Why?

everyone seems to be a little surprised by my earlier announcement in selling Top50.  I thought that seeing as so many are asking perhaps I should answer all in one go.

I actually made the decision to sell a few months ago. (So no it has nothing to do with the new man Stephen – who actually isn’t really so new anymore lol).

For years I have been building Top50 and making it bigger, better and stronger and have never taken a break (I really should have taken one).  After I split with Steve the pressure was on even more so, to ensure that I would never have to go back to working in WorkCover insurance.  I came to the slow realisation that because of my years of work on Top50 I am a different person today than I was all those years ago. I no longer need to fear that workcover is my ONLY option if/when I need to return to the workforce. I have new skills and I have new confidence and I have a much larger social and business network.  I decided that it was in the best interests for both me and for Top50 to sell it to someone else.

So what will I do? take a well earned rest.  Once it is sold and the handover taken care of I am going to take a break from work and enjoy some time being a MUM!  Then I’m going to get my scrap room/desk cleared off and do some scrapping. I may or may not do a bit more on the SU front – that has yet to be decided but I will continue with it as I enjoy it and there really is little/no pressure involved.  There are many options if I need to return to work but for the moment I need to focus on being a Mum – I have a little one who wants to do the toilet training thing so he really needs me right now.

There is a lot good in my life right now. I have several people interested in purchasing top50 so will continue with my negotiations and see what happens.

Scrapbooking Top50 for sale

I have been the proud owner of Scrapbooking Top50 Australia for just over two years now and it is with some regret that I announce that it is time for me to move on.

My life is simply getting too busy with three small children to give the site the attention that it deserves and as such I announce that Scrapbooking Top50 Australia is officially for sale.

All seriously interested parties please contact me to discuss further details via email at jude@scrapbookingtop50.com.au. Please include a contact number and suitable time to call if you would like me to call you.

Finding a new balance….somehow

I guess it was never going to be easy to strike a new balance when really I was still working on the old one.  I guess really life is all one big attempt to find a balance between work, rest and play. Nothing stays the same long enough to maintain the balance with ease – I guess if it did life would become dull!

I’m living a double life it would seem….most the time I’m a mum to 3 boys running a business or two on the side and doing the school/kinder/daycare/swimming etc thing in between cooking, cleaning and washing and trying to find a few minutes of peace for myself.

then when the kids go to Dads for the weekend I live the life were I get to sleep in and have breakfast cooked for me, where I get to explore the market at a leisurely pace without constantly being on the watch for small boys…

I must say I guess for the hecticness of my life right now I am blessed.  I never seem to find enough time for all things I want to fit into my life but I’m still trying to find a better balance to fit everything and more importantly everyone in!

little Corey Jame’s not so little anymore

man that kid is progressing so fast lately…

why you ask? what is he up to?

ok the week before last we went to pick Owen up from afterschool sport a little early. The teacher threw a ball to him which of course he didn’t catch.  I threw it a few more times….I swear he caught it the third time then progressed to a basket ball and caught that almost every time it was thrown!

Last week he started to fall off the climbing equipment at school and then instead of having a cry lowered himself off and dropped then did it a few more times just for fun.

Then the past week or two he has begun to take off his clothes including his nappy and go to the toilet! Yes my littlest man has started to toilet train HIMSELF! It is totally AMAZING!

gotta love this boy!

Dinner to celebrate the divorce

Dinner on Friday the 21st 20th June (oops) to celebrate. If anyone wants to join me please email me for the details as I need to arrange the table booking.

Top50 back up

Tis all back up again now.

Top50 server melt down

Girls, just to let you know that I have been onto them and they assure me that they are working on it. Apparently there have been some hardware issues and they should be resolved soon. Keep trying.

My Divorce was granted today…

You know I have been writing this blog now for over two years…wow it doesn’t seem so long ago. It was February 2006 that I decided that some major changes were needed in my life and now today I sat in my scrap room and listened to a judge say that he was satisfied with everything and stated that the divorce was granted.

Now I know it has only been an hour and a half and maybe other feelings will kick in later but really – honestly – all I got was relief. Well relief and a sudden thought that perhaps, just maybe I might change my surname back to my maiden name after all. I had been thinking of just leaving it but am having second thoughts as it seems a bit odd to not change it all of a sudden (dunno why yesterday it didn’t bother me lol) will have to have a think about that and see.

So tis over, due to the public holiday for the queen’s birthday the divorce won’t be final until the 10th June 2009 but final it will be and really it feels…right.

6 degrees of separation…

Yesterday afternoon I discovered that one of the school/kinder Mum’s who I have been talking to all year actually has known Stephen since they were like 9yrs old.  Stephens best mate is married to her sister.

Now I grew up and we moved around a lot so this everyone knows everyone stuff takes a little getting used to!  Still as strange as it is for me its all good!

On the upside too have sorted out some other dramas that had been stressing me out so life is looking good right now – helped along by a good long talk with my best mate last night about everything and nothing lol!

I am off to a Mother’s Day morning tea at kinder with Brett this morning. Then off to transfer money to the cc and pay ALL my outstanding bills yay! (well except of course for the cc bill but hey I can live with that for now).

A new day dawns bright and sunny

Seriously the sun is actually shining after several days of overcast skies and rain! It must be because SUE is coming today! I am so looking forward to seeing her actually although it will be brief.

And did you know that it is NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY on Saturday?

AND that Top50 will be cybercropping with thanks to our sponsors at Scrapbook Savvy

AND to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day Top50 will be having an advertising sale running over the whole weekend.  Top50 has always been an affordable alternate to magazine advertising and we are still by far the biggest and busiest independent scrapbooking site in the country.