Sunday, May 31, 2009

And the winner is.......

Sorry that this draw is a day late, I have been a little under the weather! Thank you to everyone who entered for your kind comments. I used Random.org again to find the winner of my giveaway, and according to the result it is comment number "4", which is Louisa!

........................................................

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

4
Timestamp: 2009-05-30 16:41:54 UTC

........................................................

Congratulation Louisa!, I will be popping over to your blog in a sec to let you know the news!

Next giveaway will be posted tomorrow!

Hugs
Jen

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A little behind...


I will be drawing the winner of the my Summer Bag on Friday so if you know anyone else who might like to enter please let them know quickly!!


Lastly, I just wanted to post a quick pic of the mirror the songstress bought me for Mothers day...

Have a great week, and hugs to you all!
Jen xoxox

Friday, May 22, 2009

The smells of winter....

I am a "Smell" person. Most of my memories of people or things involve some sort of smell. Little things like every time I walk past a pub I am transported back to 1972 to the good ship SS Orsova where our family spent 6 weeks travelling across the ocean from Canada to Australia. The smell of coconut takes me to my teen years when we spent every waking moment at the beach completely covered in suntan oil. The smell of pipe tobacco reminds me of my grandfather... Lavender reminds me of my sweet Aunty Joan ... I could go on..

One of the things I love about winter is all the different smells. The smell of rain completely relaxes me, I absolutely love it. My family's favorite winter smell is of a huge pot of stew or soup bubbling on the stove. I decided this year to get myself a pressure cooker. I have never used one before, but I have been doing a bit of research and was really impressed that they can cook a soup or a stew in about 40 minutes. I do tend to get a little over excited when it comes to appliances but this time I have reason to be! This little sucker is probably one of the best things I have ever bought.


I got some lamb shoulder from Woolies and browned it in a little oil with some onion. I then added some fresh mint, chicken stock and honey - cooked it for 15 minutes then added some spuds, carrot, peas and corn cooked for another 20 minutes and wallah! "45 minute Honey-mint Irish Stew" (... yeah, I am better at making up recipes than I am at making up recipe names!) The lamb just melted in our mouths and it was so full of flavour and so moist and tender.

And all those stories about them being hard to use was rubbish! The new ones are a piece of cake! It was a bit pricey, even though I got it on sale, but I am sure it will pay for itself ïn no time. You can use cheaper cuts of meat as they tenderise really quickly and it will definately cut down the gas bill.

Here are some of my other favorite smells. My little collection of 'parfum'. I loooove perfume, it is my guilty pleasure. I have been wearing Ysatis by Givenchy since 1987, and my kids always tell me that is the smell that always reminds them of me... a few of my other absolute favorites are Hypnose by Lancome, Midnight Poison by Dior, Agent Provocateur's Maitresse, Happy Spirit by Chopard. A new favorite that Doug bought me for Easter is Calvin Klein's Euphoria... And I know, for shame, I have two bottles of 'Miami Glow' by JLo.... Aaaahhh, I can't help it, it is a gorgeous, beachy, summery, fruity, coconutty bottle of yumm!! ....It isn't available any more so I also have a stash of it in my drawer :)!!!!



Last but not least a picture of my new little 'ladder shelf' - isn't it cute! I put it next to the new mirror that the kids got me for mother's day. Like I need any more shelves for any more stuff :)!



Hope you are all well, will be back soon!
Hugz
Jenxoxoxoxoxox

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Need sleep!

Need to do a post on a few things, including 'smell' but I am too tired - will do it tomorrow.
Goodnight all
hugs
Jen

Monday, May 18, 2009

Chase the Lion

The Lion Chaser’s Manifesto by Mark Batterson
Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!

...............................................................

I read this on my lovely friend Tinker's blog. Normally when I find something like this that speaks to my heart I like to re-write the points that affect me the most.. with this I would just have to re-write the whole thing.. I keep reading it over and over, it inspires me... I hope it inspires you.

...............................................................

Also, I won Tinker's giveaway ....:)!! I am so excited!, I never win anything!! It is a book called "The Twelve Teas of Friendship". And anyone who knows me knows there is nothing I love more than a new book!
Thank you Tinker !!
Isn't she gorgeous!

Hugs
Jen xxoo

Thursday, May 14, 2009

just to say....

I am working through a few emotional issues which I need to do before I finish what happened 29 years ago. I will have a new post in the next day or so... Thanks for your understanding and even more your patience. You have all been so supportive it has been amazing...
bless you all.
Hugs
Jennyy

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

I am having another bloggy giveaway!!!

I adapted this bag from the Anna Maria Horner pattern 'I'll Have One of Everything'. I used Paula Prass Flights of Fancy fabric and I think it turned out quite summery and cute. Sorry the picture is a little dark, will try and do another one tomorrow in the daylight. Hope you like it! Please leave a comment if you would like to own it!






... and a little grandson update,
I bought the bug one of the old style bouncers because I remember how much our kids loved theirs when they were little. After we got home I worried that perhaps I should have gotten him one of the newer fancier ones with all the bells and whistles.. oh well, he does seem to like it...



Hugs
Jenxxxxx

Monday, May 11, 2009

Lila Tueller Retro 'Groovy' Bag

I made this lovely bag for my daughter the glamour girl from the Lila Tueller Retro 'Groovy'Bag pattern and I love it - gonna make more in different fabrics!

My Retro 'Groovy' Bag

Hugs
Jen

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother Day!

Happy Mothers Day to the most wonderful Mum in the world!

Thank you for all of your love and wisdom over the years mum, I would not be the person that I am today without you. I love you to the moon and back!

Mum with her great grandson the bug!


Hugs,
 Jen  XXXXX

Monday, May 4, 2009

Winner of the Flower Garden Vida Dress !!!!

We have a winner!!! I used Random.org and the winner of the Flower Garden Vida Dress is Cheree!

Cheree, if you could please either email me via my blog or comment me through this post with your email address or postal address I can arrange for the dress to be sent. I really hope that your niece likes the dress!

I will be having another give-away soon so watch this space!!

Hugs
Jenny

Sunday, May 3, 2009

the giveaway ends Monday

Just a little reminder that the giveaway ends on Monday and will be draw on Monday evening - if you have any friends that you would like to tell please do so by then. Thanks and good luck to everone who entered!!

my model daughters......

Our two eldest daughters the model and the songstress are in Perth Bride Magazine 2009. 
They have done a bit of modelling over the time so I thought I would share a few pics of them, just a few of my favorites...

the songstress has the most amazing blue eyes...


.... isn't she pretty!...



I never imagined te songstress with red hair
 - but it is effective!' 
This is actually in alot of different magazines as an add for WASP Hair.



This one is so cute, it is used as in a training manual of all things!, for how to answer the phone lol!


I didn't get many of the model's pics and proofs yet, just a couple.....
She hates this picture, it is supposed to be strong, silent and sexy. 
She just thinks she  looks really, really angry! LOL :) 
Which if you knew her, you would know is not her at all, she is always happy and smiling. Always.



.. she hates this one too!! I love the short wig though, I think she can carry it off well!


These are just a few proofs, they can put anything where the green is and make it look like she is anywhere! They can stick the eiffel tower behind her and say it was shot in Paris!!!. The photographer kept making her laugh, he was very naughty!!


This is more my girl - yeah!!! rock on!


God bless you all and have a great weekend!
Hugs
Jen xxoo

Friday, May 1, 2009

Mani's and Pedi's with my Angel......

Had a lovely day with the model today, we took khye with us as we went out and shopped till we dropped. Then we had "mani's and pedi's" We had coffee and cake, we bought new clothes for Khye and we bought lovely, soft, flannel, new winter pyjamas, I got Cookie Monster!!... Somehow, I always end up with sesame street pj's... I really do!!!!

Pedicure and new pyjamas!

Hugs
Jen