Ros Davidson, Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrator, Melbourne, Australia

Small update

We didn’t do much on Australia Day. Nat worked overtime Friday night, and then had his normal shift of Saturday/Sunday/Monday working. We all spent Saturday afternoon having nanna naps. Even Josh! I know yesterday was Australia Day but it is a bit wierd seeing as the public holiday is on Monday. It sort of didn’t feel like Australia Day to me, but then that could be as I never left the house either.

I have been struggling with my PND a bit this weekend, I usually have more trouble on the weekends and when family have gone away (yes all my family except me) it makes things even worse. To add to it all, being a long weekend and Nat working it just completes the trifecta.

Been trying to do a lot of cooking and more craft as the re-direction helps. Made pizza pinwheels for lunch today, butter chicken and caramel walnut fudge brownie yesterday. Who knows what I may cook tomorrow!

My grandmother loved the card I made (see Errr... stuff post) and asked mum “Did Ros make this?” Well, I am assuming she liked it, from that comment! LOL...

I’ve had a few people ask how Bella is. She is getting better and has about 80% use of her arm. If it doesn’t improve much more in 2 weeks time I’ll have to take her to a childrens chiropractor. Would that be paediatric chrio or am I just making that up now?

Note to self, by Stampin’ Up heat gun. The metal barrel on normal heat guns gets really hot and hurt like hell when you burn your fingers! And sadly, this isn’t the first time I have done this. Not to mention that I also burnt my fingers on UTEE today as well. I guess I win the klutz of the day award today.

Having a cyber stamp night tonight with some of the girls on one of the Stampin’ Up! Forums I visit. Trying to get the kids into bed and stay there. Not an easy task when it is still so light outside and other kids are out in the street playing.

Best get a move on or else I’ll never get to stamps/scrap.
Ros

P.S. Got the photos of my mum's wedding yesterday of Katie Toland and they are awesome! Usually I like black and white better for the simplicity but the colours in these photos are amazing! A mini album will be coming once I get the photos printed etc. Maybe after Feb. when sale-a-bration is finished.

Labels: Izzy info, Me

Errr... stuff

*Edited to add, for every order placed via my blog or e-mail between now and March 31st, you will be in the draw for $30 product of your choice and a level 1hostess set. This is my way of saying thank you for helping me reach my goals. If I do reach both my goals there will be 2 draws instead of the 1.*

Before I forget, seeing as I typed Drew’s latest word (or noise rather) in a word document so I could blog it (and have a date for it...) This is for my info more than anything but it is still very cute. I dressed Drew in a new pj top tonight (Sunday 6th) one that I found when cleaning out the boys closest. It is one my MIL made and is blue satin with bees on it. Anyway... Drew was going “is that ‘zzzz’ for me?”
Oh so cute the way he was saying bees, LOL well he was trying to say buzz which I took mean bees, seeing as he can say Buzz (as in, Buzz Lightyear).

Once again I have been cleaning, seeing as it is the word I have “chosen” for this year. Well, the word is actually “organisation”. Unfortunately you can’t have organisation, without cleaning. I now have a cleaner computer desk, a far cleaner floor in the study (so much so that I can sit on it and throw stuff around... LOL), a wonderfully organised Stampin’ Up! Cardstock container and labels stamp pads. Mind you, none of this has left me which much time to create however. Why is it so hard to have organisation and mojo?

Whilst labelling my ink pads, I made a decision. Seeing as I have my last three months of my Stampin’ Start left (Stampin’ Up! give you your choice of free stamps sets when you are a demonstrator and reach set goals in your first 6 months with Stampin Up!) and I have a sales figure to reach (also a recruiting figure) if I reach my sales figure I am going to buy myself the colour cady (page 147 in the catalogue) http://catalogs.shoplocal.com/stampinup/index.aspx?pagename=shopmain&fsid=64211caf-d215-4ed0-b361-665d5cc40ffe&storeid=1039381&circularid=10393 and if I reach my recruiting figure I will buy myself a new splurge item in the new catalogue (no idea what is in there until March!) If anyone wants to help me meet my goals, both in sales and/or recruiting, feel free to contact me on [email protected] and I will be more than happy to help you.

For anyone that signs up under me, I will give you a background stamp of your choice valued at $33.95 not to mention plenty of ideas and tips to begin a fun new journey.

Now for the engagement card I mentioned last post. I have used:
Stamps: Merci (Sale-a-bration set) & Warmest Regards (level 1 hostess set)
Cardstock: Rose red, pretty in pink, chocolate chip, whisper white, old olive, glossy white
Ink: black stazon
Other: Rose red & pretty in pink stampin’ markers, circle punch, nestabilities dies & brads.

I have a few other creations I have finished just I have resized the photos etc. so they will have to wait for the next post...
Ros

Labels: cards, Drew info, Dribble, Stampin Up

7 weird and wonderful things about me...

Hmmm, gotta think for a while. It’s not easy I tell you, and it should be... Sleep deprivation screws with my head every time. Couldn’t sleep last night so I started reading my latest SM mag. Low and behold, I got the shock of my life when I turned the page and saw my layout (the 2 of us became 5) in the running for people’s choice. Something weird going on there with the dates in the mag, re voting. November 2007, I don’t think so! Anyway, I was so excited I had to call Nat and tell him about it and finally remember to tell her I had a layout accepted that morning for SM too.

Bella is pulling herself up to a standing position (using Nat’s tall speaker) and sits up in her cot after waking from a nap now. She is doing better, crawling around much more now. Crawls a little different in using her left hand/arm as to before but is improving all the same. She certainly is taking the recovery slowly but is trying to run in the scheme of other things.

Mum’s wedding went well, it was lovely and not to hot (only I managed to get burnt of course). Must have plastered the make up on better than Matt’s wedding in December as I only got burnt on my arms.

Katie Toland, took some photos (can’t wait to see them) and we had our cameras out and happening as always.

Just one photo to upload. A photo of 4 generations (one I have been waiting for a while on). Have taken a few previously but this now has all members of my family (that is relevant to the photo) in it. So glad my sister doesn’t have kids yet as it meant there was an adult to hold each and every child! The were over photos by this point and we had not long started and they were off trying to do a runner all the time.

Now back to the weird and wonderful things about me...
1. I broke my left arm so badly when I was 7, I needed surgery to repair it. I didn’t know at the time but the bone was broken through my skin. I still have a scar to this day to remind me of it.
Note to all, don’t get pulled along on the road by a bike (bicycle) when you are on roller-skates and put your hand down on the ground to steady yourself.

2. I worked in timber yards for almost 10 years before finally stopping work just before Bella was born

3. I have a mole (nicknamed coco pop, as it looks exactly like one) on my stomach, 3 inches across from my belly button

4. My tongue swells from having heyfever (which I never knew I had until recently) and it swells so much I had to take my tongue bolt out (5th January 2008). Kinda weird now seeing as my tongue was pierced for nearly 6 years.

5. I was born 3 months premature (and in an ambulance). Whilst pregnant, it was a fear to have my children born that early. Thankfully, that was never the case.

6. I am the eldest granddaughter on both sides of my family and on my dad’s side my eldest cousin is 6 weeks younger than me.

7. I love chocolate (but then again who doesn’t) but hate chocolate ice cream, yogurt and all things not chocolate flavoured but love chocolate mousse (especially home made. Yummo!)

Off to make an engagement card for my cousin who got engaged over Christmas. I can’t go to the party but my Oma rang this morning and asked me to make one large enough for all the family to sign. I guess she really liked her calendar and likes my stuff.... Oh well, good for my ego if nothing else! Certainly feeling much better today than in previous days, wasn’t coping with the depression very well.

Cheers,
Ros

Labels: Izzy info, layouts, photos

Home again

Home again, home again, jiggty jig. Bella was released from Frankston hospital this mornig (thank goodness as I have seen enough of it since Tuesday evening!) Her hand is still swollen and sore and she is not really using other than using her right hand to touch the fingers on her left hand. Occasionally she will try and grasp something but rarely and short lived. Also no crawling which is a little annoying seeing as until Tuesday she could more about freely.

Thanks everyone for all the wishes and thoughts with Bella. She is home with us (and antibiotics) unless she spikes a fever and then it is back to Frankston Hospital. She has a review at the GP on Monday so we will be taking things one day at a time for the moment.

Very brief one here, my mum is getting married tomorrow and I have stuff to do and organise and my brother, SIL and baby niece are staying to that is exciting too... A fresh one, well fresher than Bella (Chloe is 1 months old)

Ros

Labels: Izzy info

My baby is in hospital...

Bella Boo is in hospital with what they think is cellultious.

Cellulitis: An acute spreading bacterial infection below the surface of the skin characterized by redness (erythema), warmth, swelling, and pain. Cellulitis can also cause fever, chills, and "swollen glands" (enlarged lymph nodes). Cellulitis is a clinical diagnosis based on the spreading involvement of skin and subcutaneous tissues with erythema, swelling, and local tenderness, accompanied by fever and malaise.

Cellulitis commonly appears in areas where there is a break in the skin from an abrasion, a cut, or a skin ulcer. It can also be due to local trauma, such as an animal bite. Only rarely is cellulitis due to the bacteremic spread of infection -- bacteria arriving from a distant source via the bloodstream.

Risk factors for cellulitis include diabetes and impairment of the immune system (from, for example, HIV/AIDS or immunosuppressant drugs). Cellulitis is not contagious because it is an infection of the skin's deeper layers, the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, and the skin's top layer (the epidermis) provides a cover over the infection.

The main bacterium that causes cellulitis is Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) and Strep (Group A Streptococcus) is next most common. Cellulitis can be caused by many other types of bacteria. In children under six, H. flu (Hemophilus influenzae) can cause cellulitis, especially on the face, arms, and upper torso. Cellulitis from a dog or cat bite or scratch may be caused by the Pasturella multocida bacteria. Cellulitis after an injury from a saltwater fish or shellfish can be due to the Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. These same bacteria can also cause cellulitis after a skin injury on the farm, especially while working with pigs or poultry.

Antibiotics such as derivatives of penicillin that are effective against the staph germ are used to treat cellulitis. If other bacteria, as determined by culture tests, turn out to be the cause, or if patients are allergic to penicillin, other appropriate antibiotics are substituted.

Common Misspellings: cellutitis, celluitis, cellulitist, cellolitus, cellulitous, celulitis, cellulitus

I took Boo to the chrio twice on Tuesday as after a nap she couldn't move her left arm. It was just hanging there doing nothing. I thought she needed another adjustment (which she did) but the chrio sent me to the GP in case Boo had an infection. The GP sent us to Frankston Hospital thinking it was an infection of the elbow... 4 hours in the waiting room of the emergency department (even though she was an "urgent" case) we finally got a cot for her (next to the nurses station!)

At 4.30am on Wednesday morning she was admitted to the children's ward. She is still there now and I am having a quick break to get clothes to stay overnight with her (while Nat and I tag team during the day).

Just a very quick, mainly for my records but yeah. I am exhausted (something to do with being up until after 5am on Wednesday morning and having little sleep after that.) I do have a couple of pics of Boo although it isn't like she looks sick! The one of her arm is after she had already had 4 doses of antibiotics. Boo has been pretty good only getting really upset when someone touches her arm or when she had her x-rays.

Ros

Labels: Izzy info, Izzy photos

Cleaning bug?

Does anyone every get the cleaning bug? I don't very often and today it struck... Nat is having some mates over tomorrow night so I had a go a removing my stuff off the pool table (it is never kept super clean for long!!!) Then as I was putting stuff away I found more stuff that had been shoved aside (to look tidy) so I put that away to. Somehow I ended up in the boys closest cleaning up the top shelf (which is where I throw all the clothes that are too small until I get around to dealing with them), I repeated this in the girls room, then worked outside, wedded a little, put all the clean, folded clothes away, cleaned the bathroom and toilet floors and I think that is just about it.

All in all, it doesn't look like I have done alot as I didn't hide stuff in cupboard etc. I cleaned them out and then put stuff away properly. I think the only things I have to show from todays efforts (aside from sore feet) is sparkling clean toilet and bathroom floors and 2 garbage bags of clothes for the brotherhood bin.

I have created just haven't uploaded the photos. Slack I know!
Ros

Labels: Dribble

WARNING... Long post!

So I haven’t blogged in a while. Nothing unusual there... Was very busy in the lead up to Christmas. Made 6 calenders, 1 canvas, 2 sets of mini scrapbook layouts, 1 photo frame, 1 mini album and I think that is is... I took photos of only a few of the things I made and forgot the rest (opps!)

Calender for my MIL with Nikki's handprint.

MIL's frame of all the grandkiddies! (and a close up below)

We had a good Christmas, was very busy and the kids loved their presents. “Santa” brought them a special gift each and a kids digital camera to share. Natty spoiled me and brought me an ipod touch... Noice! Today my silicon and plastic cases arrived so now I can work off all the Christmas food without having to hold onto my ipod! We had Christmas Day here with Nat’s family, Christmas Eve at my Dad’s place and Boxing Day at my Mum’s. It was strange as it was the first year I haven’t seen my brother over Christmas. Warren and Amanda didn’t want all the stress of bringing Chloe down when they are having enough day to day struggles.

A photo of my new niece (seeing as I haven't posted one) Chloe Joanna Oakes aka Miss Scooter!

Christmas dress (and shirt below) my MIL made for all my kids.

The aftermath!!! Loads of toys and way too much rubbish!

The Stampin’ Up! Sale-A-Bration started yesterday. It is bound to be the best promotion in the Stampin' Up! year with heaps of free stamp sets to give away. To see the free sets, e-mail me or leave a comment and I will send you a mini catalogue.

You can get the free stamp set in 3 ways:
- Place a $100 customer order either directly to me or at a workshop (you get a free set for EACH $100 you spend - no limit!)
- Hold a workshop and reach a sales total of $600 (you can also get free sets for your own orders as a hostess if they reach $100);
- Become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator yourself. In January and February you can choose an extra free stamp set up to the value of $79.95 (this time from the main catalogue) with your starter kit! You can also get 10% off if you use the code in issue 49 of Scrapbook Creations (January edition).

I still have a few spots left in my calendar for workshops in January and February, so contact me today to book your workshop.

Today while playing around with my nestabilities that I got for Christmas (thanks Mum!) I made this goodie bag for Nat to give to me for Valentine’s Day! Nat was more than happy to hear that I had made myself a card (opps a bag so he must get me a present now!!! Sneaky isn’t it!)

I went to the Mornington Twilight market on Saturday night and got a yummy salad dressing which came in the lovely brown paper bag I used for the bag. Nothing like recycling!

(The back of the bag is for Nat to write on instead of giving me a card)

Materials used:
Simply Said (heart) stamp set, taken with teal, whisper white, close to cocoa & regal rose cardstocks, regal rose ink, basic black and bashful blue stampin’ write markers, linen thread, word window punch, aged copper brads, on board chipboard – simon lower, nestabilities circles, spiral punch, loves me patterned paper, flirty ribbon, corner rounder punch

My December 1,2.3 layout using a family picture taken at my Oma's early December.

Enough from me, I want to try and get some more stamping done before picking up the kids from childcare. I didn’t do any stamping at all during December and am all ready to get back into it!

Cheers,
Ros

Labels: josh photos, layouts, Nikki photos, photos, Stampin Up