Scissors Paper Pen: Holidays

Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Sunday, January 6

Day 6 Drawing + Holiday Fun

Another hot guy for today's art work.....Channing Tatum.

He was the sexy bad boy in Step Up but I really fell for him in Dear John opposite Amanda Seyfried. Oh god I love her too (filing that one away for a future portrait......)

Challenges were the slight distortion of the face resting in the hand and all that dark shading along the side of the nose. I don't think the irises are quite right either....

How's the hols so far? Keeping the kids amused?

In the heat of the day we've been Scrabbling.....

and Mario Carting......with much shrieking and squealing when I'm playing and invariably falling off cliffs and into boiling lava 15 times a game......FUN!

In the late arvo the girls hop in the pool (that pool is the best purchase we've ever made!!!) and there they stay until I drag them inside for dinner.

The vegie patch is producing wildly.

Lots of TOMATOES, BASIL and RED ONION for yummy salads and pesto.

And some gorgeous plump EGG PLANT...

.....grilled with olive oil and salt - divine.

What else can I cook with these ingredients?? Recipes anyone?

Wednesday, August 15

True "family" accommodation

Oh, and to add to yesterday's post about Newcastle......

If you need to take your family to Newcastle, I highly recommend Bluegum Apartments in Jesmond.

Having that 3rd child makes staying anywhere almost impossible!!! You either have to get a cabin at the local caravan park, have someone sleeping on the only couch or get interconnecting rooms at a motel - effectively doubling the cost of your visit - and by taking that option you still have to eat out.

We paid $180 per night (not much more than a scabby cabin at the nearest holiday park) and our apartment was BEAUTIFUL!!!

Modern, new and spotlessly clean

HUGE living area with enough leather lounges to seat all of us

Massive kitchen complete with "laundry in a cupboard" and all the appliances you would ever need (even oil, s&p and sauces in the pantry!)

6-seater dining table

Big TV plus FREE wi-fi (yes - free!!!)

Cordless telephone

Massive & very comfy king size bed and ensuite in our room (HUGE shower!)

Girls had their own room with bathroom right next door

Only 10 minutes drive into the heart of Newcastle

Own covered off-street car parking spot

Jesmond Shopping Centre on the doorstep

Yummy chinese restaurant across the road

Minimal traffic noise

I really was super impressed!

Mum and her hubby stayed in the same complex - and although they booked a 2 bedroom apartment also, it was much smaller than ours. Still beautifully fitted out though, and great for 2 or 3 people.

But ours was twice the size - I kid you not! So ask for apartment number 27.

Tuesday, August 14

A weekend to reminisce

I was so happy to revisit NEWCASTLE the other weekend.

I moved there at age 19 as a second year uni student (to this country girl it really was "the big smoke") - and left 4 years later as a career girl and newlywed. I worked days, partied nights and on weekends spent all my wages shopping! No mortgage, no kids, no responsibilities......oh those were the days!

Was fun driving around showing the girls our old haunts - first apartment, fave restaurants, the foreshore, where we shopped and where we spent our time.

We went for State Gymnastics - Kate made the team for North West by default, there not being enough competitors in our area to hold trials at zone or regional level. So there she was - her very first competition - carrying the banner as the lone NorthWest rep - in the midst of the best high school gymnasts in the state!

Was she worried? Was she shy? I would have been petrified! But not our Kate. She took it all in her stride, chatting to the other girls, doing her thing and performing her best. Amazing girl. So proud of her!

We braved the cold and took the fam to the footy on Saturday night - Knights (Tim's team) vs Bulldogs. Had great seats and got caught up in the atmosphere - while we watched the Knights get smashed!

Bessie and Tim:

Mia was impressed by the Cheerleaders (did I tell you she started Cheer classes this year?)

Close to the action:

Thanks for popping by.

I'll be back soon with some new drawings and what's been cooking in my kitchen!

xxx

Tuesday, May 22

Happy List

Here are the things that gave me BLISS this week (better late than never!)

1. Appearing on the Charm's Creations blog!

2. Feeling healthy and renewed after my first 4-week round of Hayley Lewis's Low GI food and exercise plan (and joining up for another go cos I'm loving it so much!)

3. Receiving my personalised Style Guide (how posh!) from Bird's Nest. I totally recommend doing this girls - it's great! Next thing on my list - a mega wardrobe chuck-out!

4. This performance on The Voice last night. GO TEAM KEITH!!!

5. An impromptu family getaway 3 hours north to Stanthorpe to visit our good friend who works on a salad farm (they grow the salad leaves you buy in supermarkets - you know...baby spinach, mesclan mix, etc). This gorgeous little town is truly a foodie's paradise! We sampled olives, cheese, wine, fudge, jams, chutneys, ice cream and every fruit and veg imaginable. Yum yummy scrumptious!