Wrapping up 2011 and my new word #OLW Blog Hop

2012-01-01T20:00:00.000+08:00

Welcome to to my stop on the One Little Word blog hop for January. If you’ve come from Tere’s blog, welcome! The full list of blogs is at the end of this post.

I’ve got quite a few pages to update you all since my last One Little Word post.

I mixed October and December’s posts in together to break up the text and photos and fit in my smaller format album.

I have a little video of my finished album here:

My One Little Word 2011 Album

Here's the slideshow of my One Little Word album in process over the year:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Did you know we have a OLW flickr group? Join us here

What about 2012?

My word for 2012 will be Focus.

I’m easily distracted (Phill would say that’s an understatement) and with another addition to the family on the way in May, I feel like this an aspect of my life to work on.

About the Class

Ali Edwards sends out monthly emails with a prompt for the month and you just complete it as you are inspired to throughout the month. Did you know that the One Little Word class is open?

Want more OLW inspiration?

Check out Nicki’s Blog

Here’s the rest of the stops in the One Little Word blog hop:

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
Veronica http://www.veronicanorris.typepad.com
Kara http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com/
Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
Sharyn http://www.LaVieEnChic.com
Jill http://jillconyers.com
Lynn http://www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
Monica http://scrapinspired.com/
Lisa http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog
Cynthia H http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com
Lee http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/
Abbey http://athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/
Monica B http://www.questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au
Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/
Melissa S http://blog.mshanhun.com – you are here
Nicky http://seejanebake.blogspot.com
Stephanie http://www.scrapworthylives.com/
Jenn L http://www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com
Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/
Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
Jamie http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com
Karen http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com/

Thanks again to Margie for organising this hop!

Happy hopping!

Melissa

*Thank your for using affiliate links to support my blog*

December Daily: Day 31

2011-12-31T14:29:00.001+08:00

Traditions: We don’t really have a New Year’s Eve tradition, it’s my sister’s 21st birthday tomorrow, so we are going to her party tonight which goes through till the 1st of January. I stayed up till midnight with Lauren’s 18th in 2008, Andrew and Esther in Kalgoorlie in 2009, and Ryan & Helen’s party in 2010. But I’m not usually one to stay up! I promise!

Craft: Working on my One Little Word Album

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Singing: Dino Stomp song

Eating: Donuts from Puffin Fresh (Phill got a couple while out with Emily!)

Organising: The study

Watching: The post for my Silhouette Cameo – it arrived in Australia on the 28th…

Buying: A new colour laser printer and Dymo labeller

Listening: To Phill working in the shed (well, the garage)

Melissa

PS Want to join me in February? Click here to view more details

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

December daily: Day 24

2011-12-24T15:53:00.001+08:00

Traditions: advent calendar eating the gingerbread house, going out for lunch (one point to make a line?)

Craft: More tag creating!
Decorating: Putting up Emily’s chalkboard from Uncle Peter.

We finally found our other decorations we were given last Christmas!
Singing: Carols with friends and family tonight.

Eating: Froot loops for breakfast (Phill couldn’t wait till tomorrow, and I wasn’t going to argue!), club sandwich, beef burger, vegemite sandwich, chai latte, coke and water for lunch, mango smoothie for arvo tea and fresh home baked bread for tea.

Organising: Our plan of attack for tomorrow so Emily won't be too overwhelmed

Watching: The Playschool concert

Giving: wrapping and labelling the last presents

Buying: milk and fruit and most importantly chalk!

Realising: I love doing church on Christmas eve.

Listening: To the whiny carols playing in Woollies. The Season's Angry Birds theme.

Melissa

December Daily: Day 23

2011-12-23T21:50:00.001+08:00

Traditions: Advent calendar.

Craft: Decorating, wrapping and labelling gifts.

Dancing: Lots of it (though Emily fell and bumped her headdan

Eating: Chicken enchiladas

Organising: Measurements for shelves and putting up the blackboard for Emily.

Watching: Emily loving to help with the wrapping and gifts.

Receiving: A few extra hours rest with Phill home early today!

Buying: Wahl Clippers to help me cut Phill’s hair – can’t wait to try them out.

Listening: “What’s this Mummy? Is there a toy in there for Baby Jesus?”

“It’s myrrh”

“Ew, I don’t like myrrh, blech”

‘”It’s like perfume”

“That one is frankincense”

“Baby Jesus likes frankincense!” (conversation over our advent pictures today)

I just had to include this pic from yesterday!

Emily fast asleep.

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

December Daily: Day 21

2011-12-21T15:06:00.001+08:00

Traditions: Advent calendar

Source: Uploaded by user via Melissa on Pinterest

Craft: Making gifts!

Eating: Jester’s pies and chips.

Dinner with the Shanhun’s for Steve’s birthday today.

Organising: The last few gifts.

Giving: Steve’s birthday gift.

Buying: Some sandals and thongs for Emily.

Listening: To Emily singing instead of having a sleep.

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

December Daily: Day 18-20 Digest Edition

2011-12-20T21:18:00.001+08:00

Things have been busy over the weekend and I’ve been quite sick (in bed for 5 hours today!)

Here’s a quick summary:

18th

Emily stuck about 20 stamps together, while we slept I managed to rescue about 17/18 of them!

Phill and I helped out a Pebbles

I was in bed for the arvo, meanwhile Phill made pasties for tea (YUM!)

Carols in the Park – so much fun with both sets of grandparents and about 12 000+ people

Turns out that Emily’s age group wasn’t singing on stage (she got given the music by someone thinking she was in the older group!), so she kept asking when it was time for her to go on stage.

View of the Park – stage is glow to the left

Fried Potato ‘Christmas Tree’ – Yummy!

John hard at work – we traditionally sit just in from of his camera.

19th

Digital scrapbooking webinar in the morning, Mum O and Emily played with the iPad on loan from Mum S.

Can you spin Mummy?
No, I can't spin at the moment Emily
Come with me, to my room, I'll teach you how to spin!

The Fathering Project Meeting

Phill and I wrapped Emily’s presents.

20th

Present from Woo and Stan in the mail today,

Can I open it?

Not today, when do you think you will be able to open it?

On Christmas!

Emily and Mummy wrapped Daddy’s presents.
We wrapped Jake's present today - Emily says “It could be his favourite!”

Working on my last few gifts to wrap.

Emily loves the wrrapping paper we chose for her gifts – she thinks the curly haired angel is her! “It’s me holding my pussycat”

Hope you are enjoying your December!

Melissa

December Daily: Day 17

2011-12-17T15:56:00.001+08:00

Traditions: Advent Calendar
Craft: Christmas Cards
Home making: Phill is adding a couple of sprinklers to our back yard. Oh and washing the car for the first time at our new house.

Giving: Getting the Christmas presents organised for wrapping.
Receiving: A mention in iTunes new and noteworthy for hobbies, for the December Daily Podcast

Eating: An impromptu BBQ tea with Mum and Dad O, Cait and John (straight from cricket practise). It was a fun afternoon.

Listening: To a few podcasts today.

Melissa
*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

December Daily: Day 16

2011-12-17T15:44:00.001+08:00

Traditions: The advent calendar.

Craft: More Christmas cards!

Singing: Away in a Manger.

Eating: Chicken kebabs and greek salad.

Organising: An interview with Stephanie from Scrapworthy Lives. The Fathering Project website!

Homemaking: Paving finished! Only a week too late for the party.

Watching: Sherlock

Buying: Memento and Photo365 for my iPhone

Listening: Emily: ‘It’s a mystery’ ‘Something’s missing’

Today we visited the Dr for baby #2. All is going well.

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

December Daily: Day 11

2011-12-16T21:01:00.001+08:00

Invitations: Facebook & Email
Salads: Mum O, Mum S, Nan, Melissa
Cooking BBQ: Phill, Dad O, Mike, John + more!
Singing happy birthday: Emily
Cakes: Melissa
Guests: 47 attended

Simple Template Album Template 24; Peace on Earth by Flergs and Eva Kipler at Scrapbookgraphics; Fonts: Melissa's Hand

List documentation challenge courtesy of Memory Logbook Challenge 51!

Enjoy December Daily? Check out my podcast!

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

December Daily: Day 15

2011-12-16T15:57:00.000+08:00

Traditions: The advent calendar.

Craft: More Christmas cards!

Singing: Emily can sing 2/3 verses of Away in a Manger!

Organising: An interview with Stephanie from Scrapworthy Lives. The Fathering Project website!

Watching: Sherlock

Buying: Memento and Photo365 for my iPhone

Listening: Emily: ‘It’s a mystery’ ‘Something’s missing’

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

Check out the December Daily Inspiration Podcast

December Daily: Day 14

2011-12-15T19:55:00.001+08:00

Traditions: Phill’s birthday! Though we only had a small gift (well at least compared to the scroll saw, cutting tool and other gifts he got on the weekend!

Craft: Christmas cards, making the Christmas garland from Jessica Sprague’s free class. I did the activity for Playgroup – Rudolf the Reindeer. They didn’t get antlers, but I’ve had a busy week!

Emily catching a ride on the fire engine at clean up time!

Singing: Away in a manger, Happy Birthday to Daddy.

Eating: Hot dogs, salad and icecream for tea.

Organising: Our verticals for the last couple of windows we have bare.

Watching: Upstairs Downstairs part 2

Giving: Phill’s present, and wrapping another one

Buying: My new phone. I’ve had no phone of my own for just over a year, and finally decided to go with an iPhone. Managed to keep it up and running for about 3hours before crashing it! Which must be some sort of record for me. Thanks to Phill for many hours in queues in the past week to find a phone, sort out the transfer of my number etc.

Realising: I need to do something about the pain level in my left hip as it’s stopping me sleeping (Seeing the Doctor on Friday). Or was the the builders next door?

Listening: Emily is such a cute singer!

Melissa

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December Daily: Day 10 Layout

2011-12-13T16:50:00.000+08:00

Phill cooked up some pancakes this morning - we had been cleaning out the freezer and had no bread left. Not that we were complaining!

Simple Template Album Template 4; Happy Hollydays Add on Paper Pack by Karen Lewis Designz available at The DigiChick; Happy Hollydays by Karen Lewis Designz available at The Digichick; Fonts: Melissa'sHand

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December Daily: Day 12

2011-12-13T16:07:00.000+08:00

Traditions: Opening the advent calendar.

Decorating: Well, more like undecorating from Phill's 30th party!

Singing: Away in a Manger - with Grandma O today. Emily just need to sing along with people now!

Dancing: To Silent Night

Eating: Alfredo with olives and semi dried tomatos and home made garlic bread. Daddy had another work party today so just Emily and I for tea.

Organising: My digital scrapbooking class.

Watching: The ultrasound of the baby. Today we had our 19 week scan and Phill and Emily came along. It was so amazing to see the 3d pictures/video of the baby. ‘Nano’ growing well and doing all the right things so the Sonologist was happy with that!

Giving: Away lots of goodies to my students! $40 worth of digital supplies, a getting started with digital scrapbooking booklet and more at my Christmas Fun workshop (you can register for the free online class here)

Listening: To the rain fall – again!

Melissa

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A Compliment a Day

2011-12-13T09:18:00.001+08:00

I’ve had a few people ask about the compliment a day that I used to do as a teenager (for several years actually, I consciously did try).

As a teenager, I gave out lots of compliments to my friends outfits or hair styles, but also tried to be appreciative of people’s special talents. I even tried to find some thing positive to write most weeks about the service in our Church communication cards.

I have to admit I did better at giving compliments when I was out than at home!

I found that a lot of people find compliments hard to deal with (in Australia we are notoriously self-deprecating!) and at that time in my life I felt the odd one out by responding with a simple ‘thankyou’ to compliments I received.

Some people still feel that I’m insincere or trying to get something out of them by giving them a compliment, I try to ignore it an perhaps just tone down the compliments in future. Of course my compliments are sincere and I truly hope people don’t get the wrong end of the stick!

Over the past 15years I’ve consciously tried to get into a habit of speaking positive words to gain a smile, rather than being sarcastic to gain a laugh from others.

In some ways, I think it did help me form a habit of looking for the positive in most situations.

One thing I ask – when you receive a compliment, take it on face value, smile and say thankyou!

Melissa

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December Daily: Day 31

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December Daily: Day 18-20 Digest Edition

18th

19th

20th

December Daily: Day 17

December Daily: Day 16

December Daily: Day 11

December Daily: Day 15

December Daily: Day 14

December Daily: Day 10 Layout

December Daily: Day 12

A Compliment a Day

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