A is for Ow!! My Abs hurt!

It seems like every time I walk out of a class at the gym, some other new part of my body hurts. Since Thursday night, it has been my abdominal muscles. Bet you didn't know that you use your abs for so many things on a day to day basis? Like hanging out the washing, rolling out pastry, sneezing, laughing, coughing, vacuuming or chopping vegetables? Neither did I until after my pilates class the other night!!
I wish I could say that all these classes I'm doing are doing some good for me but apart from feeling great within myself, I'm not seeing any weightloss or looser clothes just yet. My weekly workout regime usually includes a step/fatburner class, 2xpilates classes and a circuit class. And I also try to make time for a gym workout in there as well. The week after my first step class, I couldn't walk for a week - and then when I did it was only on flat surfaces! rofl Last week, my knees decided they didn't like doing step so I've had to keep my exercises low impact for the time being. Circuit class on Friday was an hour from hell. We had 3 trainers sharing the class. One would count to five in between machine rotations and if you weren't quick enough, you had to go to the middle and do pushups until the next rotation. Then the trainers would push against you on the machines adding to the weight and intensity. I was heard to mutter a few expletives at one of the trainers and when I told her that I hated her she burst out laughing. I asked her today why that was and she told me that I looked and sounded just like Gollum from LOTR when I said it. Something about being glassy eyed, sweaty, hair hanging down either side of my face and having a throaty voice. Gee thanks!!
Okay, so I'm now going to take my dodgy knees, sore abs, excruciating upper body and aching legs and go and do some housework. It never ends does it?

The State of my Mind (and other things)...

Nah, not really but it sounds like a great topic for a post doesn't it?
The state of my mind is pretty negotiable though. Depends on who you ask. Some would say I'm out of it, some would say I'm sane and some wouldn't be game to tell me. bwahahaha

First off, I want to say thanks to those of you who have emailed me (or posted comments) in support of my little outburst in my last post. I'm okay - I'm over it.
I think it was worse because I was so darn tired from work (kudos to the man of the house who does 11 day fortnights. I love you honey but No! I won't swap with you regardless of how much you'd like me to). I was also a little down because I found out that I missed out on a spot with PDW. But hey, there's always next time right?? Anyway, I've been thinking of creating a large kit around my mini kit freebie. That should be fun because I'm really in love with those colours. So stay tuned.
There! Now that I've said it, I have to do it! ;)
So guess who's having a sale?? Just click here to go to my part of the Digitals store. It's a sort of 'birthday' sale for me. On account of pay day from this sale is just before my birthday! rofl
And I've booked a place for the Man of the House and I to stay for our child-free weekend away. I did book at Rydges at Southbank at first but I really wasn't 100% happy with my choice and then last weekend, the Sunday Mail had a heap of places down the Gold Coast with good deals on for the exact weekend we are going away. There is a Seafood Festival on at Surfers Paradise, so I've booked at Legends at Surfers (and cancelled my Rydges booking). I'm sooooo looking forward to this weekend. It also comes with 2 tickets to the observation deck of the Q1 Tower. I'm looking forward to the views - although I am terrified of heights.
I've been creating as well. This is my Inspiration Collection and it should be in the Digitals store in a few hours. Just click on my sale link (sorry this isn't on sale but it's still a steal at $1.99), to get to my part of the store.

Not much else to report. I have a couple of layouts for Karen to post but blogger won't let me post them, so I'll put them in another post later. Let's see.... Fleur (the lazy chicken) has stopped laying and gone broody on us. She layed a sum total of 15 eggs over a 4 week period all up. Rosie shows no sign of laying at all although she does like to sit on top of Fleur in the nest box. I suppose sitting on feathers is more comfortable than straw.
I have no hearing in my right ear at the moment and minimal in my left. I know it's a buildup of wax so off I went to the chemist this morning to get some drops. (I know about ear candles Miss L but I laughed at the mental image of you doing that so I'm not about to put myself in line of view of the Man of the House and do it myself). The drops have made it worse. So I guess I'm going to have to go to the dr tomorrow to get it all fixed. But it's been an interesting experience not being able to hear. It's funny how much we take for granted until we are faced with losing something isn't it?
Okay, that's my D&M thought for the day.

Right now, I'm really ticked!!

I'm tired.... and I'm cranky.
This week is my big week at work and yesterday morning was my 5am start day. *ugh*
(Although I will admit that there is something surreal about walking to work with stars still shining overhead).
Anyway, after being on my feet for 8 hours, I wandered home to relax for a short while before picking Miss Four up from preschool. So grabbed a drink and sat down to download my emails to find one alerting me to the fact that my Era mini kit has been pirated!! Does this make me happy?? No blinkin' way!!

I specifically put in my post to send people to my blog if you thought they might like the kit but someone thought it would be much easier to just hotlink in a yahoo group! I say to you - "How dare you?"
By doing this, you violated my terms and my good nature.
I like to give freebies from time to time. It gives me a chance to reward the people who've supported me as a designer since I started out. All it takes is one person to spoil it for all the others, as I'm now thinking very carefully about offering another freebie again.

To those of you who have come along and tried to download my kit. I'm sorry. I have deleted the link.
I truly hope you understand.

Era Mini Kit

I built this little collection around a paper that I created earlier in the year and although I liked it, it just didn't fit in with the kit I was designing at the time.
So, I've put this collection together just for you.
I really hope you like it. If you do, let me know.
I also guess that it goes without saying that when you've downloaded this kit, it is for you. Please do not upload it somewhere else to share, or forward the link on to your friends. If your friends would like it, send them to my blog to download it for themselves. Please don't be a pirate.
You can download the Era Mini Kit - here.

Random Thoughts (and more layouts)

Some random thoughts for today.

*If it's raining here in Beaudesert, why can't it rain over the dams?
*Why is it that I am always told that I've 'been on the computer all day' when if you take out all the breaks and interruptions, it doesn't even come close?
*Why am I making a blog post when I should be out watching Tuesday night's taped episode of The Bill that the man of the house has just put on?
*How much sticky tape does one little girl need to create a boat using two pieces of paper?
*How come I've been going to the gym and doing pilates for 3 weeks now and my weight has stayed the same?
*How did that chocolate biscuit get into my hand?

Okay, on that note, I need to share some layouts. These two were done with my new Capri kit in the Digitals store. Can I say that this is my favourite kit I've designed so far? I've also created a matching Alpha. This layout of little Miss Four was taken last year (when she was three) on the banks of the Nerang River right near the Currumbin Alley. You wouldn't know it to look at the photo would you? It looks like a secluded little place. We'd just finished fish and chips in the park beside the river and she decided she wanted to try to skim stones. I think she needs more practice. I also scrapped some more photos of my oldest girl (can you believe she's nearly 21?? I know I can't). These were taken by a friend of her brother-in-law who is trying to get his studio technique right. I think she's gorgeous - but I am also biased.
I did some other layouts last weekend for the Guardian Peascrops but if I keep posting layouts, I'll run out of room on the blog page. I really must do some more layouts for the gorgeous Karen. I have done one but it's a bit plain. I like it - but still a little plain.

I've had a busy designing week as well. I've put a collection of digitally created flowers up in the store - creatively title 'Floral Collection' and I'm also in the process of uploading a new blog freebie for you all. So all in all - it's probably been a good week.

Catching Up, layouts and a Teaser

What a difference a week makes. Last week I was madly trying to arrange child care etc for Miss Four because of the changes that work was making to my roster and this week, I find out that I will only need to put her into child care for the one week of 5am starts and then I go on one afternoon a week. It will still be an 8 hour shift but only one afternoon a week - at this stage. Of course there are a lot of variables about exactly what is going to happen but one afternoon shift a week is a lot better than 2 morning shifts a week I can tell you.
Well, I am really trying to plan a weekend away for The Man of the House and myself. He turns 40 in a couple of weeks and I turn 41 so I want us to go away for the weekend in between. Trying to find somewhere reasonably priced that isn't too far away from home (we want to be close in case of emergencies with Miss Four), is not as easy as you would think. I think I've finally decided on Rydges at SouthBank (in the heart of Brisbane). I'm just waiting for them to get back to me with a quote.
So, that's about the only exciting stuff happening in my life at the moment.
On a grrr note - I was given the "Computer" talk again this morning. So I'm going to have to back off on my computer time. Problem is that the girls at DigiShop Talk won't stop talking!! LOL

I've done a couple of layouts this week to share with you...

I had so much fun doing this layout. I did it for the letter "H" for my ABC's of Me crop (which I'm seriously considering discontinuing due to lack of interest). The kit is my Summer Home Kit and the jigsaw action is by Panos. Hey, I emailed him a link to my layout and told him of the problem I had with the bevels when I merged layers and he emailed me back with a lovely email about my layout and suggestions on overcoming the bevel problem. Very cool. This is one of Miss Four's birthday photos from last year. Only about another 80 odd left to scrap. Kit is Pink Pig Pen by Dana Frantz @ Digitals; Brackets by Stacey Mann (Digitals), Stitching by Kathy Smith (Digitals) and Textured Alpha by Dana Frantz as well. The arrow is my own creation.

Aaargh - I wanted to post a teaser of my latest kit that I am working on but blogger isn't playing nice again. Anyway, I'm madly trying to get some new kits up in the store before I have a sale starting 17th July.

Charity Kits that are close to my heart

*warning - long winded post ahead*
Wow! 1st July marks the launch of two mega charity kits and one pairs kit (for charity) that I am involved with and both causes are very dear to my heart.
First off is the Digitals "On Angel's Wings" Charity Kit. This kit is over 380mb unzipped and has been put together by Glenda Ketcham, Sophia Davies, Lori Imel, Maddy Fernadez, Jen Maceyunas, Lucy Hampton, Jamie Conn, Eugenia Bacon, Myszka, Lori Furoy, Bannerwoman, Melissa Bastow and Me. It has anything you need to scrap about those you have loved and lost including your pets. But you are not limited to scrapping about those you have lost with this kit. Check out the Gallery to see the beautiful layouts that Glenda Ketcham has done of her beautiful grandchildren.
All proceeds from this amazing kit are for the benefit of SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support - incorporating Miscarriage). Sadly many of the designers at Digitals (myself included) have suffered miscarriages over the past 12 months. SANDS is an Australian charity and one that has been there for me when I've needed it. I'm so excited to be able to give something back to them. The majority of people who work at SANDS are volunteers and all income for this charity comes through fundraising. The telephone counsellors are women (and men) who have experienced the loss of a baby or child themselves.
SANDS pulled me out of a black hole just over 2 years ago when I lost my first baby at 16 weeks. I realised that my life was just a mess and I needed someone to talk to. The telephone counsellor listened to me sob my heart out and then just quietly talked to me. It was a turning point in my grieving process. Sadly, I have lost another 4 babies since then - the most recent only a couple of weeks ago after having been told by doctors that I would never conceive naturally again. The pain of losing a baby through any means (miscarriage included) is incredible. I am urging people to buy this kit to support a tremendous cause. On sale now for $10.

And now the Guardian Peas site is live and selling their mega kit (also $10) now. Grab a tissue and take a moment to read the stories of the little boys that the sales from this kit and the Pea Pairs kits ($5 each) are supporting. I truly don't know how the mothers of these children are coping as they watch their babies battle cancer. As I said in a prior post - leukaemia has touched my family as well and it is certainly an emotional rollercoaster for those families involved. Check out the Ideas Gallery to see some layouts done with the Mega kit and the pairs kits (including a layout of Miss Four)!
Another worthwhile cause.