{ MACdigi Mayhem }

This is just a quick entry, I am so time challenged at the moment due to my real job, but had to get this up!

We had our MAC conference on the weekend, and I met THE most wonderful, fun, caring, happy, special girls and could not have gotten along with them any better. We all got along like a house on fire and I wasn't at all suprised, after all, we have been friends for a while now, even though we hadn't met.
Sadly our good friend Karen was unable to make it (from NZ), but we talked of her often and drank to her more ;)

The pics here were taken on Sunday on Southbank, some at the restaurant and some walking around. Unfortunately these pics don't include Lis and Ruth as they weren't there on the Sunday, I will do another one of these from the Saturday night when 8 of us were there. The pics also include our own little MAC digi mascot, the gorgeous Deb and the lovely Dr Tax (AKA David, Judy's DH). We also got to meet the gorgeous Trent and lovely Matt on Saturday when they dropped Lis off, just wonderful, meeting all these fabulous people! Click for a larger view

All I can say is that I am truly blessed to call ALL of these girls my friends and I know they are always here for me and I will be for them. Cheers MAC girls, you are the BEST!

{ Cup Fever }

~ WOO HOO ~
Well, as always, we had a blast at work for Cup Day! There is an advantage when you are working and people think you aren't! Everyone assumes that all banks are closed on Cup Day, but regional branches aren't. So that usually means a pretty quiet day for us. We always put on a lovely Chicken and Champagne lunch (thanks Ruthy, Shez, Nicole and Helen). It's a great spread and we put in a measley $8 and the bank puts in a bit too. So by lunch things were pretty happy. We had a few different syndicates going and lots of bets on every race as well as 4 Sweeps. Even though I am no longer a teller the tellers included me in their own little syndicate (I love it that they still include me even though I don't technically work with them now, but they say they miss me which is lovely). In the tellers syndicate we all put in $5 each and had various bets in the cup, a couple of Quinellas, Trifectas and Each Way bets and also a couple of Mystery Each Ways and Mystery Trifectas. Anyway WE WON!!!! On one of the mystery trifectas all our horses came in! WOOOOHOOOOO!

The Trifecta paid $1100, although we only had half a unit on so that made it $550!!!! We were so excited! I don't mind losing on the Cup, it's a great day either way, but to win AND have a great day is, well, just great!!! LOL

~ MAC CONFERENCE ~
2 more sleeps!!! YAY. Nuff said ;)

~ YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE ~
Another layout done last week end. My cousin always says Bronte reminds her of Gretal (I think?) from the Sound of Music. I've never seen it so I don't know, but when I do her hair like this, I think she looks like a Gretal. LOL

Anyway, background by me and the brushes are from the fabulous Jason Gaynor.

~ WORK ~
Oh man it is so busy at the moment, getting ready for a few special things we have coming up. I really really love my job and am so happy that I made the move, and even though it's busy, I never wish I was somewhere else. Even though I only work with my boss, there are several other great people that work around me and it's always a laugh and a good place to be! How good is that?

~ LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE ~
Well I have seen two fabulous movies in the last few weeks, I didn't think the first one could be topped, The Departed, although these movies are poles apart in their stories. Little Miss Sunshine is basically about a dysfunctional family that go on a road trip. Many many cringe worthy moments, with family that we either know or know of. Priceless really. I saw this movie twice in two days, and while I am sure that it won't be the same with everyone that sees it. I laughed so hard I cried, especially in the first half of the movie. The final scene of the movie had me laughing AND sobbing at the same time. At the end of the movie, I walked out, both times, smiling and just generally feeling great. If you are tempted to see it, the part I laughed at the most, was the car horn and starting the car, if you see it you'll know what I mean. Every character was fabulous and brought something unique to the story.... just loved it.

Edited to add
I read this a little while ago in a series of books I am re-reading by Diana Gabaldon. This passage is from the first book and has stuck in my head for some reason....

"But just then, for that fraction of time, it seems as though all things are possible. You can look across the limitations of your own life and see that they are really nothing. In that moment, when time stops, it is as though you know that you could undertake any venture, complete it and come back to yourself to find the world unchanged, and everything just as you left it a moment before, and it's as though..." he hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing his words.
"As though, knowing that everything is possible, suddenly nothing is necessary."

Have a great night everyone! :)

{ Party Party Party }

~ PARTY ~

I had a Handbag Party on Wednesday, and, after not writing down who I had invited and also telling friends (stupidly) not to worry about RSVPing, I had no idea how many were coming, so after work on Wednesday, I was in a panic about how much food and, more importantly, wine and champagne I should purchase I finally got myself organised and was ready just in time for the first guest to arrive. DH was not so organised, and after me nagging him for weeks to get our house number up somewhere so that people actually knew where to come, was stuck outside while people were arriving still drilling holes LOL, I guess him being out there pointed them in the right direction anyway LOL.

Anyway, it was a great night, I had 23 turn up, a little too many for that sort of party, but just the right amount for a good night. Between them all they spent $1283.00!! Which gave me $125 credit to use on purchases and 3 half price items, so it worked out well for me.

There were also tours of the new home, but sadly still no deck to show anyone, still just 20 something dirty great holes! LOL. I am trying very hard to have a certain virtue ;)

A special thank you to my two wonderful girls, who were the perfect hosts on the evening, offering people lots of food and generally making me proud.

~ THE KISS ~

Here is my next layout. Another challenge held at MAC, this is the gorgeous Lis, with the equally gorgeous Trent. Tried to keep it very plain, because that pic says a thousand words. A special Mother/Child moment.

Just on Lis, congrats on your new home, I just know you and your family will be happier than ever there.

~ KAREN ~

Special hugs go to Karen for your recent scare, you are still in my thoughts and I am very glad all is OK now.

~MAC CONFERENCE ~

Speaking of the MAC girls our conference is officially one week away, we are all excited and looking forward to meeting each other, a huge effort from Sharon flying down from Sydney and a big thanks to Mick, for encourging her to do so! We are all lamenting Karen not being able to come (a 2 hour flight from another country is such a small hurdle ;) ). But Karen will be in on the fun on the night, we will make sure of it!

~ MOVIES ~

I am off to see "Little Miss Sunshine" today, I don't know anything about it other than Toni Collette is in it, but I will give you an update later. Which reminds me, 2 weeks ago, just before our Daylesford weekend, I went to see "THE DEPARTED", and man oh man, I loved it! Granted not everyone's cup of tea, lots of violence and swearing, but excellently acted and the sort of movie that had my heart racing (sometimes from sheer eye candy ;) ) but mostly because I was on the edge of my seat for most of it. I can't wait to see it again and everyone we went with on the night also loved it. Some big names in it too, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen and someone else whose name escapes me right now. So if you can handle blood and language I recommend it, and if you can't, go anyway and close your eyes and ears at selected bits LOL.

Have a great day :)