Vicarious Living .....

Isn't the blog universe an interesting place?

We visit other people's blogs and get caught up in their lives - whether we want to or not and somehow develop 'friendships' with these people - even though they don't even know we exist (except as some number in their "hits").

Sometimes we do get to know them - in real life - and chat and share ideas but mostly it is all anonymous.

And sometimes our 'real' friends have blogs too and we know more about their week through their posts on their blog than through our own conversations with them (Hi Kelly and Keryn)

And then we find out that some terrible things are going on in their lives but there is nothing we can do - remember we are just hits on their blog - but still we feel it and feel their pain and feel helpless.

I challenge you to be less of a stalker and more of a friend this year - leave comments on blogs and chat with people - or seriously limit the number of blogs you visit!!!!!

I hate Christmas Eve

No really, I hate Christmas Eve.... and this one was no exception.

I hate the anticipation of it, it's nearly Christmas but not quite and all the last minute jobs are left till Christmas Eve so you are busier than ever. You and everyone else who thought they'd wait till the last minute to pick p the last few things on your list are all trying to find a park at the same time at the mall and you are all at the check out at the same moment - I hate Christmas Eve.

And I can never get to sleep on Christmas Eve - this goes way back to the excitement of trying to get to sleep before Santa arrives and hoping that the things on my list would be waiting for me and it's too hot to sleep anyway. But now the thoughts are different .... will everyone like their gifts? will C like the Ferrari model even though it's not Star Wars Lego? did all the parcels reach their destinations? have I got enough food? will there be something healthy for me too eat? what am I going to wear? do I have something that fits? two things that fit and go together? will it be flattering? why am I still awake? why can't I get to sleep? if I don't get to sleep soon the kids will be getting up? should I get up and do something instead of lying here worrying about being awake and not asleep? what is the time anyway? ..... and so it went on ..... anyway I probably got to sleep about midnight and then was up at 3 and then M snuck into our bed at 6.40am so I did ok in the sleep department but I am a bit tired now ..... did I tell you I hate Christmas Eve?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and all the blessings of the season to you.

This is our Christmas tree - not the best photo I know but pretty none the less.

I hope you all have a fantastic, safe Christmas - see you in 2009!

And the winner is .....

Kelly - you found me - here I am in a mob of leaders at our recent conference in Auckland. We were having a group photo - you can only imagine how long it took to organise 350 ADULTS for a photo - lots of fun though.
Anyway - that is my nose resting on the "N" of challenge ...... and I know the picture is tiny - click on it to see me up close :-)

Super Star

Besides crafting my next favourite thing is GirlGuiding NZ. I started as a Brownie when I was 8 years old and have been involved ever since. Imagine my pride when, finally this year, my daughter was old enough to join too - Yeah.

Anyway, enough already. Today I had a look at the new and improved GirlGuiding NZ website and low and behold who's face stares back at me - no other than my darling Pippin. If you want to have a look just go here and while you are there check out all the wonderful opportunities for girls in New Zealand.

I am on one of the pages too - I'll send a prize to the first person to leave a comment telling where I am ....

PS Congratulations to my friend Kelly - she passed all her exams - with an A+ no less - see all that hard work paid off :-)

Updated 3:42pm when I worked out how to get the picture :-)

Lisa Vollrath's Christmas Countdown

If you like Christmas - and lets face it we all do or why would we spend all that time lovingly making so many Christmas cards each year - or if you like Vintage things then check out Lisa's site - she collects images and offers them, one a day in a countdown to Christmas.

http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/

Kreativ Blogger Awards

Wow - Robin nominated my for a Kreativ Blogger Award - how cool is that! Thanks for thinking of me Robin. You had better all go and check out Robin's Blog too - she does some amazing art.

The rules for receiving the award are simple:

1. the winner may put the logo on their blog

2. put a link to the person who sent you the award

3. nominate 5 blogs

4. put links to their blogs

5. leave a message for your nominees

Now I have to nominate 5 blogs .....

Go check out the work by
Keryn - lots of cool Stampin Up! inspiration
Kelly - lots of awesome Scrapbooking layouts
Allison - she gathers heaps of links to other blogs with sketches, tutorials and the like - a mine of information
Sarah - now she hasn't blogged for a while cos she has been really sick and she is looking after herself but with a little encouragement she might show some more of her gorgeous work... :-)
Wendy - what an inspiration to us all - Kia kaha Wendy!


Well done everyone - well deserved awards!