General - Nightwolf's Den

Project Life Monthly ‘Meet-Up’

Earlier in the month I tweeted (& blogged) to see who would be interested in a monthly Project Life Meet-Up. I’ve had a few responses but I thought I’d put it out there again on my blog.

If you’ve never heard of Project Life I’ve included this little video by Project Life designer Becky Higgins and Beck has done a quick beginner’s guide.

Anyways, I thought it might be cool to get together once a month online and chat about how we’re going, share our favourite pages we’ve done in the last month, share links to our favourite Project Lifers, share links to our favourite resources/products to use in our albums, what ever you want.

Giveaway – Eco Tan (closed)

As a kid I remember spending hours and hours baking myself in the sun. Lying there trying to give myself a ‘healthy glow’. We all know now that too much sun can be a bad thing (too little is also a bad thing – vitamin d and all) but some still like to have a tan.
Fake tans – there are so many options out there. I’d like to share a little about one with you all.

I first heard about Eco Tan while chatting about something completely unrelated to fellow Sunny Mummy Sonya via email. I saw her signature & asked her about the company.

Eco Tan is Australian owned company that creates organic, natural tanning products. The tanning products are created with no GMO or animal derivatives and no petrochemicals. In March 2011 the company became the first and only organic tan to be certified by the Organic Food Chain.

Eco Tan Organic Rich Honey tanning solution is a “beautiful luxurious tan that is moisturising whilst giving you a deep tan”. The tanning solution uses Cacao (chocolate), instead of the usual green or orange base, giving a rich color. No fragrance has been added and there are no artificial ingredients. Rich Honey tan is reported to last for approximately 7-10 days.

Eco Tan Organic Invisible Tan is “an organic moisturiser that nourishes your skin without any synthetics. It is has a lovely soft note of roseflower oil”. This tan, once applied, continues to develop for 24 hours AND being invisible it’s safe to sleep in – no more stained sheets. Invisible Tan is suitable for your face and body and each tube will do approximately 3 whole body tans.

Eco Tan Tan-Away glove is an “extreme exfoliator that is brilliant for pre and post tanning”. This amazing glove removes dead skin layers to reveal fresh smooth skin, a perfect base for the tans. It can be used wet or dry. The glove is made from 100% natural viscose with Eco dye. It’s great for unclogging pores on your face but it’s not suitable for sensitive skin. I love my Tan-Away glove.

Sonya has generously given me a tube of Eco Tan Organic Invisible Tan and a Eco Tan Tan-Away glove to give away to one lucky reader. Just enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

Follow on Eco Tan on Facebook Follow on Eco Tan on Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

3 things I’m looking forward to in 2012

Joining in with Thursday Three over at Life as we know it

The first is a a biggy for me. The Digital Parents Conference in March. The first time I’ve been to a conference by myself with a bunch of people I only ‘know’ from the internet. I’m super excited & super terrified all at the same time! We’re also hoping to make it a bit of a family holiday, it’ll be Miss K’s first plane trip and we’re going to spend a week in Melbourne. As you can see from the pretty button over in my sidebar, I’m currently looking for sponsors to help me cover some of the conference costs.

The second is Miss K’s 2nd birthday. I had a ball organising her first birthday last year & am looking forward to planning her party this year in February. I’m still trying to decide on a theme. I’ve come down to Zhu Zhu Pets, lady birds, or just pink & green like in this cake

The third is scrapbooking more. Mum & I have both resolved we will get in more scrapping this year. I think I may have converted her to Project Life (well for her trip album anyway!). And with her setting up our scrap room at her house we’ll have no real excuse. Lots of weekends scrapping in 2012 to come.

Project Life get together

So this Project Life thing has got me thinking. Reading back over the hundreds of posts around the net from various people, one of the most common themes I see is people saying they are behind *sad panda*

image

(on a side note how cute is that panda?)

Anyways, back to the point in hand, Project Life. This got me thinking about things and ways to motivate if you will. I wondered if there would be any interest in a monthly ‘get together’ so to speak where Project Lifers could get together, share ideas, share pages, motivate each other and just hang out together. So there is is internet. Would anyone be interested? I’m happy to host something. And maybe our sad panda could be happy again

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Piquing My Pinterest–Project Life

Project Life seems to be a hot topic among scrapbookers & memory keepers at the moment. This week I thought I’d share some of the ideas & resources I’ve been pinning.

I love this idea of making your own page protectors in any size

Source: studiocalico.blogspot.com via Caroline on Pinterest

and some cute journaling cards

Source: the-lilypad.com via Caroline on Pinterest

Then there are the amazing title pages

Source: michellewooderson.blogspot.com via Caroline on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Caroline on Pinterest

Source: stephaniehowell.com via Caroline on Pinterest

Source: susanweinroth.typepad.com via Caroline on Pinterest

I love this post about organising your Project Life

Source: lovelyliving.com.au via Caroline on Pinterest

Finally some great freebies (including Project Life binder labels) from Becky Higgins

Source: beckyhiggins.com via Caroline on Pinterest

Make 2012 your Goddess year

I’m a firm believer that all women have an inner Goddess, no matter what their religion (or lack of). We are all beautiful and deserve to find the goddess within. I have decided to make 2012 MY Goddess year. Getting back in touch with my spiritual side if you will. One of the ways I’m doing this is by finally joining the Goddess Circle at Goddessguidebook.com (thanks to some unexpected $$ just before Christmas – this year is obviously the year I was meant to join the Goddess Circle, yes?).

There are so many AMAZING things on this site but one of my personal favourites I get every year is the Creating Your Goddess Year workbook, planner & calendar.

It’s a goddess workbook, planner & calendar all rolled into one and features the gorgeous goddess artwork by site owner, & amazing Goddess, Leonie.
Leonie’s done a quick video about the 2012 workbook, planner & calendar

Seriously, how cute are those pages!

I printed mine out on Boxing Day and have added them into my household binder (but more about that in another post). I sat down on New Year’s Eve and filled the pages in. Ending 2011 & starting 2012.

The Creating Your Goddess Year workbook, planner & calendar is only $9.95. How cheap is that? BUT join the Goddess Circle and you get it free (along with a WHOLE HEAP of of other Goddess goodies). Want to know more about the Goddess Circle?

Amazing, yes? All that for $99. There’s also a payment plan if you can’t afford the $99 upfront. How cool is that!!

AND (yup there is more – no, not steak knives) there are also a heap of Goddess Freebies on the site.

Goddess Leonie is the creator of GoddessGuideBook.com, a popular creativity, spirituality & business blog for women.
Visit her website at www.goddessguidebook.com & grab her free Goddess in 10 Minutes Kit!

You can check out more of Leonie’s videos on YouTube or connect with her on Twitter @GoddessLeonie

Disclaimer – I received a copy of the 2012 Goddess Guidebook for review. The links to the workbook and Goddess Circle above are affiliate links. Thank you if you choose to use them.
All opinions are my own.

Saying goodbye

Mum & Dad said goodbye to their remaining dog today Sad smile He’ll be missed

December 2011 Roundup

What books and/or magazines did I read this month? I’ve finally started loading up my iPad with books. Currently re-reading the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, starting with One for the Money (& OMG *squee* it’s been made into a movie!)
What movies, television shows, plays, etc. did I watch this month? Doctor Who (of course), Transformers 3, Lost Girl.
We got rid of our Austar as we were hardly watching it. Now we hardly watch TV. Gotta be a good thing.
What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends? Christmas Day
What gifts did I give and/or receive? OMG Christmas.
What special or unusual purchases did I make? Lots of Christmas stuff
What illnesses or health concerns did I have? It’s hayfever season and all three of us have been hit
What were my accomplishments this month? Hanmaking 90% of our Christmas gifts. Finally joining the Goddess Circle
What were my disappointments this month? Not getting any scrapbooking done
How did I do on my goals for the month? (Or any current short or long term goals). I’m still journaling everyday (go me!). Have probably done a total of 3 scrapbook pages. No scrapbooking with mum. Managing to blog at least once a week and I did post a Christmas series.
Anything else noteworthy to include? Had an awesome lazy Christmas day. Miss K has started potty training.

Back up all digital pictures. DONE
Format memory cards. DONE
All photos off phone. DONE
Sort all December photos into 2011 folder. DONE
Make a backup copy of the photos onto my desktop computer and EHD. DONE
Backup any other documents or files as needed. DONE
Backup my blogs. DONE
Clean off my work area, empty my inbox, and clean up my computer files. DONE
Update LYM Logbook from Momento app DONE

Goals for Janaury
Journal every day. Update LYM book every Sunday.
Do some scrapping & art journaling
Organise at least one scrapping day with mum
Blog at least once a week.
Redesign blog header

Goodbye 2011

Wow New Years Eve. This year seems to have flown by. Let me recap a little of what happened for us in 2011 (lots of linkies for you to peruse lol)

January saw me declare I would post everyday! What was I thinking!! I also started P365 again, what I managed is up on my Shuttercal account. I played with my theme and settled on one (& I’m still not happy with it really). I relaunched my scrapbooking site – Scrapping Shoebox, with a design team call. And I turned 33 18.

February. Was pretty quiet. If you don’t count the 2 birthday parties we had for Miss K’s 1st birthday and the car accident.

If February was quiet, March was pretty full on. My blog went mobile. I wrote a long rambling post and it’s still in my drafts folder. I’m still not ready to share that one yet. BUT it has turned out ok, so far. I joined the Bloggers of Tasmania Facebook group & finally started my own Facebook fan page. I also started doing product reviews, starting with Miss De Jour tampons & Bega Stringers.

Doctor Who fans around the world mourned in April after the announcement of the sudden death of Elisabeth Sladen (companion Sarah Jane Smith). The amazing actress passed after a very private battle with cancer. She was 63. Later in the month we celebrated the Royal Wedding of Wills & Kate Middleton with an awesome blogger party over at Three Lil Princesses.

May saw me redesign my blog (again). I did some scrapbooking for {inter}national scrapbook day. I attempted Habit Hacker (& failed). I had a small op.

Half way thru the year! June was a pretty quiet month. Miss K had her first haircut.

July – more reviews and a post about addiction after the death of singer Amy Winehouse. Started food blogging.

August and I started my 101 Things list. Miss K went to playgroup for the first time.

September and Dad finally bought himself a new ute. Actor Andy Whitfield died.

In October I bought my ticket to Digital Parents Conference in 2012 & started looking for sponsors (so far I have 2 awesome companies on board – Belkin Australia & FollowMeSticker). The computer world lost a genius with the passing of Steve Jobs. We started our love of all things Zhu Zhu (last count we have 7). Miss K seriously loves these things. I also finally moved my blog from being hosted on my work site to having it’s own domain & hosting. Oh and we got an iPad 2 each and the new iPhone 4s.

November saw that start of some sleep issues with Miss K. She had to have her mattress on the floor but she’s now sleeping through the night MOST nights. Hubby & I also celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary! We went to the Tassie Craft Fair but the highlight of the day for Miss K was the second hand swing set Dad bought her. I could also finally announce I was a member of the 2012 Log Your Memory design team. I Spoke Out. Christmas preparations began, as did the whole series of Christmas posts.

Wow, December, you sure arrived quickly! The Christmas posts continued. Miss K helped me put up our tree. I had 3 guest posts, one on family time, one about violence against women and one about apps for busy mums. I also did my first ever guest post. Christmas was awesome and very relaxed this year. I finally joined the Goddess Circle at Goddess Guidebook.

And here we are at New Years Eve. Another year gone & another just beginning. Tonight, I’m a having a few quiet ones while Miss K is asleep and hubby and his mates are playing the Star War RPG around our kitchen table. A nice glass of red, friends, Twitter and some crap on TV, what more could I want Winking smile Have a great rest of 2011 and bring on 2012!!!

Apps for busy mums

I’m currently taking a bloggy break but the lovely Paige is doing a guest post today looking at iPhone/iPad apps for busy mums.

Everyone know that being a mum is a 24 hour a day job, so when it comes to packing activities and tasks into their busy schedules, mums are the queens of multi-tasking.

Fortunately, they don’t have to go it alone. Thanks to the convenience of modern technology like the iPhone or tablet computers, mums have plenty of help when it comes to keeping track of their busy lives. Certainly the iPhone has become one of the most useful devices for categorising and organising our schedules. Here are some of the apps we would recommend for busy Mums:

– Grocery Guru – keep track of your shopping lists with the Grocery Guru. You can organise items by store, occasion (mum’s 70^th birthday party) or in any other way you see fit. This free app makes it easy to keep multiple shopping lists on hand. You’ll also have the option to send and receive lists from other App users so you can divvy up lists for multiple shoppers. This is the perfect app to see you through the busy holidays.

– iTube List – parents of young children will know how invaluable YouTube clips are to buy a few minutes of sanity in their days. The challenge is that it can be difficult to ensure your children only consume kid-friendly content, especially if your kids know how to navigate your mobile on their own. iTube ensures your child only views age appropriate material on YouTube to give you peace of mind with a bit of peace and quiet.

– You Rule Chore List – a fun way to get your kids doing their chores. This handy little app turns chores into a game where kids can “compete” to earn coins to purchase powers for their characters in the game. Parents can control the level of competition and act as referee to assign chores and update kids’ statuses.

– Any To Do – for busy mums that hate traditional to-do lists, this app is great for organising tasks based on their urgency and importance. By arranging tasks in to visual quadrants, visual thinkers will be able to better interpret how they should prioritise their days.

– Easy Spending Expense Tracker – take the complications out of your household budgeting. This app makes it easy to keep track of your day to day expenses and can help you get a better handle on your finances by understanding where you’re spending the most and what opportunities there are to save some dollars.

Busy mums will love the time they can save with these helpful apps and all of the great technology they can get with computer rentals. Will you spend some time on yourself or will you try to cram more into your busy day?

Author Bio: Paige writes in Sydney about technology, computers and electronic devices for a rental finance company.