I saw this idea on
Katie the Scrapbook Lady and thought I'd give it a go. I plan to do this each month, but who knows!
What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
Books
• Tess Gerritsen – ‘Keeping the Dead’
• Steig Larsson – ‘The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest'
• Stephenie Meyer – ‘Twilight’, ‘New Moon’, ‘Eclipse’, ‘Breaking Dawn’
• Michael Connolly – ‘The Brass Verdict’
Magazines
• ‘Australian Property Investor’ September Issue
• ‘Digital SLR Cameras’ September Issue
What movies, television shows, plays, etc. did I watch this month?
Movies
• Twlight (DVD)
• Déjà vu (TV movie)
Favourite TV shows
• Packed to the Rafters
• All Saints (which had its last episode EVER this month)
• Survivor – Gabon (this series finished this month)
• Celebrity Masterchef
What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?
• Numerous photography outings – none quite as successful as I would have liked (went in search of the kite surfers to no avail)
• Nanny visiting Mackay staying with Auntie Karen – BBQ dinner and breakfast outing with family
• Neighbourhood BBQ for neighbour’s (Linda) 60th birthday (I made caramel tarts, ice cream bars, mini quiches)
• Dinner at Hogs Breath for my birthday
What gifts did I give and/or receive?
• Contributed towards Linda’s ‘pandora’ bracelet for her 60th
• It was my 24th birthday! Received:
My new Nikon D90 dSLR camera (and accessories) from John (in September)
Elna sewing machine (using money from John’s Nanna and my parents)
Wii Fit from John
• Tupperware container set, jewellery set, scratchies, lotto ticket, new Wii game (Sonic & Mario at the Winter Olympics) and casual bracelet from close family
What special or unusual purchases did I make?
• My sewing machine (as my birthday money didn’t fully cover the cost)
• Some new socks (perhaps not worthy of noting, but they’re so pretty and I desperately needed new ones to wear in my workboots)
• A fabric ‘yo-yo’ maker
What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
• My gym membership finished last month, and I haven’t yet joined another gym. I have walked home (or most of the way at least, normally a good 6km or so) numerous times. I need to join another gym or set a serious walking/riding/stretching fitness schedule that I need to commit to. (Because magpie season is in full swing, I’ve been too chicken to walk home for the last two weeks!)
What were my accomplishments this month?
• Won a second place prize and a first place prize at the monthly photo club meeting. The photo that won second place is really one of my favourite photos and editing that I’ve done so far.
• Started to get a little organised with my digital life (on my external hard drive). With my original photos, the edited photos, the photos I want to edit, the photos I want to print and the photos I have printed, I’m finding my photography folder getting very confusing and out of sorts. I spent a little bit of time fixing it up and I think I’m happy with where it’s at now. Next stop: trying to get our hard drive at home and my external hard drive somewhat ‘synced’.
• Completed organising my scrapbook albums. I bought a number of new albums over the last few months (mainly American Crafts d-ring albums) with thoughts of replacing my old old old albums that are falling apart, and also creating some new ones so that the albums have the themes that I want. I now have a full chronological set (2004 through to 2009, generally two albums a year), a ‘childhood’ album, ‘high school’ album, ‘dancing’ album and ‘random’ album (for pictures of Mum and Dad growing up, for example).
What were my disappointments this month?
• I haven’t kept on top of the housework as much as I would have liked. I have a tendency to leave ‘stuff’ around for a day or two instead of just putting it away straight away! I also need to declutter the laundry to make some space for some boxes of my old stuff that Mum and Dad have brought up.
• Our house in Melbourne that we’re currently building is still not finished, despite having receiving the final progress claim in August! Needless to say we haven’t paid that yet, as the house actually isn’t finished, and the quality of some of the work leaves a bit to be desired. Hopefully after so many emails and phone calls that I couldn’t even count them, it won’t be long until we’re satisfied and we can finally finish our dealings with this builder.
Anything else noteworthy to include?
• Did numerous scrapbooking pages (probably over 10 when I count them) which I haven’t done for a long time.
• Began organising for the next GSG.
• Began the organisation and booking for our overseas trip next year (a good 8+ weeks worth or travelling, something that I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do, and now we’re finally getting to do it).
• Ellie (my 21 year old Ford Laser) became operational again, thanks to John’s dad getting it going initially in July, and a new battery being put in this month. I’ve been driving her to and from work regularly and she’s running quite well.
• Mum and Dad signed a contract for a new house!
Things to aim for next month?
• Replenish my ‘stock’ card supply with some effective but simple cards that I can have on hand to send when I need (or just want) to.
• Begin and complete my Christmas card making.
• Declutter the laundry and my scrapbooking room cupboard to make more storage space.
• Come up with a list of Christmas presents for family and friends.
• Either join a gym again or go for at least a half hour walk most afternoons.
• Get the business books up to date.
• Finish my half-finished scrapbook pages (I think there’s only one of Roxy from the last GSG).
• Continue to work on John’s around the world trip album (from where he went on the trip before we event met, but I’m making a very simple album for him with his photos and little tidbits of journaling). The album is very very simple, using only cardstock and photos, and generally stamping or computer printing for the titles. Each country/region has its own colour groups (ie France is blues/grays, Scotland is greens/white, Italy is terracotta type colours, USA is red/white/blue etc). I have all the photos printed (and have had for probably two years now) and the cardstock is bought and sorted, but I’ve only finished about 8 pages (and there’s likely to be probably 40 when finished).
• Start thinking about my travel journal that I want to put together for when we go on our trip!
A just a random photo to finish with. This is from about 1999 I think, a cabaret group 'Austin Powers'. I've edited it a bit just to try to make it a bit clearer, but nothing special. (I'm the bottom left.)
