Crafting and allotmentering

Sorry Long time.

2011-05-23T12:27:00.007+01:00

Just a quick update for you all I am still alive but have decided that since I haven't got the allotment anymore and I don't do much crafting as life has got in the way I would finally call it a day on here. However if you still want to chat to me then please pop over to madmotherof2. Where I have set up a little blog talking about different things and I am sure that scrapping will come into it as I do love it.
Thank you all for dropping by and reading this blog and for giving me some much needed encouragement when times have been hard.
Thank You all
Love Jo xx

Sorry Long time.

2011-05-23T12:27:00.001+01:00

Arrrrrgh

2010-04-16T16:47:00.003+01:00

Sorry I know this is a craft blog and a touch of allotment gardening(rare as said allotment has gone back to the council) but today I am just waiting for my DD to grow up and leave home then I wouldn't find myself bald by the time I am 40.
It is Easter holidays here and everyday I get asked where are we going today and can we get, and whats for tea when she hasn't even eaten breakfast. I am left wondering if this child has worms but the answer is no because when diner comes out we have cries of "I'm not eating that." I wonder if a child of 9 should be able to make such a nightmare out of tea time but its almost like she has a gun pointed at my head and will pull the trigger unless I give in. At the moment she hasn't realised that no amount of screaming throwing herself on the floor and thrashing about she does I carry on eating my tea and keep telling her that that is what is on offer and that is what she will eat. If we take her out she will only ever eat Chicken Nuggets and chips and if they put peas on her plate she might eat a spoonful but if its green it seems to be invisible. Am I being a mean mum by not allowing her to eat what she wants? Or should I be worried that she suddenly only wants to eat junk food?
Today she has had to have a bath and wash her hair and the tantrums that we have had to listen to have been huge. She has wanted to grow her hair and have it nice which in my view includes washing it and brushing it and looking after it but most of the time a comb or brush never goes near it. She has had nits since half term because she will not let me comb through it everyday as she cries every time I go near her. 2 lots of chemicals have failed to get rid of them and after sitting here for nearly an hour with her in floods of tears and me trying hard not to shout at her for the umpteenth time about personnel hygiene I am at the end of my tether.
Anyone know what to do as I have lost the plot and had enough. Free child to good home seems a bit too much but I am going to consider all offers (LOL) only joking of course.
Oh and by the way here is a picture of her looking completely beautiful so you can all think this mother is mad she is such a darling LOL.

Sorry again for the rant and unfortunately no crafting this week but hope to play next week and do some challenges.
That's all for now
Love Jo xx

Oh Joy!!!!

2010-04-12T16:06:00.004+01:00

This is only a quick post as I need to go and play but I thought some of you might like to see what I did on Saturday.
I went to Ally Pally with 6 other ladies from my scrap club that I go to (thank you ladies for such a brilliant time).
I seem to be in a bit of a scrap slump at the moment and I think its because I haven't brought any new goodies in a very very long time so I went and splurged. I took with me £220 and still managed to come home with some money and had a brilliant day.
We left Angmering at 8:20 and once on the train our wonderful friend Fiona gave us all a survival kit which had pen and paper for our lists, chocolate bar for when we were starting to struggle and need a sugar hit, a packet of mints and a bottle of water. Thank goodness for Fiona as that all came in very handy.
I knew what I wanted to buy. Grunge board and shimmer mists and some distress inks but I had sworn that I wasn't going to buy any paper. Hahaha that was a big fat lie I couldn't resist no matter how hard I tried (OK so I didn't try very hard).
Here is my new stash now I am going off for a little play and hope to let you know how I got on by the end of the week.

Oh and the rose is a new one that I did with my new grungeboard and new shimmer mists I love it.

Thats all for now
Love to you all
Jo xx

Hectic, hectic

2010-03-27T09:38:00.006Z

March has been a very hectic month for me this year. Lewis has turned 8 and Darren's business has had its first install and we have found an office to relocate the business to so that it doesn't take over the lounge in our house (thank god).
I have been helping Darren with the install which involved me pulling cables and sorting out trunking and even filling large gaps but mostly passing him his tools and running to the shops to get bits that he has forgotten. It has been a very tiring experience but a good one.

Happy times Lewis had his 8Th Birthday and got everything he could possible want except for his Charlton away kit but he had a good day.

We also went at the beginning of the month to Outwood near Redhill to stay with our friends and to attend a Wassailing. I don't know if you know what that is but its basically a blessing for the orchard so that you have a good harvest. It was a very fun night and lots of cider for those who drink it its not my tipple but I managed very well with larger instead.

And finally the only bit of crafting I have done all month is this little rose that a lady on Ukscrappers called Penny sent me with the Cj that I am doing. She sent me the blanks and a link on how to make them and this is what I made. I think it is so sweet and perfect just not sure what to do with it now.lol.

Well that's it for now.
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Time Flies

2010-03-02T13:56:00.003Z

Time flies when your having fun but what have I been up too. In truth not alot really I have done a couple of pages on scrap booking but nothing great that I feel that I can sure with you all. We have had half term and I think it rained everyday. We went to stay for a couple of nights with friends in Redhill which was nice but because we took the children with us it was exhausting. How many of you have had this while you are away....
My children normally go to bed at 8 but while we were away we let them stay up at 10pm I put them to bed in the lounge (only room left) settle them down on the sofa's with a DVD on and tell them I am only downstairs (OK its a pub we were staying at but technically I am downstairs in the lounge right). 12 o'clock they both come down saying they can't sleep so back upstairs and tuck them back into their sofa's sit for a while then creep off down again. 1.30am when we go to bed both children still awake and Ellie decides she has to sleep on the floor in my room. 2am "mummy I can't sleep can I get into bed with you and daddy" The bed is only a normal double bed 4'6 and I am not a small person so take up more than my far share. So in she jumps and I find myself with my nose squashed against a wall laying on my side with arms tucked under the pillow. Darren is wedged so close to my back we have to time breathing in and out so that when he breathes out I breath in not very comfy. Finally everyone starts dozing off except me who is struggling to get comfy without injuring myself. At 3.30-4am I have had enough and shout at Ellie to get out my bed which she does. Now settled on the floor with her 300 cuddly toys and her blanket called jelly we all manage to go to sleep, until 7.45am when Ellie starts singing "Rise and shine and give god the glory glory" at the top of her voice. Needless to say we only stayed the one night.

I have also been trying to sort out my craft area (tiny piece of the lounge) and found lots of baby photo's of the children and thought I would really like to make a mini album for both of them but I don't know where to start or what kind of album I want to do any suggestions greatly received.

I have also been and brought my grungeboard and some shimmer mist spray but haven't really had the time to play so when I get round to it I will show you what I come up with.
That's all for now
love to you all
Love Jo xx

Window Shopping

2010-02-10T21:02:00.003Z

First off thank you everyone for your help last time I have chosen a few items to get namely a kit from Sarahscardsltd.com from January which is full of Bo Bunny papers can't wait for that to arrive and I have decided that I want to try grunge board which looks fab and now I need more help. For those of you that have used grunge board what inks do you use on them? I have some cheap inks that I brought from Hobby craft which aren't that great and tend to smudge and leave marks on things when I put them down, so I have decided to get some good ink pads and want to know which ones you use and what if any special tools I would need for the inks. I have tried looking on utube but having no sound as my speakers have gone down I am struggling to find out what inks Tim Holt used. I do mainly girly layouts as DD tends to be the most posy of us all but also have a boy and hate always using just blue hues so any tips would be greatly received.
I would also like to say thank you to everyone who wished me a great birthday. I have had a dream of a day doing what I want to so have spent along time reading.
At the moment I am reading

Which my friend Fiona lent me and so far its brilliant.
The blurb on the back
Welcome to Bascom North Carolina, where it seems that everyone has a story to tell about the Waverley women. The house that's been in the family for generations, the walled garden that mysteriously blooms year round, the rumors of dangerous loves and tragic passions. Every Waverley woman is somehow touched by magic.
Claire has always clung to the Waverleys' roots, tending the enchanted soil in the family garden from which she makes her sought-after delicacies - famed and feared for their curious effects. She has everything she thinks she needs - until one day she wakes to find a stranger has moved in next door and a vine of Ivy has crept into her garden..... Claire's carefully tended life is about to run gloriously out of control.
Its a brilliant book and I am very hooked can hardly put it down but I needed to come on here and say Hi.
That's all for today off now for a glass of wine and to get on with this book.
Love to you all
Jo xx

What to get?

2010-02-08T14:25:00.003Z

Hello everyone I hope that you are all well and although its rainy and dull outside that life is treating you well.

Right now I have been scrapping but I am not showing you today as I have a bit of a problem and I need some help.
Wednesday is my birthday and I don't know what to ask for. I have thought about a bind it all machine but worry that maybe its just another thing that will gather dust. I have thought of asking for more glue and we all know how much of that we use but its not very exciting. Maybe more paper but I already have 5 really useful boxes full of paper. I know that I want to add to my craft stash but what to get.
So here is my question to you if you were given £60 what would you buy for your craft?
I don't want clothes and I think birthdays should be about you and not what household item you need. I don't want chocolates and I don't need wine or flowers so I am kind of stuck.
What have you got in your stash that you can't live without? What have you brought on a whim and hardly ever use? Any ideas welcome I will come back tomorrow and show you what I made over the weekend and tell you what I am going to ask my family to get for me.
That's all for now
Love Jo xx

I've been crafty

2010-01-21T09:16:00.004Z

Last Saturday I went to my local crop at my children's school and had a very productive day. I printed off my photo's and took some sketches that I got from inspiredblueprints and managed to do 2 whole layouts and another one that just needs the title and some writing. I also managed to do my Cj which was Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover which was fab. Here are my layouts. What do you think? I think my mojo has returned.

I also have an apology to make last week I blogged about the challenge that I had done which I found on Ukscrappers thanks to Dawn but forgot to give you the link so here it is go check it out its a great site and a great weekly challenge which if I get time I will do again this week.
Also this week I have made my hubby by me a pressie. Yes I did make him I did lots of whinging and whining and saying how much I need this and how in the long run it will save him money and make scrapping easier for me.

Isn't it lovely. I haven't got round to using it yet but I intend to do so really really soon and I hope hubby knows it will save him money. Has anyone else got one of these? What do you think about them? Does it make scrapping easier.
Well that's it for know
Love to you all
Love Jo

Snow snow and more snow

2010-01-13T14:39:00.006Z

Well since I last posted it has snowed. Did you all notice that? I can't say we have been snowed in or anything as bad as some people but we had ooh at least 2 inches of snow and the amount of people out panic buying because more snow was expected was laughable. In fact I did have to stand and laugh as people struggled up the road loaded down with enough food to feed the army and all the homeless people together. Obviously with the two children we were outside alot playing but it was so cold we had to keep coming in for hot buttered toast and mugs of hot chocolate. We built snowmen snow cats and snow dogs and even got photographed by the local paper playing snowballs.
Today we had more snow only a couple of centimeters and thankfully that is now thawing. Also thankfully the school remained open today after having to shut last week for 3 days.

Last week I said I had lost my mojo and was trying to scrap but not being able to so I put out a shout for inspiration on UKScrappers and luckily my call for help was answered with this blog from a lady called Dawn. Big thank you Dawn as this helped me to do something about my twiddling thumbs. Here is what I got up too.
This one is challenge number 2

This is Challenge number 1

10 things about you I am not completely happy with but that is just because of my handwriting and I might redo it and print off what I want to say I will let you know.
Please tell me what you think?
That's it for now
Love Jo xx

New Year

2010-01-05T08:40:00.005Z

Well here it is 2010 and I have made no New Year Resolutions have any of you?
One thing doing this blog (yes I know its sporadic) but I am just not the kind of gal to stick to anything. Last year I started with such grand ideas and slowly each one fell by the wayside so this year I promise not to make promises oops there I go again.
OK so Christmas is done and dusted and most of the toys the children got have lasted into the New Year, I guess I just chose well this Christmas. We have had lots going on and a house full of people but it has been fun and a good excuse for the Baileys to come out. The Christmas cake is still going and the chocolate are running over and my waist has expanded but I am not going to commit to a diet as I know what I am like instead I intend to eat better and less rubbish. Although with this cold spell that we are having don't you find that you want to just sit under your duvet and eat stodge. A nice stew and dumplings or even bacon pudding with mash or the best yet a good old fashioned steak and kidney pudding that has been steamed for ages with the softest mash potatoes and cabbage ohhh my mouth is watering. Instead I am thinking of making homemade soup and homemade bread.

I have been doing quite abit of reading lately and have to say Peter James is my favourite at the moment

They are all set around Brighton and are about a Policemen called Roy Grace who has the nasty task of minding the murderer. Fab books and a definite must read.
I have also just finished reading Last Christmas which was a good book about a place called Hope Christmas it was a feel good book but was lovely written.

I am now reading Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella who also wrote the Shopaholic Series.

This is a bit from the back of the book.
Lara has always had an overactive imagination. Now she wonders if she is losing her mind. Normal twenty-something girls just don't get visited by ghosts! But inexplicably, the spirit of Lara's great aunt Sadie - in the form of a bold, demanding Charleston-dancing girl - has appeared to make one last request: Lara must track down a missing necklace Sadie simply can't rest without. Lara's got enough problems of her own. Her start-up company is floundering, her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, and she's just been dumped by the love of her life. But as Lara spends time with Sadie, life becomes more glamorous and their treasure hunt turns into something intriguing and romantic. Could Sadie's ghost be the answer to Lara's problems and can two girls from different times end up learning something special from each other? So far the book has been hilarious and one that I don't want to put down.

Now scrapping well to be honest I haven't done a lot as I did decide to do Journal Your Christmas but I got to day 9 and life, children and Christmas got in the way but on a positive note I am now 9 days ahead for this year LOL.
I have managed to sort out my desk and to do a bit of scrap shopping as British Bookshop were having a sale on there craft stuff and I managed to get a few bits but I have not had the time to use any of them yet. On Saturday its our local crop so I will do some on Saturday although so much to scrap I am starting to feel a bit daunted by the amount of catch up I really need to do. Never mind I will try my best and see what happens.
Well that's enough of me droning on
Love to you all
Love Jo. xx

2009-10-17T23:15:00.008+01:00

Hello everyone and yet again I have to begin by saying sorry that I was missing but things have been hectic.

Ellie went to Sardinia last month and I missed her terribly her first day there she phoned me up in tears asking me to go get her it was heart breaking. She phoned me everyday and now we have offered to pay my sisters phone bill as Ellie had doubled it. She had such a good time and made three new friends and by the end of her 8 days I don't think she wanted to come home.

Lewis has been given more drugs to help his night time incidents but we have been told that they can cause Hyperactivity which is something they think he might have anyway. So far the incidents are getting further apart so that is good and no behaviour changes.

Darren's business is a bit slow but we are still getting jobs and the money from the jobs is slowly dripping through but with me out most days helping him I have had very little time to scrap.

I got my Cj back the other day and want to thank everyone for doing their layouts for me its fab now just need to get baking and try the recipes.
Here is just a couple and I will try and put the rest up this week.

This is my front cover and my entry into the Circle journal.

This is Julies pages for her Flapjack recipe.

This is Louise's Lemon Cake

This is Leanie's Toad in the Hole

and this is Khiaramai's recipe for fudge which I plan to make for friends and family for Christmas.
Ok well thats all for today and I hope you like what you see and pop back in the next week and see the rest of the Circle Journal.

That's it for now
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

The Last Day

2009-09-06T10:41:00.002+01:00

So today is the last day of the school holidays and my two are ready after a fashion I have packed the P.E kit and made sure that we know where the clean socks are and where the school uniform is. OK I know where this stuff is but come Monday morning they will have no idea at all.
I have also packed Ellie's bag for here holiday to Sardinia on Tuesday with my sister and her husband. To say I was getting a little worried would be an understatement but I know she will love it and I don't tell her I am scared as that would make her worry but I think any mum would be the same.
I was meant to go to scrap club yesterday and even had some pictures printed out then our local pub asked if I would help in the kitchen for a couple of hours so off I went at 12pm and finished at five I was only doing simple things like chopping potatoes and grating carrots but I enjoyed it and it is the kind of thing I love as I love cooking and helping out in kitchens. The cook has asked me to come in and help her some more times over the next couple of months which is really good and she has asked if I would make her a Lemon Meringue pie for a function she is doing I can't wait.

This week the plans are not to miss Ellie too much (impossible) give Lewis loads and loads of cuddles and kisses and actually get some scrapping done as the photo's are starting to mount up and that means trouble as we all know.
That's all for now
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Hello!

2009-09-02T15:53:00.010+01:00

Hello and sorry that I have been a bad blogger but with the children home from school and Darren's business just starting up things around here have been a tab hectic to say the least.
I must just say thank you to everyone for their kind words early last month and I have seen the Little Penis since but he hasn't made any comments since so maybe he knows what a jerk he was (I doubt it but one can hope.)

Summer holidays have flown past and alot of my friends think the weather has been bad but I think its been alright really considering last year and the year before when we had lots of flooding and generally nasty weather.

The children and I have been out lots just having picnics or playing in the park or even going to the pier. We even went to a hotel for afternoon tea. OK so it was The Royal Norfolk in Bognor Regis and OK my brother is the head Chef there but it was still lovely. Sandwiches and scones with strawberry jam and cream. David (Big Brother) also made for us cheese scones with marmite (yumyumyum) and chocolate scones with white chocolate chips (yum) it was lovely although Lewis wanted to put cream on the cheese scone.

We also went to Bournemouth for the day and Ellie and Lewis went on the bungee trampolines and love it although a bit pricey but still they had a great time and I have taken loads and loads of pictures which all need scrapping. We also spent some time in the gardens at Bournemouth listening to the band playing and taking silly pictures of each other which was great fun too. On the way home our poor bus broke down (that's the name of our Renault Espace) well over heated really so we had to stop and have a picnic in the car park of Salisbury's. We had a lovely time though.

Next week we start back to school and Ellie goes to Sardinia with my sister and her husband she is very excited and her suitcase is packed but ask her where her school clothes are and she has no idea.

I have managed to send off my next Cj which is all about Tattoo's and Body art which is the 1st sending of my second Cj and I also did this for my other Cj that I am in about your space that you scrap in.

I have also done a page I know please don't faint but it is true its part of my year of you on Twopeasinabucket

That's all for now sorry its so long
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

2009-08-08T19:52:00.002+01:00

I am going to have a bit of a rant tonight as I had an awful afternoon thanks to some stupid stupid person. Let me start at the beginning.
I am a rather larger than life person some horrid people would say fat and this has been and probably always will be something that bugs me and actually depresses me but I am trying to sort it out, I have just been diagnosed as having Poly-Cystic-Ovaries which is a contributory factor to my weight but generally it is poor food choices and the love of food.
Today I was walking back to the car in our local Sainsburys car park holding Ellie's hand when this idiot started reversing I shout "That's nice thanks" waving Ellie's hand at them when the bloke just kept staring at me so I said "What can't you see us thanks mate" the bloke replied "Lose some weight then"
Stupid throw away comment I know but so unexpected that I came home and cried yep I know the W***er got the better of me but it really really hurt me.

I am sure I am not the only person who has had a twat say such things to them but do these people really think that larger people have no feelings? Ellie and I were in the right as anyone who has read their highway code knows pedestrians have the right of way and after all if you ran me over not only would your car be damaged but so would your life. This twat had already started reversing as Darren and Lewis walked behind the car I do wonder how some people sleep at night and I know I shouldn't let him get to me but it just shoked me.

Right thats it moan over sorry to dump this on all of you but please remember I might be fat but I still bleed like everyone else.
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Oops

2009-08-04T10:37:00.003+01:00

Sorry I have been AWOL but as its the summer holidays and I have two demanding children I hope you will understand.
I haven't been idle as on the Friday that they broke up we had to take Lewis to the hospital nothing really bad but he is a bed wetter. Now he has been given tablets which will hopefully help although since we have had them we have had 3 dry nights and the rest haven't been so good but its still early days. They wouldn't give us the mattress alarm because he has night terrors and is a sleep walker so they don't think he would wake up when the alarm sounded so tablets where the next option.

Darren did an 80's night at our local pub so me and some girlfriends decided to go down and keep him company (oh OK we decided to have a good night and lots of vodka) it was brilliant night with lots of dancing and loads more laughing. In a couple of weeks he is doing a 50-60's night which we are going to again.

On Thursday last week we went down the river to go crabbing we brought the crab lines with little bags on as the swans are being hurt by the crab lines with the hooks. We took my nephew Jake so he could take the crabs off the line for us as I am a bit of a girl and don't like them. My sister caught 2 crabs for Lewis and I caught 1. Ellie sat on the wall for the whole time saying she was tired and Jake who was helping Ellie caught nothing. It was very windy and quite cold and I did manage to pick up a crab without screaming or getting pinched by it.

I have also signed up for another Circle journal and have started making my book. I decided to do this Cj on Tattoos and body art as I have recently had tattoos done and I love them so I thought it would be interesting to find out what other people thought about them.

Yesterday we went to see Darren's parents and took the children to Hove Beach and the Lagoon which has a paddling pool and a play park and as usual Lewis went straight into the sea and only came out to eat and drink. Ellie however was a bit of a girl and screamed because of the seaweed although there wasn't any really. She loves the water but hates being in the sea, but is more than happy to play with the sand. We spent along time playing at the Lagoon and the children got sun burnt (what a bad mummy I am).

That's all for now
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Holiday Time

2009-07-23T09:39:00.002+01:00

Well today is the first day of the holidays and we are going shopping. Yes I am mad taking two children shopping but it has to be done as tomorrow we have a hospital appointment for Lewis to sort out his night time problem fingers crossed we will get some answers.
What have we got planned for the holidays as many free days out as possible so hopefully the sun will shine and we can get to the beach alot. Also we will be doing baking and craft making.
This week I have made some cards for the teachers at school and for my friend Anne who's birthday is during the holidays and I will not see her. Next big one is my mum's and I am making a never ending birthday card which I am not sure she will like but hey Ho! I also have a Cj to do by next Friday not sure what I am going to do but will sort that out this week.
Last week I went to a Stampin up Part and fell in love with so many of their stamps I have brought two sets and just waiting for them to be delivered now need to get hubby to give me loads of money so that I can have some more LOL.
Hope you all have a good start to the summer holidays.
That's all for now
Love to you all
Jo Power xx

BOO!!!

2009-07-16T14:17:00.004+01:00

Hahaha did I make you jump? I know I have been missing lately but I have been busy with helping hubby do the paper work and organising leaflets and doing leaflet drops and today I have been doing ring backs and snuck away from that to do this instead which is much nicer.
My friend Fiona gave me some idea's for teacher gifts that I have made this week. I have made four of these and am going to fill them with a couple of small bars of chocolate and then I am going to make Thank you cards as this year the children have had a very tough time with Ellie's bus crash and then alot of problems in December and the teachers have been very supportive of them and helped them deal with their feelings so they deserve some nice chocolate.

I have also been doing Flylady.net and shining my sink every night before bed and to be honest it really helps. Obviously its not just about shining your sink its about de-cluttering your life and keep in control and knowing that its no big deal if you leave it for a day which is really helpful and my house is starting to look alot better.
I have also introduced much to the children's horror a reading half hour every evening. At about 7pm I turn off the Telly and put on the radio and we sit down and read our books, we can either read to each other or read to ourselves but it kind of calm down time and I love it. At the moment I am reading Peter James Dead Simple and its brilliant a really good crime novel I just wish I could read a bit more. Actually I am going to quickly hoover and then sit down and have a read.

Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Computer Day

2009-07-06T18:35:00.003+01:00

I am struggling. Having Darren at home full time is hard work for some reason I keep thinking I have to be here all the time to make sure he is alright or incase he needs something. No he is not ill and no he hasn't broken anything but he has gone Self Employed and I am trying to help him set up the business and do some paper work for him. I haven't done any scrapbooking except for Saturday as that was crop day I haven't done any housework so am living in a bomb site and I seem to have made a dent in the sofa that closely resembles my backside.LOL.
So when I was catching up on the blogs that I love to read today I came across a website called Flylady.net which I found on Alaines blog and thought this could be what I need a good kick in the bottom so I checked it out and have spent all day constructing a Control Journal and trying to sort out the children with their own Control Journal so that I can regain control over them and stop the stropping when they are asked to do something. Fingers crossed this will help.

On Saturday I went to my crop that I go to every month and spent the first hour and a half shuffling papers around then came home as I only live round the corner from school to get some more papers then I managed to get 3 layouts done. I will show you them later in the week.

We had a busy week last week with Ellie in a school concert at Angmering school and no car so lots of walking back and forth from there. Then on Thursday Ellie and Lewis had sports day in the hot weather but they were encouraged to drink lots but not to sit in the shade. Then Friday I rested and stayed at home most of the day feeling wiped out and lethargic but I think that was only the heat getting to me.
Here are a few photos that I wanted to share of the sports day.

2009-06-26T19:28:00.008+01:00

Hello I am back I bet you thought I had forgotten about you, but no I was just being busy sorting out children and Darren and trying to sort out my house.
Now I am sure most of you know I started doing some challenges like A year of You but until recently I had done only two February and March so today I have played catch up. Here is April (which I love) and May (which I am not sure about)

I have had fun doing these today.
Today I also went to an Armed Forces Day celebration with Ellie's and 19 other children from her year it was fab we watched Punch and Judy and had orange squash and biscuits and then had a run around in the garden then the children sang some old songs for the old people with their music teacher the fabulous Mrs Mills. I still haven't stopped smiling as it was just a really good feel good day Thank you Fi for letting me come with you.

I have also managed to do house work this week and my 15 minutes challenge.

Monday I cleaned the Kitchen
Tuesday I cleaned my desk
Wednesday I emptied out the boxes that I packed ready for the move that never happened.
Thursday I tidied up my bedroom
Today I cleaned the bathroom. I am quite proud that I am pretty much keeping up with this challenge and I love it.

On Wednesday I went to bingo and won £55 whoop whoop, so I went and brought myself some new books that I wanted to read
Born under a Million Shadows by Andrea Busfield
The Information Officer by Mark Mills
The Return by Victoria Hislop.
Have any of you read any of these books and did you enjoy them? Let me know what is your favourite book and what you are reading now.
That's all for now
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

And the Winner is

2009-06-22T18:21:00.001+01:00

Today I entered all the names into the random name selector and it came out with:
Judith of www.mylifeandcreations.blogspot.com Which is really fab as she is a new blogger and I already love her blog. Well done Judith please email me your address and I will send on your prize.

Blog Award

2009-06-20T21:40:00.003+01:00

This is my lovely award from my friend Anne if you haven't read her blog click on her name and it will take you there. She is a very very talented person and so funny and honest.
Part of the award is that you have to tell people 10 things about yourself and then give it to three other people. Now Anne gave me this award earlier in the week but I couldn't think of what to tell you as I am quite an honest person and tell people everything about myself so here goes nothing:

1. I was born in Sasolburg South Africa but came to England when I was 18 months old.

2. I love reading books. It doesn't matter what it is from murder mystery to cook books I have a need to read.

3. I have a full driving licence but choose not to drive as I crashed twice in 18 months and decided that the roads are dangerous enough without me adding to it. Sorry ladies I am the drive that gave you all a bad name sorry.

4. I gave up smoking 3 years ago.

5. I am still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.

6. I wanted to be a bricklayer when I was younger and follow in my dad's footsteps but he talked me out of it.

7. I broke my foot when I was 13 by falling over my sisters dog.

8. I am accident prone and could fall over a matchstick on the ground.

9. I am terriffied of heights and it is only since I was pregnant with Ellie that I have been so scared. Maybe going on the London Eye when I had just three weeks to go wasn't such a good idea, I sat on the floor of the pod holding on to the bench with white knuckles and starrin at the floor.

10. I hate rudness. please and thank you are such little words but mean so much but people forget about them all to quickl and it drives me mad.

So that is my 10 things that you might or might not have known about me and THANK YOU Anne for the lovely award.
These are the three people I am giving the Award to
alaine, Ginny and Kerry can't wait to see what you all right.

Thats all for now
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

A Great Weekend

2009-06-15T13:23:00.006+01:00

This is my 100 blog yippee never thought I would get to that number but here I am and so I have a little giveaway for anyone who is intrested. I have 11 12x12 sheets of paper and a little SUMMER mini book kit and some embelishments to giveaway. All you need to do is become a follower and leave me a comment after this post and link this post on your blog. We will draw a name at random on Monday 22nd June. One person will win and I am willing to post anywhere, so good luck.

We have had a really good weekend this week as we went to London on Saturday to see The Lion King with the children and a couple of friends. It was fantastic. We got to covent Gardens at 1pm just as the fly past for the Trooping of the Colour went over head I managed to get some photo's but this is the best one and the children couldn't believe they had seen the Red Arrows.

Ellie and Lewis have never seen the Lion King so were very very excited and loved every minute of it.

Then on Sunday we went up to the Allotment and spent the morning weeding and harvesting. We came away with new potatoes and peas, broad beans and strawberries which all tasted lovely. I got sunburnt and the children got covered in dust from them digging holes. It was a very relaxing morning and one that we will have to repeat.

Today I have restarted my 15 minute challenge because since Thursday I haven't done anything so today I have concentrated on the kitchen and have cleaned the worktops and the floor and washed down the cupboards. I have also been cooking and have made Blondies and cornish pasties and scotch eggs yum yum yum guess what we are having for tea.
Thats all for today
Love to you all
Love Jo. xx

Nearly 100

2009-06-11T19:14:00.007+01:00

No thats not my age but how many posts that I have posted well 99 actually but hey who's counting. I might even find some stash to give away for that special occassion pop back and see what happens.
Any how this week I have been busy helping Darren with his plans and hope that comes off and I have also been crafting. Now if you pop in and read this you will know I wanted to do the month of colour over at Shimelles blog but have been so busy doing other things that I haven't really had time so I decided that I would make an album and collect all the imformation to do it next month. Here is the album that I have started to cover and just need to finish.

I have also made a birthday card for my friend although it took a long time but then I am not a card maker. What do you think?

and I have also made my Father's day card which again I am quit pleased with but glad I don't make cards all the time.

I did enjoy making the cards but its not something that I want to do on a regular basis.
Also pop over to Serendipity and take a look at her give away it looks like a really good book and one that I would love to read.

Anyway thats it for now
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Polling day

2009-06-04T15:36:00.002+01:00

Today is local election day so people are going out voting and the children are off school. Luckily we have fab weather and so went for a picnic with my mum and dad and my sister to a place near us called Highdown Gardens which is just beautifull and although there was plenty of other people enjoying the gardens its always peaceful and nice.

It has been hard keeping up with this challenge latly with the children being home and Darren being around but on Monday this week we tidied the front room and I tidied the kitchen. On tuesday I sorted out the washing. Question for you all why when children come home from school do they then get changed wear those clothes for two hours then put them in the washing basket (ok I mean throw them on the floor)?
Wednesday was a hard day as I wasn't at home much during the day and the children had their swimming lesson so I decided to go swimming for 15 minute which inturn turned into 30 minutes but I had a lovely time and swam about 14 lengths of our local pool.
Today I decided my time could be spent on Blogging so here I am.
I have nothing crafty to show you but (I don't know if I have told you) I have finished knitting my first sock yippee only halfway through the other one and then I will have a matching pair. With the children home last week and Darren home I have had little to no time to do any scrapping or anything crafty but I hope that will change and I will get some done soon. I am going to my monthly crop on Saturday so will have some me time and settle done to try and complete some of my challenges. Fingers crossed that I don't spend too much time chatting.

Here is the recipe for the Banana bread that someone asked for hope you enjoy.

4 Medium Bananas
6 oz(175g) Walnut pieces
Pinch of Salt
1 round teaspoon baking powder
1 Level tsp ground cinnamon
4oz (110g) plain Flour
4oz (110g)wholewheat flour
grated zest of 1 orange
Grated zest of 1 lemon
4oz (110g) butter at room temp
6oz (175g) soft dark brown sugar
2 Large eggs

pre heat oven gas mark 4/350F(180C)
You will also need a 2 lb (900g) loaf tin
Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and toast lightly for 7-8 mins. Remove from the oven and once cooled chop them roughly.
Now in a seperate bowl mash 3 of the bananas with a fork and chop the other into chunks.
Nextsift the flour salt cinnamon and baking powder into a bowl then add the bran that is left in the seive. Now simply add the remaining ingredints but not the nuts or the banana and whisk with an electric hand whisk till everything is mixed well. Then add the banana and the nuts you may need a splash of milk to make it dropping consistency. Put the mixture in the oven and bake for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours leave to cool for about 5 minutes then turn out of the tin.
Hope you make it and love it like we do.

Lots of love to you all
Love Jo xx

Which Colour?

2009-06-01T19:52:00.002+01:00

OK so time for a new challenge and its from Shimelle and you will find all about it here and the question is:
Whats your favourite colour?
I could just run at it and say my favourite colour is PINK but I wonder how much of that is because I am confronted by the colour on a daily basis. What is Ellies favourite colour? Yep you guessed it pink. What colour are my eyes assaulted with on a daily basis? Yep right again PINK. But can I say its my favourite colour? No I don't think it is.
When I was a little girl I wasn't allowed to wear Red, Orange or Pink as I was a red head so I remember having alot of green and blue but longed to be able to wear such bright colours as orange and even yellow.
When I became a teenager I wanted to be like most other kids and to somehow disappear into the shadows so started to wear black and even paint my nails black but I don't think that was me being true to myself just following the crowd really. It was around this time that I developed a love of ducks and how cute they are when ducklings yellow and fluffy but I didn't want people to think yellow was my favourite colour.
When I moved out of home and got my second flat on my own it was aquamarine and I decided it needed to have blue accessories right down to blue cups and plates and a blue ashtray. I don't think I really minded what colour blue but it had to be blue.
Suddenly at the age of 25 I decided purple, lime green and silver would be great colours together and even decorated my bedroom in my sisters house in those colours.
When I got married I wore a dark purple wedding dress and Ellie had a lilac dress. Everything right down to the napkins and the table confetti was purple, silver and cream.
Now I think my favourite colour is a light kind of green the kind that I have in my lounge and in my kitchen and in my bedroom its a kind of light minty green and really helps the house look lighter and more airy. Although duck egg blue must come a close second.

What is your favourite colour?

love to you all
Love Jo xx

Half Term

2009-05-27T09:57:00.005+01:00

Oh what an awful week so OK the weekend was nice and sunny but come Monday morning when we got up it was raining and so we canceled our plans for going out and decided to go to the cinema to watch Night at the Museum 2 only to get there and find no parking left so we came home instead. (boo). Then yesterday we went and did the weekly shop followed by a trip to Toyrus to get some in line skates for the children and then hit the beach it was so funny although I probably shouldn't laugh but Lewis kept falling over and in the end he just wanted to give up but we made him keep going till he got to a bench then let him sit down.

I also took this photo and I know everyone takes these photo's but I am quite proud of this photo.

On to the 15minute challenge this week I have done some baking and yes I know it takes more than 15minutes but its something I don't do very often and decided to spend some time making Banana Bread on Monday as as soon as the banana's have a black spot on them no one will eat them so instead of wasting them I made them into Banana bread. Then yesterday I made cheese and onion scones that actually came out really nice and very very taste.
We have had some bad news at the end of last week. Darren has lost his job so that means we can't move and have had to rearrange lots of things like our holiday which we did say that we would go camping again this year like we did last year but that has been put on hold. At the end of the day it was only a job and nothing to get to down about but what will be will be and I guess it might be a blessing as he will get to spend more time with us as he looks for a new job. Fingers crossed a new one will come along really soon.
Well that's it for today
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Bedtime stories.

2009-05-20T12:02:00.004+01:00

Righto then lets start at the begining. We will start with

Monday I spent 15 minutes tiding up another kitchen cupboard and packing another box only got the food cupboard left and a few bits that will need packing near the time.
Tuesday I spent 15 minutes tiding my daughters bedroom (OK 3 hours but we went through everything) I even got her to get rid of Polly Pocket that she has never really played with and some cuddly toys.
Today I have swept the stairs down on my hands and knees as I think it is easier and get rid of more dust and bits then the hoover and cleaned the bathroom.
I am finding just everyday chores now quicker and easier than before and its all thanks to the 15 minute challenge go here to have a look its a great challenge and one that I am actually enjoying.
Tomorrow I have decided to clean the skirting boards and brush the areas that the hoover just doesn't quite do.
Back to my other challenges I am so far behind with Shimelles Scrap like you mean it that I am thinking of giving it up but I know I should just try and play catch up but with moving and keeping the house tidy do I really want to get involved with it again.(YES).
My year of you is a bit harder as last month you had to scrap photo's for the month and I dsidn't take many photo's as I think it was wet for most of it but I will try to catch up with that as well this month.

Right now I should explain the title. this week is book week at the children's school. Monday they had an Author come and read to them. Yesterday Ellie went on a walking trip to the local library and had someone read them stories down there, and today its bedtime stories for the whole school and each child was asked to bring in the Pjs and a teddy bear for this afternoon when they are going to be told a bedtime story. I think it sounds great fun and hope that the children enjoy it. On Friday they have to dress up as a caracter from a book. Ellie is going as Tracy Becker as she only wears T-shirt and jeans and Lewis is going as Horrid Henry for the same reason. Sorry I know its not very exciting but I am not good at dressing them up with much imagination.
Well thats it for today
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Cold wet and windy

2009-05-15T18:19:00.004+01:00

It has been cold and wet and windy here today not very nice at all so please excuse my photo's later.
I have done my 15 minute challenge but decided I was bored with the kitchen so cleaned the bathroom instead. I am still amazed at how much I can get done in 15 minutes maybe my everyday chores need to be reduced to 15 minute bursts of energy and then blogging or reading.

This is my double layout called Spring at the Dover which is a small place just up the road from us that we go for a walk and at springtime go and see the bluebells its lovely and peaceful and I love it, and the layouts not bad either. I used the new Papermania papers called Boutique. They are lovely and yes I have decided that every so often I can break my ban just not every month.

I also got a phone call today as I complained to PCT about the treatment that I received on requesting an appointment for Lewis who was very poorly but got no where really on Wednesday. The practice manager of the surgery phoned me to apologise and said that they need to review their procedure for very sick children and that if I had of turned up with Lewis then I could have waited and a doctor would have seen us quickly. She did ask if I wanted a letter written to me but I feel that they have excepted my complaint and realise that their procedure needs changing and a verbal apology is more than I had hoped for so I feel a small victory in the Power household tonight.

Tidying

2009-05-14T22:07:00.002+01:00

Today we had two people look around the house well the first person just sat on my sofa and watched Jeremy Kyle for 10 minutes and the other person seemed to love it so hopefully they will go for it fingers crossed.

Today I returned to my challenge whole heartedly and cleaned out another two cupboards and packed half a box. I decided to clear out my cupboard that I keep all my spices and herbs in so thought I would check the dates on all my little bottles and ended up trowing more than half of them away. Then I sorted out my baking cupboard where I keep my flour and bits to make cakes with and ended up throwing half of that cupboard away with out of date packets of apricots and flour I guess I don't bake as often as I thought or do I not look properly and just go out replace what is already there. The amount of food we waste is increasing in this country and I am to blame. Sorry.
I have also been ogling some new books that I am desperate to read. I would love to know if any of you have read them and what you think of them.
Born Under A Million Shadows by Andrea Busfield which I am told is very similar to Kite Runner but based on a Street Child.
The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie which is a selection of short stories I think but please let me know if you have read them and what you thought of them.

Thank you all for your messages yesterday and your kind wishes for Lewis. Today he is feeling better but I think alot of that is the cal pol and Nurofen and the antibiotics are just starting to work. Hopefully he will be well enough to go back to school on Monday.

Tomorrow I will post a dlo scrap page that I have done today (yeah the first time in ages).
Until tomorrow
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Sick Children

2009-05-13T12:08:00.002+01:00

Ok I am sorry but this is going to be a rant but I am tired and fed up with Doctors Surgery's and women who work as receptionist at doctors surgery's (sorry if that includes you please try not to take offence)
Today I have a very very sick little boy at home who has been up most of the night begging for me to stop his head hurting and to give him Cal pol in the hope that it will soothe his sore throat and head. Lewis hates taking medicine and has done since he was a baby he has always tended to either spit it back at you or throw up to get rid of it, so when he is begging for medicine you know something is wrong.
So today I went to the doctors to get him an appointment to be met by a woman who asks "is it an emergency"
"well yes it is" I reply
"I have no appointments today"
Why if you are not allowed to book appointments in advance is there no appointments?
I have tried phoning since the surgery opened at 7:30 but have only got the answer phone. I am not a nutter just a worried mother (maybe they are the same thing)
Then the lady says "I can get the doctor to phone you as we are offering a triage service today"
How can you tell what is wrong with my 7 year old child over the phone. You can't see him you can't speak to him how does that work?
I say "sorry that's not good enough I want my child to see a doctor now"
"Well the doctor can phone you and then give you an appointment over the phone"
So why the heck has he got a receptionist if he is going to phone me and give an appointment over the phone?
I am now really cross and tell the women that its not good enough and I will have to take him to the local hospital and complain about the service of the surgery and get told "I am following procedure"
Who gives these people the right to tell me that a poorly child can not see the doctor? What happened to the days when a child was always seen by a doctor just because they are children? Why do the receptionist think we no no better?
As it turns out Darren went up there and told them that I was a worried mother and Lewis needed to see the doctor and if that involved a phone call then it needs to happen within the next 15 minutes or else. Although I feel a bit let down that he was making excuses for my behaviour I think we need to realise that children can go down hill very quickly and who in their right mind turns a child away who is by this time trowing up complaining of a headache and has a raging temperature?
Luckily the doctor did respond quickly and Lewis was seen at 10:40 this morning with the doctor saying "I am glad you brought him in as if this had been left he would have been in serious trouble. Lewis has a bad case of Tonsillitis"
So I am not a mad mother and I do know when my child is really very sick. Bring back the days of open surgery and when receptionist were just receptionist not people who could diagnose illnesses just by the sound of your breathing.
I am sorry if this upsets anyone as that is not my intention but I am a very concerned parent.

Oh What a Giveaway

2009-05-12T22:38:00.001+01:00

15 Minute Challenge Competition

This is the book that inspired the 15 Minute Challenge and I would like one of the participants to win a copy.

Here's how you enter:
1. Sign up to do the Challenge.
2. Leave a comment on this post.
3. Become a follower of my blog for another entry. If you already follow, let me know and you'll receive another entry.
4. Post about this give-away on your blog for another entry.
5. Please leave an email address or ensure you are contactable via your blog.

Competition closes on June 14, 2009 which is about half way through the Challenge. Winner will be announced on this blog so please check back to see if you're the winner. Winner will be given 48 hours to contact me (after I've sent them an email) or I will redraw. Competition open to everyone in all countries. Good luck!

I really would love to have a look at this book it might help me organise myself better.
Today I did do some cleaning not the cleaning I was hoping for but a mad dash around the house as tomorrow morning we have our first viewing on this house and I am desperate for them to like it so we can move out and get the house that we want. So after school I ran around cleaning any surface that stayed still. So instead of cleaning out my two cupboards that I said I was going to I decided to give myself 15 minutes of reading time. I am currently reading Bleeding heart Square by Andrew Taylor and although I am enjoying it I an desperate to finish it as I want to get on and finish Julie Walters biography before my sister wants it back. Tomorrow I will return to my cleaning of the kitchen cupboard and hopefully I might even do some scrapping.
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

The 15 minute challenge

2009-05-11T12:52:00.004+01:00

So today as promised I started my 15 minute challenge. I had already decided that I would start with the kitchen as the cupboard under the sink was a mess honest look at the photos.

It is always one job that I put off and now with the hope of moving within the next couple of months I need to downsize. So I set my date and decided where I was going to start and then got everything ready after clearing up the breakfast things. So down on my hands and knees with head stuck in a cupboard is how I spent my first 15 minute of what I hope will be a brilliant challenge just have to keep it up.
Here is what I managed to achieve in one 15 minute slot.

Tomorrow I intend to do my small cupboard next to this one and my serving plate cupboard then I am halfway through the kitchen yippee by the end of the week I will have a couple of boxes packed and a smaller amount of stuff that I am keeping.
Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

New Challenge

2009-05-09T19:58:00.003+01:00

On my reading blog I have had great success in accomplishing my goals by participating in reading challenges. So, inspired by Shannon Lush and her book Speed Cleaning, I'm going to publicy challenge myself to declutter my home in 15 minute sessions per day over the next 3 months and you can join me!

The idea is quite simple. What one thing could you do for 15 minutes each day that would have the biggest impact on how you feel about yourself and your life? I will use this challenge to motivate myself to declutter however as an example, you could exercise, catch up on ironing, work on a life goal (such as writing or researching a topic), have dinner together with your family, read to your child, read the bible, pray, practise visualisations or meditate. It really can be anything. You just need to find something that you are currently not doing that bothers you.

So I found this challenge on my friends blog and decided that this would be the perfect challenge for me. As you know we are hoping to move asap and so the house needs tidying packing and sorting and if I can do just a little everyday then that has got to be good right? If you want to join in too then pop over to The life of a mad scrapper and take a look and let me know how your doing.

I have half done a layout but have decided to leave it till tomorrow to show you as I want to know if you have children do they argue constantly or do they get on? At the moment I feel sure if we left Ellie and Lewis in a room on their own for more than 5 minutes they would kill each other. OK that's a bit harsh as they aren't physical but the words that they scream at each other are meant to hurt like a slap round the face. I should also explain that they are 17 months apart and maybe I was a bit silly having them close together or this might be what children are like in general. Do you think having house rules would help? Do you have house rules?
Do your children do jobs to earn pocket money and if they do how old were they when you started? You see sometimes we just need an other parent say its OK and they are normal and this is how things worked for us any advice is truly appreciated.

Thank you for your kind words and for all your support.
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Scrapping

2009-05-07T13:24:00.012+01:00

Hello I am still around although blogging slowly through the week, but that is only because I have spent a large amount of time this Bank holiday weekend at the pub meeting friends and eating lots with the family. Also I have had two sick children, one on tueday with a tempreture and a sore throat then today the other one complaining of a tummy ache but I am sure he is really fine and just needed a sofa day with mummy.
On Saturday I went to my monthly crop at our local school and had a brilliant time I really hate the fact there never seems to be enough time to do the things I want to do is that because I talk too much?
I managed to do my Circle Journal that I am doing on UKS this month it was Christmas Spirit which when it was a lovely warm day on Saturday was hard to imagine. This time though I forgot to take photo's of it silly billy.
I also did manage to do a single layout and a double layout thanks to Page/maps I have to say thank you to Viv who you will find Here as she said that sketches were brilliant when you were running low on MOJO.
So here are my layouts.

I also did this layout of a picture taken when we were in London for Lewis's birthday.

I have also had a delivery this week, I have always believed that we use to many drugs on a day today basis and would rather use homapathy then constantly using drugs so when a program came on the telly called Grow Your Own Drugs I watched it and went out and brought the book.

Well Lewis has got Eczema and I also suffer with it occassionally but most of the medicine is Steriods and they thin the skin so in this book it explains how to make a cream that will help without over loading his body with drugs. Oviously I do use drugs when we need to as they have there place but I don't feel that we need creams with drugs in when the condition is under control and a flare up happens. Lewis doesn't have really bad eczema but when he has a flare up it can get bad quickly.

This is my goodie

Mixing it together

The end product
And because Leis has got a small patch off contact eczema he is now using the cream which is incredibly soft and silky and not causing him to scratch and make things worse. I have used it today and rubbed some on my hands and it feels lovely and my dry skin seems to be a bit better.
Sorry about all the photo's but I like to share.
Thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comments
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Busy busy busy

2009-04-27T13:09:00.005+01:00

Again the week has past me by in a blurr. I seem to be rushing around like a headless chicken and still not getting anything done. We have found the house that we would like to move into but now have to wait for our landlord to give us permission to move and seeing as we have signed a new contract for a year he is legally entitled to keep us here for 6 months but we have asked him to let us go at the end of may instead as we are having a few issues with the neighbours. Please keep your fingers crossed for us.

I have done a couple of layouts last week "Weymouth" is for SLYMI week 13 which was stamping. I didn't really enjoy stamping this time as I couldn't find the right stamp but never mind the overall layout is quite good.
You make us is my favourite layout in a while.
Hope you like them.

Also this weekend I had a new tattoo done. Myself and my sister had matching tattoos done on Saturday and I love it not to everyone taste I know but I love the three I now have.

Hopefully this week will see me starting to pack and get rid of loads of stuff a big spring sort out yippee and hopefully doing three layouts fingers crossed.
Thanks for stopping by
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Wow has it really been that long?

2009-04-20T18:46:00.002+01:00

Well first off I am sorry that I haven't blogged before but I have been really busy with the children being off school and them wanting to go out and do things and not watch mummy scrap. So today is the first day back to school and I have been very busy doing what I enjoy most.
I made homemade lasagna for tea this morning and then after I had done the shopping and stopped mopping around cos I was missing the children I got on and done some scrapping. Yes I have missed the children today, the house has been so quite that I could hear a pin drop no screaming and shouting or arguing.
It seems that the weekend was just an alchol induced laugh. With the sunny weather and really warm conditions we went to the pub on Friday night and had a few beers as things had gone a bit mad with Darren's work so it was wind down time. Saturday we went house hunting as we are looking to move and as we rent we have quite a few choices to choose from, after seeing 3 houses we went back to the pub to talk through what we had seen and to see if we could come up with a short list. After 2 pints of beer we were still no closer to a short list.
Saturday night we went out with a group of friends to another pub didn't want the landlord to think we had a problem with beer. We had a lovely evening full of laughter and lots of drink.
Sunday we went to the pub for lunch and ended up with a group of our friends and their children having a laugh and a couple of beers. Pocket some what lighter and hearts somewhat lighter we had to come home and get ready for the week.
Any way back to the scrapping I have done 4 layouts 2 single and 1 double and have loved being back in the land of the normal.

Tomorrow we are going back to look at two of the houses and hope to have made a decision by tea time and the rest of the day I am going to scrap and have a look around at other peoples blogs as that's the best way to spend sometime.
Thank you for stopping by and for leaving such lovely comments.
Love to you all
Love Jo xxxx

Crop day

2009-04-05T11:40:00.012+01:00

***Photo heavy today sorry***

Yesterday was crop day and I made everyone a little box with a cup cake in as an Easter gift they were very nice.
I had decided what I was going to do and as always had to get up early as I hadn't prepared papers and photo's and the other stuff that I had to take but luckily I made it on time.
I am involved in a CJ and this months one was surprises which I found really quite hard but after careful thought I did it about the word Surprise and what was called surprise.

Also because I am proud mummy her is my layout of my beautiful Ballerina.

Thank you viv for your help on this one it really helped.
Also and thankfully the last load of pictures I have finished my 25Th Challenge and I have to say I breathed a sigh of relief and will not be doing it again although it is nice to have proof of what I did in the last year.

This is what the last two pages say
This is the end of the year and I have enjoyed it although I don't think I will continue to do this for another year, as I have other projects that I want to do.
Some months its been hard and other months I have had too many photo's to choose from, some months it has felt to much of a bind and some months the 25Th hasn't been the day things have happened. ONE DAY JUST DOESN'T SEEM ENOUGH.

Ballet

2009-03-31T08:39:00.008+01:00

I spent all weekend helping Ellie get ready for her show. She did part of Swan Lake which nearly made me cry and then she did a Scottish Jig abit like Irish Dancing and very very fast. On Saturday she had two performances one at 2pm and then the next at 6.30. Ellie also goes to a theatre group and they had to sing a song on Saturday night called Kids Rule the World from the musical Whistle Down the Wind. Unfortunately I couldn't get tickets for the Saturday evening so we went on Friday instead. Poor Ellie was absolutely exhausted and we had high hopes that she might stay in bed till at least 9am but no such luck she was up at 8am instead. And because I had my forgetful head on I didn't manage to take any photo's of her so after I read some bits about my camera we had a little photo shoot of our own. Below are just a few photo's and one to show I did manage to get that hair into a bun.

Sorry there is so many photo's but I am a very proud mummy.
Thank you for stopping by and your comments are lovely.
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Some Layouts

2009-03-26T14:36:00.005Z

The last two days I have been quite crafty as I have done 3 layouts and restarted my knitting and sown a feather boa on to a Tutu for Ellie for her show. So I have finished my SLYMI week 12 that is below I used K and co on one side and not sure what the other side is but it is from our weekend in London.

Then I did my Scrap your year on Two Peas in a Pod. Again I don't remember what the papers where but one I think was creative memories??? Not really sure but I have finished March.

So far I am keeping up with my challenges and i am quite pleased with myself.

I also have done the Creative Therapy catalyst this week click on the link above to go to their blog its fab.
The catalyst 54 this week was:
Whats something you wish you could do. (something you know how but are afraid to try) and here is mine:

That's all for today off to do the domestic duties that I keep putting off.
Thanks for stopping by
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Out of Control

2009-03-25T09:30:00.008Z

Since Friday it has been go go go.
Saturday we went to London as Lewis's birthday treat instead of a birthday party and it was a whistle stop tour and very tiring. Lewis wanted to go to the Monument that commemorates the Great Fire of London. It was built by Sir Christopher Wren and has 311 steps and a viewing platform which is 48.7 meters above the ground. Now I am scared of heights so decided to stay on the ground and let Darren Ellie and Lewis go up but Lewis got halfway up and said he was scared so Darren brought him down and then went back up to join his sister and niece and Ellie. Here are some photo's from the top.

Then from there we jumped on a bus and went to Trafalgar Square so that I could take some photo's of the children on the Lions.

Then Lewis wanted to spend his birthday money so we went along to Hamleys and had to go to the top floor and Lewis brought a Star Wars Lego toy and then as we went down the escalator Ellie's shoe lace got stuck in the escalator poor thing was nervous of them to start with but she was very brave and didn't cry and the lady behind her yanked it out so that we could carry on. Next we went to Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square and had more photos taken. I like this one so thought I would share it with you. I do intend to scrap it just need time to think how.

Then we had dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe which was lovely and how could I refuse having a couple of cocktails my favourite being Woo Woos yummy.
After we had eaten we went back to Victoria and onto Gatwick where we spent the night in a Premier Inn Hotel. My hopes of the children falling to sleep quickly where dashed as Ellie stayed awake till I went to sleep about 10:30. I got rudely awakened at 6:15 by Lewis falling out of bed ( I am a bad mummy because I laughed) and that woke Ellie up so we left Darren in bed and had a shower and got ready for the day. It was a great weekend but very tiring and this week seems to be going the same hectic way as Ellie is in a Dance Show on Friday and twice on Saturday so its rehearsals all week and many late nights.
Does any one know how to get this child's hair into a bun please email and let me know. LOL

I'm off now to scrap abit . Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Busy Busy Busy

2009-03-20T20:27:00.007Z

Today it has been a very special day it was Lewis's 7Th Birthday and I find that so hard to believe. It truly doesn't feel that long ago that I held that small (7lb 101/2oz)baby who had the most amazing knowing face. Unbelievable that he is 7 and still has that same look. He is such a stronger and determined little boy he knows what he wants and does his best to get it. He has had a troubled week this week with a child at school pushing him over but I know he is no saint either and is just as likely to poke the other child although violence and Lewis doesn't go together as he doesn't like violence. Luckily I kind of got a bit cross and said I had had enough as it had been going on for 6 months on and off and the school reacted as I had hoped that they would and moved both children so that they will not have anything to do with each other. I do understand that they have to learn to get along but when things start getting this bad its time to react. So today thankfully we had a very happy little boy who celebrated his birthday with people that he loves and love him. Here are a few photo's.

Tomorrow as a birthday treat we are taking the children to London as Lewis wants to see the monument of the great fire of London and Trafalgar Square and have dinner at the rain forest cafe and being a typical mum I have some secrets up my sleeve but will blog them on Sunday.
Have a great weekend and love to you all
Love Jo xx

Bad Blogger

2009-03-16T15:46:00.004Z

Right lets get this out of the way I am sorry I have been such a bad blogger this weekend but life kind of got in the way. So sorry and hope you can all forgive me (creep creep creep).
On Thursday we went to the Isle of Wight just don't tell school as Ellie and Lewis were off sick (bad mummy) but anyway that's what we did and we had a fab day. Darren had to work so me and the children went first to Sandown Pier and played on the machines and then had our picnic at Shanklin and then went to the Amazon which I though was a waste of money and cost us £20.00 just for us three and only lasted an hour but hey ho we wont go back there in a hurry. Unfortunately we couldn't go to Robin Hill which we love as it was shut for the Winter but the children and me had a fab day then Darren picked us up and we went to this barn place that sells craft bits like handmade fudge (yes we did buy some) and lavender bags which I decided I could make cheaper. They also had a farm shop that sold Spelt flour. I wanted to make Spelt bread as its easier to digest and doesn't leave you feeling fat and bloated like normal bread also its one of the oldest flours in history and the Romans used it to make bread (that's what I have been told anyway)
Here are a few photo's of our day.

Then on Friday I made the spelt bread it was lovely. So today I had to go out and find some more spelt flour so I can make some more.
On Friday night Darren took me out to Worthing for dinner at our favourite Tex-Mex restaurant we had a few beers before we went to eat and then could only manage a main meal and no pudding but we had two B52 shooters each they were lovely although the hangover the next day was not so good.
On Saturday we have a tradition in my family that you go to Grandma's and Grandad's (my parents) for lunch so we made some Bacon and Cheese muffins yumyumyum and some gypsy creams and took them round with us. We spent a nice couple of hours looking at all the plants that my dad has started growing for the allotment and watching mum make a 50th wedding anniversary cake for a friend.
I went out Saturday evening with friends and had such a good laugh. I never really went out with out Darren until the other month but decided that I had to get a life lol.
NEWS UPDATE: Uey the cat appears to be fine now and her voice is slowly coming back. Her blood work came back fine so maybe she just had a cold.

I am still trying to decide whether to do a Access Course via a local college but have applied for a Plant Carer at Focus near us which would mean working 30 hours a week but gets me out the house and out meeting people. Fingers crossed.

Spring is in the Air

2009-03-11T15:38:00.005Z

I am so happy today, why because it smells like spring today. The sun is shining and that always makes me feel happy, the grass is dazzling emerald colour and the sky is blue with little puffs of white cloud. The birds are tweeting in the trees and life feels good.

I have received a blog award today as well so that made me really happy, my friend Viv gave it to me and its my first one and I am so pleased and excited now I have to pass it on to 7 others now who should I pick there are so many good blogs that I read but I have managed to narrow it down to 7 and that's because I find I read these the most and love their work and their style.
Lindsay
Julia Dunnit
Ginny Christiansen
Julia B
Vicky
Elizabeth
Kerry
Just kick on the links to go and visit these great blogs and thank you Viv.

I have also started my A year Of You from www.twopeasinabucket.com and here is my take on the February class.

Today I also did my SLYMI week 10 which was funny faces and this my attempt at it.

I love this photo of Lewis. The journaling reads.
Do you know how much I love this funny face?
Whenever you pull your cool dude face I laugh and laugh. I normally end up crying with laughter. I think you know how funny you are my little funny face xxxx

Thank you for taking time to read my random musings.
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Busy Busy Busy

2009-03-08T18:26:00.010Z

I have been very very busy since Thursday. On Friday I went to the allotment and helped my dad dig a trench put manure in it and then plant our first batch of early potatoes. It was very hard work as the ground was very wet and to start with it felt like you were wearing divers boots as all the mud clogged around your feet. Every step I took was like running around the block. After awhile the mud did start to dry out and that made it easier it took us 21/2 hours to dig two trenches and plant one row of spuds. Everything has started to come back to life and the Raspberries and the Gooseberries have all got tiny buds on. The rhubarb has started sprouting and will hopefully be ready to pick by the end of the month. No sign of the asparagus though yet but that's not due till the end of the month for the early stuff. Here are some Daffodils that are growing under our blackberry bush they are lovely and the colour reminds me of spring.

Yesterday I had a bit of a rush day as Ellie had her theatre group then we went to go shopping but there was too many people so decided to go to my mums instead, and all we did there was eat and the children played in the garden. Lewis who is 6 (nearly 7) was making a plane out of some wood, grandad gave him a hammer and some nails and Lewis bashed his thumb with the hammer. Unfortunately Lewis hurt his thumb on Thursday at Tae-kwon-do by running into a wall and trying to stop himself with his thumb and guess which one he hit with the hammer? Yep the same one. I had to talk him out of going to hospital but strangely enough today he was able to play the Wii and his DS so I guess its not broken. Last night Darren had a disco so I was home alone and once the children had gone to bed I settled down to make some cards. Now if you read this regularly you will know that I don't make cards in fact I hate making cards but these were for charity so here they are the three that took me all night.

Then today after we had done the shopping and came home and put it all away I had to prep the veg for tea and get the children there lunch,but then they all left me alone to get on with scrapping. I had to finish the CJ that I had started at my crop so I finished that and I am so pleased with it although I can't share pictures because I don't want the owner to see before she gets it back. Then I did two more layouts both of which I love now comes the photo's there is alot of them sorry.

Thank you for coming by.
Love Jo xx

Enough is enough

2009-03-05T20:11:00.009Z

Right today after going to the local craft shop and buying an embossing folder for my sissix (big shot) and some bling that I really wanted I decided that the credit crunch has had to hit the house of craftyallotments. Now honestly if Darren really realised how much stash I really have he would have a fit. I keep saying I will buy that pretty paper because I like it then it ends up here.

In one of my really useful boxes. Unfortunately they are all full all 5 of them and I'm still buying paper.

It has got to stop. I can't possibly make enough scrap pages to use all of this paper. Here are the stickers that I have brought yet I am not a really big sticker user so not quite sure why I have them. OK yes I do they are pretty and I might need them one day right?

And this is my ribbon stash although the ribbons are in a bit of a mess but I know where they are.

And these are my two new boxes to store things in. The black and white one has got SI mags in because I like to keep them for ideas and the red one has got more stickers and rubb-ons in.
.
Are you storing stash like this?
Are you on a stash diet?
I have also been playing with my glitz it sparkles to make flowers. I saw the flowers on a web site unfortunately I can't find them again sorry. I drew the flowers on some acetate and left them over night to set then I carefully peeled them off.

I will post pictures of what I use them on.
Well that's it for now
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Second time today

2009-03-03T20:27:00.005Z

Well this is my second blog entry today. Please don't worry I feel its a one off as I am not normally this chatty or am I?
I have been putting feelers out for some new exciting projects as my 25Th Challenge or Scrap your day comes to an end this month, and all though I am a member on UKS I don't always want to do the weekly challenges on there so needed to find something to occupy my time with (until I find which course to take or a job whichever comes first although I will continue with this so don't panic). I have hunted high and low and asked for help and luckily I had a very nice lady on UKS tell me about a site called Creative Therapy which you will find in my side bar of blogs (thank you dancingqueen I think that was your name) I have had a little hunt over there and found that it blew my little socks off and gave me the inspiration for My big Sister layout that I did today (I love it the colours and picture just seem to work). I also found on Twopeasinabucket.com A Year of You which is an on line class and you scrap your month rather than 1 day, we all have days during the month that are special and things happen and it's not always on the 25Th so I thought I would have a go at that as well and I am doing Scrap Like You Mean It, which I finished week 9 yesterday. If any of you are playing along with any of the challenges that I have mentioned please let me know what you think and if you are enjoying them or what challenge you are doing and why? I can't wait to find out what you are all up too.
Tonight I will leave you with my two most recent layouts.

I learnt how to do these flowers on Creative Therapy web site go and have a look they are great.
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Sorry

2009-03-03T08:17:00.003Z

Sorry I forgot to say on Sunday that although we were ghost hunting we didn't find anything and the woods felt really peaceful and quite and not at all scary all though if we had of seen anything I would have wet myself and ended up screaming till I passed out from lack of oxygen. You see unfortunately although I might sound brave and unshakable I am a big scaredy cat really and not one to really do things like this. Apparently my two friends Annie and Viv are going to do some research and then we will be returning with some other friends and then doing a night vigile, I feel I might be washing my hair that night.
I will be back later to update you on the Challenge quest as I have been given some very very good ideas.
See you all later
Love Jo xx

Funny weekend.

2009-03-01T19:29:00.005Z

I just had to pop in and tell you all about my weekend well ok just yesterday as I had such a good day. Yesterday was my scrap day the day of peace and quite and no children yippeeee, but before I went I went and met some friends for a walk in the woods. The woods we went to are well known around here for ungodly things being done in them and although a church is close by it doesn't stop the things still going on. Now it was only three women that went and god knows what we would have done if anything had happened but we spent a good hour or so wondering around trying to find some signs that we have been told to look for. I know that it sounds like teenagers fooling around but I didn't do this type of thing then so I thought I would go along for the ride although if they decide to go back at night I might have to wash mt hair.

The Church

The church cat that kept following us

The woods
Then for the rest of the day we went scrapping which invovles a lot of talking and hardly any scrapping but I did get most of my CJ done which took me ages might take some photo's of it later and post them up here tomorrow.

I do want to pose a question because I really need some help.
I have been doing the 25th Challenge or scrap your day for the last year and it draws to an end at the end of this month now I need a new challenge to take its place but maybe not on that is so one day a month as my family are scared that if I forget then they will have to smile loads any ideas are truely welcome. What has been your favourite scrap project to date? I am also doing SLYMI which is good but need another challenge.

Cat news

2009-02-27T19:20:00.002Z

Just a quick note today to let you know about my cat. Uey (the cat had a u mark on her back when she was a kitten and her old owner called her it) has been to the vets today, she has a heart murmer and a rapid heart rate of 240 beats per minute compared to 160 - 180 beats per minute on a normal cat so they have had to take some blood and do some blood work on her. We are just waiting for news to find out what to do she is only 9 and although we mess around about how annoying she is we wouldn't be without her really and I think her mum Bella who we also have would miss her. Fingers criossed that it was the stress of being put in a cat carrying box that made her heart beat so fast.

Flustered

2009-02-26T14:35:00.005Z

Today I feel that I am rushing from one job to another and things are starting to suffer for it. I spent part of yesterday trying to do a layout for UKscrappers week 4 challenge and now I look at it and I hate it might have to take it apart and try again. I like the photo's and the way I flipped the photo to reveal more photo's and I like the Title letters but I don't like the dark blue back ground and I don't like the 6 embellishments that I threw at it in the hope that they would look good. I am going to a crop on Saturday so I might have ago then. I feel that my style has gone if in deed I ever had one but at the moment my current state of mind is all over the place so maybe that has something to do with it.
I have spent part of today hunting in the kitchen to find a strange smell only to find out someone has emptied the cat food in the recycle part of the bin which never has a bin bag in it so I have had to stop everything that I am doing to sort that out. One of my cats has lost her voice and is hiding under my bed and appears to have stopped eating so have to phone the vets and try and sort her out poor thing. I am just not having a good day maybe I should return to bed and pull the duvet over my head and start again tomorrow.
On a brighter note I am going to the woods on Saturday with a group of friends. I know it might sound dull but they are meant to be haunted so we are going up in the morning to see if we feel brave enough to go at night. I know we sound like a bunch of teenagers but I am looking forward to it in a strange kind of way. I will let you know if we find anything although I am sure you will hear our screams if we do no matter what part of the country you are in.
I have started reading The 19Th Wife this week and so far find it fascinating and can't wait till this evening to read some more.
Oh and tonight is the Masterchef final I can't wait. I am not sure who I want to win it has got to be either Matt or Christopher. WHO DO YOU WANT TO WIN?
Sorry I have had a bit of a moan today have a look at this layout and tell me what you think. Honestly please thank you.

I am catching up honest.

2009-02-24T16:52:00.013Z

I have been very busy today, I have had no real like lately looking for a job so have decided that I might have to do some re-education in the form of GCSE's or A-levels. Honestly how hard can it be to decide at 35 that your life has been on hold for 4 years and now is the time to go back to school and learn something new? What do I want to be when I grow up? Nope sorry you have me there I don't think I have grown up enough yet to decide. I know what I don't want to be, I don't want to be stuck at home on my bottom getting fatter and more dis-illusioned with my life. Whenever there was career day at school all I ever wanted to be was a mummy, so that job has been fulfilled and now the children are 6 and 8 they don't need me so much although high days and holidays oh and the occasional day when they are sick, but generally not as much as when they were little, so now what do I do. I don't want to be a care assistant although people who look after others all deserve a medal but that's not for me. I don't really want to stack shelves at any top named supermarket although the people who do that I can not thank enough for making sure my trolley is always replenished so now what. I love arts and craft but it would seem to do most jobs like this you need a degree well I don't have one of them but I know how to clean toilets and cook a good meal out of nothing and how to make that nothing into soup afterwards, so my conclusion is I am going to have to take some more GCSE's or at least improve my maths and then go on to do A-levels and then maybe take a degree but I still have to decide what to do. Any ideas anyone?

Right on a lighter note now I've got that off my chest I have been trying to catch up with 25Th Challenge I wasn't that far behind well was November really that long ago. Today I printed the pictures and got to work but I know feel like I rushed it as I have hundreds of ideas going on in my head at the moment and can't keep them under check. Below is November and December and January hope you like them.

I have also done this week Scrap Like You Mean It and here is that.

Today was pancake day so as in most houses in this country we made pancakes. I am not to good at tossing but Ellie (8) decided she would have a go and I had to take photo's and then Darren had to have a go I am surprised we got any pancakes at all. Here are some photo's

Hope you all have a very nice pancake day and don't eat to many pancakes.
As lent starts tomorrow are you giving up anything?
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Its Friday

2009-02-20T18:33:00.004Z

Today is the last day of half term which is a bit of a shame as the children haven't been too bad but that's because we have been doing things except for yesterday.
Lewis kept complaining that his eyes hurt and he had a headache and his neck hurt and his tummy hurt but after a dose of Calpol he was OK so we went out with my brother and sister and nephew for lunch at a dim sum restaurant in Worthing (about 9 miles from us. He did manage to eat some food but not as much as he would do normally for a 6 year old he has a very good appetite and needs watching. On the way home I wanted to go and get some books (another addiction that always sucks me in) as I got a £15 gift voucher for my birthday and still hadn't spent it so we popped into Sussex Stationers in Rustington so that I could have a leisurely look around when suddenly Lewis is crying that his head hurts and his eyes are really sore. Quickly grabbing the books that I had picked up put back down again and then picked up and reread the blurb we headed to the pay desk and left to get Lewis back home for more calpol (god I love you for inventing this). Strangely enough after his dose of calpol and half an hour in his room he was bouncing around wanting to play the Wii. It always amazes me as to how quickly they go from being in no pain to screaming in agony like you are pinching them and biting them to being OK again. Do we ever behave in such a fashion? Do two paracetamol make the world seem bright and better or does it only happen to children?

Anyway above is my book stash. I got The 19Th Wife from the children for my birthday and have just started reading it so far so good. Then I have Peter Robinson All the colours Of Darkness, Graham Hurley The Price of Darkness, Cathy Kelly Past Secrets and Andrew Taylor Bleeding Heart Square. Have any of you read any of these books? What did you think? What is your Favourite book?

Today Ellie decided that she needed a blanket for her dolls pram but I can't find one anywhere so have decided that I would knit her one so off we went to Hobby craft and brought some wool and needles and of course some stash for my scrap booking then came home. "Can you teach me how to Knit mummy" cried Ellie
"Bugger" I thought but after at least an hour trying to get her to knit her first row she did it Hooray maybe it will not be as hard as I thought.
Here is my efforts so far and I think its called moss stitch but I might be wrong Ellie thinks it looks a mess but she is only 8 what does she know. (LOL)

Love to you all
Love Jo xx

Happy times

2009-02-18T16:15:00.011Z

I am trying to sneak some me time today during half term yes I can hear you all laughing, but that was my plan. So this morning I got up in the hope of trying to catch up with some scrapping as I am two weeks behind with scrap like you mean it and I wanted to try and do them before week 8 went live tomorrow. But first I had to do my Wii fit. I am trying to do it everyday at about the same time and so far in 9 days have lost about 6lbs(ish) I love it but I am sure I look like a complete mad woman in my tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt but hey ho who cares. The children had Darren home for the week so they could annoy him whilst I got down to crafting, unfortunately they decided to play on the Wii and made such a racket that I could not craft at all. So I went upstairs and helped fold up the washing (yawn yawn) by the time I came back down the children were playing on the trampoline peace and quite at last.
So I got down to work again and did this Layout using ribbons I love it I think its one of my current favourites.

And then I did this layout which uses the bible pages that I got from marmaladekiss.blogspot.com
The challenge was to scrap an old photo and this is about 8 years old hope that counts.

So I have now got back on line with my SLYMI and now just have to scrap loads of other photo's including last years holidays both 1 and 2 and everything to do with the children and need I go on I am sure you all understand.

Yesterday we went to Paultons Park and had a fab day. Darren and the children went on loads of rides but their two favourites were Raging River...

Which they kept going on time after time after time and got soaking wet then dry then wet then dry so if they don't get a cold I will be amazed.
And this was their second favourite ride...

But they did go on other rides too here are some photos I took of the day.

Sorry there is so many photo's today but just wanted to share some of the good times with you all.

Love to all
Love Jo xx

Valentine's weekend

2009-02-16T17:09:00.009Z

I have had a fabulous weekend. Saturday morning started with us exchanging cards. I had made mine as my LOVE album that I had been trying to do wasn't finished so I made him a card instead.

Then there was a knock at the door and half a dozen yellow roses were being delivered for me along with a single red rose for Darren from me.

Me and Darren had a night away on Saturday just us two no children and no animals well except no honest there was just us. Darren booked us into a Premier Lodge at Port Solent just for the night but it was amazing the room was huge and the bed I think I lost Darren in it at one point but it was lovely. Although I have blisters the size of a small country on the balls of my feet but just to have spent some time with Darren on our own was worth it.

I am still reading Inkheart as I seem to be a slowish reader but I am loving it and getting very wrapped up in it. Can't wait to see what happens in the end, I just hope that I get some time to read it this half term.
Tomorrow we are hoping to go to Paultons Park for the day. Its somewhere we have never been and since Darren has got the whole week off we decided to do something fun for the kids so tonight I am making the picnic and a quick tea for tomorrow night for when we get back in then its an early night for all and hopefully a great day tomorrow.
Are you on half term holiday what are you doing with your children this week?

Look what I got.

2009-02-12T16:07:00.003Z

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be home when the postman came. In all those horrid bills that we get at this time of the month was a large white envelope addressed to me, needless to say I was quite excited as I rarly get any nice post. I rushed indoors desperate to find out who had sent me something and what it might be wondering what I had ordered and from whom, knowing deep down that I had nothing that I was waiting on. What could it then shock horror I couldn't open it I must have looked like some kind of rabbied animal dancing around the house pulling at the cellotape that was stopping me getting in eventually I got it opened and out fell 2 bundles of aged and old bible pages.

Now I suddenly remembered one of the blogs that I read alot and can't help chuckling at was offering Bible page to the first 5 people who left a comment and I was one of them. The blog is here or goto www.mamaladekisses.blogspot.com her site isamazing and she is often up to making something ranging from soap to handmade clothes its a brilliant blog and I love it.
What I intend to do with the Bible pages is to make two scrap pages of Ellie and Lewis getting christened I will post the layouts when I get them done. I also am working on a Valentine card for the OH but have only just got the letters covered and hope to finish it tomorrow.

Thank you for the birthday wishes and 35 isn't that bad I don;t actually feel any different then when I was 28 but have decided to be a bit reckless and on the 21st of this month I am going to go and get a tattoo (well 2 actually) but its not something I have rushed into it has taken me 17 years to work out where I want it and what I want and I will post on here as soon as I have had them done and what they are.
Thank you for taking some time to have a look into my mad world
Love to all.
Jo xx

Me day

2009-02-10T16:18:00.008Z

Today is my birthday and so after thinking I would spend the day crying as I had reached the grand old age of 35 I decided its only a number and have avoided all tears.
After having a rough time in December I had hoped that my birthday would be better than christmas and it has been. I have got a lot of presents and alot of birthday cards.
The OH brought me Wii Fit which I will be getting this evening and the Children brought me a book called The 19th Wife a bottle of bubbly and a box of chocolates very nice. A friend of mine brought this lovely bracelett

And another friend gave me these flowers.

I also got 5 homemade cards as well that really made my day, just to think that these people took the time to make me a card I love them. Annie, Fiona, Sharon, my mum and my little girl Ellie thank you all so much.

At the weekend I also took part in the Cyber Crop over at UkScrappers and although I only did 2 classes and two challenges I loved every minute of it and only wish that I could have done more. I have decided that next cyber crop I am locking the doors and getting the family to move out and leave me alone for the entire week. What do you think my chances are?
Here are my layouts thank you for looking.

Snow snow and more snow.

2009-02-02T13:45:00.015Z

Today we got woken up at 3.30am by DD as she had looked out of her window and seen all the snow and wanted to go and play. At 4am after being sent back to bed she got up again and asked if she could get up and was quickly returned to bed. At 5.30 she again came into ask if she could go down stairs by this stage I think we just gave in and let her go and watch the telly so we could have 1 1/2 hour more sleep. I suppose I shouldn't complain as one day she will not want to get up at all. At 7.30 when we did get up I told them to get dressed and then they could go and play in the snow but would have to come back in for breakfast so off they went. Here are a few photos of the first of the snow.

Our cats paw prints.
Ellie in the snow.
Lewis up to no good.

At 8.45 we went to school only to be told that school was shut and we could go home again Hurray at last a snow day.
After I had made vegetable soup for lunch we went to a park near us and played snowballs and made a snowman. We have had a lovely day today hope you have to and hope you like looking at our photo's.

These last two photo's are of DD and OH doing human bowling. I know what are they like.
Love to you all
Love Jo xx

What do you think.

2009-01-30T21:10:00.005Z

The last few days I have been busy making a birthday card for a friend and to be honest I don't know why I didn't go out and buy one it would have been easier. I decided that I couldn't think of a really nice present that she would like so a card that resembled a bunch of flowers would be good.
Here it is what do you think.

I have also done Scrap like you mean it week 4 challenge which was to follow this sketch

Here is what I came up with:

I haven't done a great deal of crafting this week and intend to do more next week.
Its going to be very cold here next week with the weather men forecasting snow I can't wait I get so excited that when I see its snowed I get the children up just so we can go and play. I really want snow I love it.
OK that's it for now going off to finish my book called the Island.
Love to you all
Jo xx

Tag

2009-01-26T09:46:00.007Z

Just a quick one today I might come back and blog later if I get to do anything other than housework.

I have been tagged by www.lindschick.blogspot.com and so have to tag another 4 people which is very exciting as I have never been tagged before thank you Linsay.
Girls, this is a fun tag. You have to go to the photo's on your PC, go to the 6Th folder and find the 6Th picture and upload it to your blog, and here is my picture.

Not a great photo but its Ellie when she got her Diablo and this was her first attempt at playing with it.
So here are the people that I am going to tag:-
Clairliz
Vee
Viv
Voodoo Vixen
I have chosen these 4 people as I love reading their blogs just wish I could nominate all of you but maybe next time.

Love to all
Jo xx

Why did no one tell me

2009-01-25T16:47:00.002Z

So today is the 25Th of the month and No-one told me. When I should have maybe got up and dressed and done my hair I decided not to and have sat around all day having a pj day. Suddenly at 4.30 I discover that it is the 25Th and I should have been taking photo's for the 25Th challenge I have done nothing. I did wonder why suddenly my husband got the camera out and wanted to take photo's of me as I fled under the throw on the sofa trying to hide the true grossness of my hair, the children were laughing as I squealed and screamed. Do men just not realise there are times for photo's and Sunday evening is not one of them. Anyway never mind I have taken a few photos and they will have to do.
As usual I made hundreds of resolutions this month and although I have kept a few going the one on SLIMMING (I know its a swear word) has fallen by the wayside but that was because of man flu then having a tooth pulled out but you would think that would help with the weight lose not a chance I have remained the same weight.(crys into another cup of ticktock tea). So I decided that this month isn't over so I can reclaim the diet (healthy eating plan). DH is probably fed up of me whinging that I am too fat so he has brought me a new book called Cook Yourself Thin so tomorrow I am going to start cooking myself thin. I have already made my breakfast and made Thai butternut soup for my lunch so I am getting ready.
I am now off to have my roast dinner that DH has made for me lovely.
Love to you all
Jo xx

Hello

2009-01-22T20:02:00.007Z

So ok I know I haven't been around for a little while but well OK no excuse and just as always I have a load of things going on at the mo. On Monday I had a lazy day after rowing with Darren I had no get up and go. Until the evening when I made this card.

Tuesday I decided that I had to make soup and so made another batch of tomato soup. Yum yum yum it tastes divine. I also went round to a friends house just so I could look at her scrap books.
Wednesday I decided that I had to do SLYMI challenge as I hadn't done it this weeks challenge was to use chipboard which although I had loads in my stash don't tend to use so I did this picture.

Today I got up late with the children as they had been up and down all night coughing and coughing and coughing so they had the day off. I wanted to do this weeks challenge on UKS so I made this page.

I also made Chocolate Brownies with the children and then throw them away as they hadn't cooked in the middle and they needed another 15 minutes but didn't realise until it was to late, oh well I wont be entering Master chef for a while.
Also today I have been reading which is another huge hobby of mine. I have started reading The Island by Victoria Hislop which is about a leper colony just off of Crete so far its fab and I am engrossed. I have another book that i am going to start to read called Inkheart by Cornelia Funke which my friend Viv lent me here is a link to her blog go and take a look at all her books and her reviews.
Any way that's enough for now
Take care and have fun
Love Jo xx

A Little Excited

2009-01-16T14:23:00.002Z

I am (sadly) a little excited today as this week I have attended a Craft-Ed evening at my friend Fiona's. It was a night for all my crop friends to get together and have fun. Our friend Liz has just started as a consultant for Craft-Ed and it was her first ever class. She showed us how to make a star album.

This is my star album which I am going to put pictures in from Christmas.
I also ordered some things from Liz and can't wait till they arrive I will share them with you when they arrive and I have had a play.
Tomorrow I am going to my local crop 6 whole hours of me time and I can't wait. I am going to try and sort out what I am going to do and get the photos organised before I go. I need to catch up with my 25Th Challenge I think I still have to do November and December so I will do that and also I received my 1st CJ so will find some photos for that. The theme is Places I want to See so have to think about where I want to go which isn't that hard as since I was 14 I have always wanted to go to Russia or to Iceland I don't like the heat very much. I am a red head and burn to easily to be able to sit out in the sun for long and I am also a large lady so can't stand the heat, I like being cold and snuggling up in a duvet or blankets and being all snugly and warm hence why my places are cold, so I have to find some pictures so that I can put them in to the CJ. I also want to do this weeks Scrap like you mean it which is to use chipboard so will also have to think of those pictures and look see what I have got in my little pile of stash (OK OK so I lied I have loads of stash just don't tell my OH). I could also do my star album and get that sorted to send to my MIL as I think she would like it. So much to do and so little time which I was going on a Scrap Retreat for the whole weekend.
Until the next time have Fun xx

Cybercrop Time.

2009-01-14T16:02:00.004Z

Hello and welcome to more frantic goings on here.
Today Ellie (8) went swimming with the school and after shouting at her last week she has got onto the coach twice now so I guess that little tantrum has now passed thank you god.
Lewis is pleased that at long last Charlton actually won a game and rushed home tonight to get his kit on just to celebrate well he is only 6.
Yesterday I had to visit the dentist to have a tooth removed. As you can imagine I was very scared although that doesn't take much really as I don't like the dentist, but he was very nice and kept me calm and was very gentle. Today my mouth hurts but more like heavy bruising really rather than toothache.
I have finished reading "Dear Fatty" by Dawn French and laughed most of the way through it. I love Dawn French she is so very funny. Now I have started a book called One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson this is one of my Christmas books and I am going to settle down tomorrow and have a good read.
Tonight and every night this week since Saturday I have been watching Most Haunted Live. I am a believer but get very very scared very very quickly so tend to hide under the cushions alot. I am just a big girls blouse really but I enjoy it alot.

Over on Ukscrappers there is a cybercrop going on, on the weekend of the 6Th February for the weekend and I have decided to take part for the first time ever. I am with the FBI on the Cybercrop and really can't wait I am so excited (sad maybe but who cares).
Tonight I am going to a Craft Ed party at a friends house (thanks for the invite Fiona) I have never been to one and want to get and play with all the bits and pieces. On Saturday I am off to the crop that I go to once a month and have so many LO that I want to do and only 6 hours to do them in.
I would like to share with you these two layouts that I have done this week. The first one was for Scrap Like You Mean It challenge. You had to use Stars and/or hearts.

and this next one is another one for a challenge on UkScrappers you had to use 12 of something - I used 12 photos
Celebration - Christmas
And Buttons - 12 buttons

I think that's everything for now.
Thank you for looking
Love to all xx

CJ and Blog tidying

2009-01-08T16:15:00.002Z

Today I am recovering from man flu so spent all day blog hoping grabbing ideas from here there and everywhere to add to my mental to do list. I wanted for a while to add photo's that I had taken as my header but had never managed it until today that is when I found out how to do it from someone else's blog. (Sorry forgot who you are but I am sure you are in my blog list as I think I added you today)Thank you so much it really helped and now I have my own photo's and I think it looks fab. What do you think?
I also did a bit of housekeeping blog style by getting rid of some blogs that are excellent but I haven't read them for a while and I fancied a change around.
Today I have nearly completed my Circle Journal that needs to be posted on Saturday and no I am not posting pictures on here because I want it to be a surprise for everyone that takes part.
The children are nearing the end of their first week back at school and struggling with Wii withdrawals as we have put a ban on it for weekdays and they are only aloud to play on weekends if they have done their jobs.(LOL that will be the day).
I have looked at Shimelles Challenge for this week and think I know what I will be doing but have to get round to do the housework at some point this week.

I have also been busy reading and am half way through Dawn French's book "Dear Fatty" which is so funny. She is really a warm and loving person and is naturally an entertainer and comedian. I have a load more books to read and have even set up a wish list of books on Amazon as its my birthday in February and I hope to get these books for pressies, fingers crossed.
That's it today.
Love to all
Jo xx

New Layouts

2009-01-07T15:56:00.008Z

I have been suffering with a bout of man flu this week but in between sleeping and lemsip have managed to do two layouts the first was just for me as I wanted to scrap New Year and to write down what I had decided would be my resolutions for this year,

On the tags it says This is me on New Years Eve 2008. I went to the Sportsman because Darren was Djing up there. I spent the evening with my friend Michelle. It was a good evening made better by the fact a New Year begun.

The tags say: My New Year Resolutions are:
1 Get a job
2 Lose weight
3 Get fit
4 Have more me time
5 Learn something new
6 Be more confident
7 Spend more time with Darren
8 More family time
9 Scrap more
10 SMILE MORE.
Well lets hoe that by the end of the year some of those things will have been done.
My second layout was my New Shoes which I did as part of Scrap like you mean it challenge by Shimelle on UKSCRAPPER
You had to chose your favourite colour and scrap with it. My favorite colour at the mo is red and black and white cos that made the layout jump abit.
I brought these shoes for New Years Eve as I had a black outfit and wanted a bit of colour. I saw them before Christmas and fell in love with them and then found them in the sale on New Years Eve in my size so it was meant to be so I brought them. Now strangely enough I am a flat shoe person not into high heels at all but I couldn't resist and we all have to be girly sometimes.

I am in the middle of mapping out a layout about celebrating something and have a good idea as to what I am going to do but just haven't got round to it yet but hopefully put that up here tomorrow.
Well thanks for stopping by hope to see you soon
Love Jo xx

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2009-01-03T14:56:00.002Z

I am back and hopefully I have come out of all the bad stuff and heading into the new exciting me time.
I have had my hair cut to make me feel more like a normal person and decided to lose weight well that's not unusual for me really. I have decided that I have to find a job and get some kind of life for myself as the children will grow up and leave home then I will be stuck with me all the time so I need to get out and make new friends and do things for me.
Yes I might sound selfish but I only have one life and I have taken a long hard look at things and have decided that life is passing me by and I want to take more of an active part in it rather than watching.
I am not going to go into detail about what has happened but needless to say it has opened my eyes and I have had to think about my future.
I don't want any old job either I want something that I will enjoy and get something out of. I am thinking of gardening or dog walking as my aim is to get fitter. I am signing over my allotment to my dad as I don't really get up there much anymore but will still be involved but from the sidelines. As for crafting well that isn't going anywhere, I will keep up my scrap booking and dipping into card making which I have never done before plus the fact I am Team Leader of my group on UK Scrappers and have joined some other groups and love being involved with this website as it inspires me. I am also enjoying reading so will be doing a lot of that as well as taking up a course on cake decorating so I am planning to keep my self busy.
Here is a photo of me on New Years Eve having a good time with little booze.

So happy new Year and let life begin.
Love to all xx

Having to leave things for a while

2008-12-02T18:06:00.003Z

I am meant to be in the throws of JYC and getting excited about Christmas but I found out some very bad things this weekend. No body is dieing but life as I know it has changed and I need time to get my head around it so I am not doing JYC this year as I haven't got the energy or the will to do it. Instead I am going to concentrate on me and my children so will not be blogging for a while but intend to come back in the new year and have a new out look and be happy.

I hope you all have a good time doing JYC and I will be checking up on you in the forums and I hope you all have a Happy Christmas and a lovely New Year!xx

What a day...

2008-11-29T18:49:00.002Z

Today was a bit of a rush around early you know the kind of day, the kind of day you wake up roll out of bed and some how manage to hit the floor running. I had my to do list.
1. Drop kids off at Theatre Workshop that they go to every week.
2. Go to shop
3. Buy 2 little girl Birthday presents
4. Buy 21st Birthday present
5. Get drinks for coach
6. Buy birthday cards for said birthdays and 1 each from the children to daddy and one from me.
7. Race back to pick children up from Theatre group
8. Race home
9. Pack rucksack with food for coach trip to Charlton
10. Get on Coach to Charlton
Not to hard I thought as I tore off to walk to Rustington dropping the children off at their places of fun and then keep walking to shop. At the shops it was like everyone had raced out to see if Woolies were offering any reduced toys, the ques where impossible so walked to the bank to get cash then go back to Woolworth's still miles of people but I have to get my list done in an hour so join que. After waiting for a while another till opened and I moved to that one to be asked by another if I was trying to pay for stuff or just standing there? Well look in my basket love does it look like I want to stand in line for no reason.
After paying I rush to buy birthday cards do people not have birthdays in December the cards seem to be a rarity and get lost in amongst the Christmas cards but still I manage to buy the five that I need and think must make them next time add the little personnel touch. Now only have 30 minute so rush to jewelers to but 21st birthday present which I decide should be a necklace but should it have 21 on it somewhere or a key or what really unsure so plum for a silver heart on a chain that looks nice. Now decide to wait for it to be gift wrapped as will not have time for that later. Now only have 15 minutes to race up the road to collect the children from club then just as I am thinking I will have to make a run for it home the OH turns up with car thank god we don't have to run home. We get in and I realise that no-one has gloves hats or scarfs and we are going to watch a football match in the freezing cold so race around again to find all items for everyone, get back into car and decide that I am feeling rather ropey and quite sick but don't worry I can live with it. We get to our pick up point for the coaches bang on time and get on to second coach and as soon as we are comfy they tell us we need to be in the first coach. So grab everything and dash into first coach with Ellie clinging to me. Once again we get settled and Ellie bursts into tears and says she needs to get off the coach as she is scared so we get off the coach and let her calm down then a teacher from school comes along and tells her that it will not be that bad and we can't watch Charlton win 6-0 if we stay in the freezing cold so she gets back on the coach settles back down again then bursts into tears again and says she can't do it so we get off again. Darren stays on the coach with Lewis and I have to phone my dad to rescue me as we are to far from home to walk and Ellie will not get on a bus. Now knowing I am not going to watch football I give in to feeling unwell and decide that she is probably right home under a duvet sounds much better than freezing out side watching a match where all we do is draw. Charlton 0 Southampton 0
No need to rush anymore time to rest and relax and hope the boys had a good day just being boys. (LOL).xx

JYC

2008-11-26T11:54:00.004Z

Today in my inbox was the first of many emails from Shimelle for the JYC class that I am doing. To take part go to http://www.shimelle.com/classes/389/journal-your-christmas and you can play along too.
Why do I want to do this? Well for starters I have two small Ellie who is 8 and Lewis who is 6 and I want to record for them some of our traditions and just how this time of year makes me feel. I also want to find out what I think of at this time of year and how I prepare myself for the onslaught of parties, family and too much food. I want to have something to look back on and think blimey did we really do that and to record how we love to be a family and together calmly for a change.
I am actually so excited I can barely wait as this is my first year doing Journal your Christmas and the start of another tradition I think.
To everyone who is doing JYC good luck and have fun and hope to chat to you on the forums and can't wait to see different peoples take on the prompts.

complete madness

2008-11-24T18:28:00.008Z

Well Christmas is coming and the geese are getting fat (well Turkeys anyway). I have been busy making decorations for our christmas tree inbetween running up and down to school to stop Ellie having a nervous breakdown just because she does not want to go on the school trip because last time the coach crashed. But hopefully we will work this out as it could cause a few problems in her life but hey ho never mind.
This is a box of decorations that I ahve been making. They aren't that hard to make seeing as I brought a pack that is already cut for you and all you have to do is glue and fold perfect. Although I did think that one pack wasn't enough so brought one more pack just incase you understand. Now I also had to buy some glitz it sparkles glitter glue just to put an extra touch to them I have nearly made all of the first pack but still got a few more to work on.

I have also joined a circle journal and have decided to do mine on My Favourite Recipes so that I will have a cook book at the end of it so I have been making that which has been quite exciting and a bit of a challenge since my printer decided to go crunch munch hick and give up working altogether which really doesn't help maybe father christmas will read this and put a new printer in my stocking. (lol)

I just hope nobody notices the mistake that I made.
catch you all soon
love Jo xx

Blue Days

2008-11-17T12:58:00.002Z

I have had such a bad weekend and seem to have spent most of the time crying or screaming and of course the OH thinks its hormones and not because he is an idiot. Saturday I spent rowing with an 8 year old on things like tidying your bedroom and if you just pick up that one thing it doesn't mean you can have a 3hour break but no-one ever told me you can't reason with a child no matter how old they are. Then I truly lost it and slammed the door and told her I was leaving home. Arggghhh why do I get like this I behaved worse than the child I am meant to be bringing up. Then Saturday night I go out for the evening with a friend to a cocktail night, now I was thinking glamour and chic and little black dress oh no its grass skirts and hula hoops arggghhhhh wrong again but the evening was OK sitting drinking Cosmopolitans yum yum. Then it was time for the raffle and I won a couple of kids things for their bikes (Christmas stocking gifts) then I won the 2ND top prize of 4 tickets to see a Brighton and Hove Albion and a signed Brighton shirt. Now as any of you who read this no we are Charlton supporters and although we keep an eye out for how Brighton are doing we don't actually follow them so I am hoping to sell the tickets and shirt to put towards a Wii for the children for Christmas. Then OH got a lady talking to him about the tickets and wanting to know if we would sell the shirt to ther why she couldn't come to me I don't know special as he was doing the disco and wasn't near me but any way she couldn't come up with a price and I didn't know how much it was worth so I didn't make any Hasty decisions and left shortly afterwards. Well when I got home I had a couple of cups of tea and at 1am dissided to go to bed as I thought the OH would be home soon at 3am he rolls in and thinks nothing of it and why would I be in a bad mood he hadn't done anything wrong. So next weekend if anyone going to see Joe Butt at the Sportsman wants to carry on drinking somewhere until 5am call me and I will come too let him worry about where I am for a change. (Problem is by 10pm I will want my bed wont I)
Sorry its such a moody post but that's life at the moment.

Shhhhh! Don't say a word

2008-11-14T14:43:00.002Z

Today has been another of those days where I seem to be running around and not getting anywhere. Ellie and I fell out today before she went to school but a quick cuddle and we are OK again I only want her to f=get dressed and stop hounding Lewis like that is ever going to happen. Then I came home after the school run and thought I would sit down with a cup of tea and watch Jeremy Kyle (I know its sad LOL) but decided to do the washing up instead. Then sat down in front of the computer and got lost in other peoples worlds yep blog hopping is a lovely way to spend your time but then time runs away without you realising. Then suddenly I had a thought I needed to get Ellie some tights for school as the pairs I brought yesterday didn't fit and Ellie had ripped up the box that they came in so no chance of returning them. So decided to hop on a train and go to Worthing which is only 15minutes away but Dh came home and said he would give me a lift and will do some work in SHoreham then pick me up on the way home.
Now honestly I do need some more stash to make sure I have enough pages for my JYC book that I am making and an album for the CJ that I have joined so along to the craft shop I go and this is where the Shhhhh don't tell comes in because I told Darren that I wouldn't need to buy anything as I had everything I needed ok so maybe I lied alittle but I knew when I saw BG Wassil papers that I would need to have them.
I also needed to find Darren's birthday present now I am not going to tell you what it is cos I'm not sure if Darren knows how to get on here but I will tell you the night before his birthday which is on the 1st of December. I also ordered my sisters present which is a pair of slippers and I get her the same gift every year as that's what she always wants so that keeps her happy.
Tonight i am watching speed racer with the children as Darren has a disco for children in need to do at the pub so I am at home with the children.

Done it!!!

2008-11-12T22:17:00.003Z

Well today I decided that I was going to do my Journal your Christmas as an A4 book that I am going to make and bind myself, so after I had sorted out all the card that I needed I thought no time like the present to cover the front and the back of my book.
My plan is to cover all the pages with the bits of stash that I have got and then choose which page to use for that days prompt, then I will bind it in January or when I finish it which might be next christmas.
Here is the front cover and its turned out better than I had hoped for.

And this is the back cover

Busy Couple of Days

2008-11-11T19:22:00.005Z

Well since Saturday I haven't stopped I have made my believe banner and although it could do with some playing with I (Believe) it is quite good (heehee). Here is a picture..

I have also made another 3 pinecones thats six in total and my red one I have fallen in love with and think its the best one yet.

I also have been scrapping and did the challenge on UKs yesterday this is the result from the challenge:

I have also sorted out and started making christmas decorations as I wanted a new look for my tree this year and because I thought I hadn't brought any stash that was christmasy only to find out that I did have quite a few papers that I didn't realise oopps.
I am also trying to get started making my cj so that as soon as the last 3 people join our little group then we can be off and running.
Today I decided to make fairy cakes as Ellie was sent home ill from school and needed cheering up and this is what they looked like.

And the after results:

Well at least Lewis thought the cakes were good. Now I am off to have a cup of tea and a cup cake yum yum yum see you all soon.

Crop

2008-11-08T22:30:00.006Z

Today I went to my local Crop but I didn't want to scrap as I had so many other mad ideas running around in my head. So today I made my children's advent calendars using sour cream cartons which I found HERE http://dan99.blogspot.com/. Here are some pictures of the made calendar and the finishing touches.

I also made another pine cone and showed some of the girls how to make them too. Last week I brought some sparkly glitter glue so today I put it on my pine cone. The picture doesn't give it all the credit it deserves but I think its really helped bring it to life. What do you think?

I have also borrowed my friend Annie's heat gun and embossing powders to see if its something I want Father Christmas to bring me this year or not so tomorrow while Darren cooks tea I am going to play and make my Believe banner for Christmas.

Getting Excited

2008-11-05T22:21:00.004Z

On Saturday I am going to my local crop and thought that instead of scrapping I would make the children their advent calendar instead. I am so into Christmas already its unbelievable and very exciting and I hope that by the 5Th of December I haven't had enough already. I have also ordered so much stash that if Darren ever finds out how much it cost he would cry. Well honestly until I signed up to Journal your Christmas I didn't really do Christmas pages so I have had to buy some Christmas papers.
I have also rejoined the gym cos I stopped going after I walked those 13.1miles for charity back in the summer so my weight has all gone back on tomorrow I have an appointment with a trainer to help me get motivated and actually shift some weight which I think was my new years resolution (does it count if its 10 months late. hehehehe).
I have been scrapping and have done two page today. The first one is of me and the children in the aeroplane going to Jersey Darren was so scared that he didn't want his photo taken but he is there and I think you can tell by the children's faces how much they enjoyed it.

Also I did this page of Ellie when she was about 31/2years old and we went to the Isle of Wight to a little place called Robins Hill. It is another place that the children love and its all outside where they can run and scream and shout and have fun. Ellie always called the Mushrooms the Fairy Garden hence the title.

That's all for today I hope you like the lo.

Butterflies

2008-11-05T14:31:00.002Z

I have copied this link from a blog I read http://scraphappenshere.blogspot.com/. The link will take you to a site where they are asking people to make butterflies for The innicent chilfren who perished in the holocaust. THis is the link http://www.hmh.org/minisite/butterfly/book.html
Its a worthwhile thing to do and a great way to show you care.

Dec the halls

2008-10-31T23:02:00.003Z

I know its only October but I have been itching to start making Christmas decorations and found a Tutorial for Pine cone Balls on UKS the blog was inkspirations.blogspot.com. I decided earlier in the week that Darren would have to take me to hobby craft (OK bad mistake spent too much money) just so that I can make these pine cones. I also wanted to get some Christmas papers but they didn't really have any that I liked. Anyway I got 6 balls and tonight spent time cutting little bits of paper and folding them into points so while Ellie watched the Hannah Montana concert I played with paper, here is my pine cone and I can't wait to make more.

I have also today signed up to Shimelle's journal your Christmas, like I don't have enough to do I thought I would add to my load and do something for me and to make myself think about why I do things at Christmas the way I do and to try and get our traditions down so that my children will have an understanding of why we do these little things every year. as you might be able to tell I am a big kid at heart and love the build up to Christmas.
Must go now and feed my Christmas cake.

Scrap attack

2008-10-30T22:53:00.003Z

I am covered in glue my new tracky bottoms are covered in glue and at one point I am sure that I stuck my hair to my layout and its still not finished, but I have had fun and it was my second lo today the first one looks like this....

My second layout I have been doing involves lots of cutting and I love that but it takes a bit longer than normal.
Tomorrow is Halloween and I have left a comment on Linda's A Crafting Journey to try and win a trick or treat but I don't care if I win or not her pumpkin Carvings are out of this world. Here is a link to her page go on have a look
http://acraftingjourney.blogspot.com/2008/10/trick-or-treat-blog-candy.html
Only a short blog tonight as I am going to watch Most Haunted which I love. Night Night xx

Yeah for mojo.

2008-10-29T21:30:00.002Z

I have regained my mojo me thinks. I am bursting with ideas and inspiration through the colours of autumn I want to scrap in yellow, orange, green and brown. I see pumpkins and trees and fireworks everywhere I look and I want to get them into by pages although I have no paper to print on and no money to obtain any form of photograph and I can't do digi scrapbooking as I have no idea how that works.
I have done a page today for UKS week 4 challenge and I love it I think Ellie and Lewis look like they love each other for a change. Its one of those photo's I have had around for a while but haven't been sure how to or what to do with it so I thought it would be ideal for the challenge. The challenge was:-
Scrap something scrummy- Ellie and Lewis are scrummy (sorry such a cliche pass the sick bucket)
Use pink and black-The Title the backing paper and the patterned paper
Use poetry-sometimes she hugs too hard, And her kisses make me cry, But she can't help herself, I'm such a cute little guy. by Beth Ortstadt
Use hidden journalling The brown and pink ribbon is pulled to show a tag with journalling on.
Use Fabric-the blue heart ribbon and the brown and pink flower ribbon.
What do you think?

I have also been to the allotment and I have to say although it was hard work cos the children where there too it was really nice. Dad has decided to plant 300 broad bean seeds and wanted Ellie and Lewis to help him so while he dug the trench and they put in the seeds I got on tackling the blackberry bush with the secateurs and yes it could be the wrong time of year but quite frankly I am fed up getting pricked all the time and it got its own back as I have spent alot of time today with needle and tweezers getting the thorns out of my fingers. OUCH
I have also decided that I have to get an allotment near to home as the one I share with my dad is 3.5miles away and I have to walk most of the time, but because they are going to build on it I need a new one that's only half the size as dad will give it up when we lose our little plot that we have now.
Well that is it for today I hope to blog tomorrow with some more LO and some views from the beach as well.

Flying Above the Clouds

2008-10-24T09:55:00.007+01:00

So much has happened since I last blogged, so lets start at the beginning. On Sunday my parents took me, Darren, Ellie and Lewis to Jersey for 2 days. Ellie and Lewis had never flown before and were both really excited. I am a nervous flyer and wasn't looking forward to it in the slightest Darren didn't say a word. We arrived at the airport and checked in then headed to the departure gate, halfway to the departure gate they put out a call "This is the last call for Oakley and Power your plane is ready to leave" So I send Darren and Ellie running down to the gate to tell them to wait as my dad has had a knee replacement and can't run then Lewis and I run to the gate and they ask for our passports which are all in my mums handbag and she is walking down with my dad, I have never thought we would miss the flight but now it look like we might. Luckily dad makes it to the gate and mum hands over everything and we are allowed to boared. Once we have got seated and seat belts on its time for take off thank god we had no time to think about it. Lewis is very excited sitting next to me and asks as we go through the clouds "Why is it bumpy mummy" I couldn't think of what to say so said "are the clouds flat or bumpy looking, that's why its bumpy". As we appear over the top of the clouds the only noise you could hear was an excited 6 year old going "WOW IT VERY PRETTY UP HERE" Lewis was like a running commentary all the way to Jersey (only 35 minutes).

Meanwhile Ellie and Darren are sitting quite calmly until you see Darren's hands shaking like a palm tree in a hurricane and Ellie who had the sun in her face so had to shut the blind. After we land we get our luggage and the children want to run around and explore but we have to get our hire car. We get taken to the hire care place and find our 7seater pack all our stuff in the boot get the children car seats and strap everyone in so we can go and get a drink and the children a snack Darren puts the key in the ignition and nothing happens so everybody out and into the next one which starts first time and we are off. We go to St Hellier and have a walk by the sea and stop and have a cup of tea, and have our photo taken at the fountain.

Then off to the zoo. Lewis loves gorilla's and monkeys they are his favourite animal in the world and Ellie although alittle nervous loves most animals so the zoo was perfect.

The next day is Ellie's 8Th Birthday so we take her to Jersey Pearl so grandma and grandad can buy her some jewelry for her birthday present. Then we go to Corbiere Lighthouse and Ellie has a hissy fit because it is very windy and she wants to stay in the car. So Darren, Dad, Lewis and me go and try and take photos and have a wander around it was beautiful and very peaceful.

On the way back to the hotel the car starts having difficulty and we have to go back to the hire place to replace it and get another hire viechle. Then we went for a walk through St Hellier town so Ellie can spend her birthday money. But we found some cannons that the children wanted to climb over.

We had to go to bed early on the Monday night as we had to be at the airport by 6 on Tuesday so it was bed at 9 up at 4.30. The children just wanted to sleep but once we had got them up and given them biscuits they were OK. When we arrived at the airport we hadn't realised that the airport would be shut until 5.45am so we had to wait in the cold and the rain. It was alot easier coming home and we didn't have to run to catch the plane this time. Once we where up in the air we watched the sunrise and Lewis could only talk about the plane crashing. We arrived home at 9.30 and went down to our local cafe for breakfast before shopping for Ellie's tea party in the afternoon. By 7pm we were all exhausted and went to bed early but it was a wonderful weekend and such an exciting time for the children.

2008-10-17T21:43:00.000+01:00

Holiday

2008-10-17T18:44:00.006+01:00

I am trying to pack honest. We go to Jersey on Sunday morning and I have been planning on packing since Monday I have washed and dried and folded but it hasn't made it in to the suitcase yet and do you know why? Because I am addicted to Ukscrappers and have to keep logging on to see what everyone else is up to and to catch up on challenges. Its worse than when I first joined facebook and I had to check out who had accepted my freind request. My hubby thinks that I am turning into a hermit, but that would be great I could order stash on line then be in when it was delivered yippee what more could I wish for.
I have done a couple of layouts this week

This was for the weekly challenge.

This one I did for the monthly challenge.
and this one that still needs some work.

As for the allotment I promise that I will go up there next week if anyone knows how to get me off this stupid computer lol.

Full Moon

2008-10-15T19:43:00.003+01:00

Arghhh why can't children just do as they are told. Ellie and Lewis have been trying my patience since they came home form school today and I have had enough and sent them to bed. Until 3.15 today my day had been really good quite and now in retrospect sad. I am a member of UKscrppers which most of you who have been reading this latley know, so I decided last night since I am part of a new team and easily excited I would have a go at the October week 2 challenge here is my version...

Then I thought I would also have a go at the Pencilline sketch but after getting half way through I ran out of crystals so can't complete until I get more. So then it was on to making a homemade chicken pie for tea which is one of the childrens favourites. Then I tried to general tidying up but the computor kept calling me so instead of housework I blog hopped all afternoon. 3.15 came so collected the children from school and they are both very excited as we are going on a mini break to Jersey this weekend (their first ever flight) so they are talking in how many sleeps left(4). Now I have to make sure that the washing is done and the bag is packed so I ask them to bring me their clothes that they want to take with them. Instantly they both have a hissy fit and kick and scream and stomp off upstairs. Now after 3 hours of this I have had enough and start shouting and screaming and having my very own hissy fit. Calm is only restored after I have a cup off soothing tea(a cure for all ails) and sit with my head in my lap and my legs up the wall. They have tea and I am now to tired to fight so they watch the Simpsons and then go to bed and peace is restored. Now sitting here typing away I have realised that I haven't actually left the house to do anything this week except to take children to school and to collect them SCRAPBOOKING has taken over my life HELP!!.

What a mess!!

2008-10-14T19:21:00.005+01:00

This mess is what I tend to call my crafting desk but as you can see it tends to turn into the family dumping ground. I know I do tend to bring bits out then leave them on my desk but I don't remember ever making my desk into such a mess. Surely I would remember wouldn't I? Oviously ask anyone in this family and they would say my desk my mess but I don't thik so.
So anyway I decided to tidy it up and to work out what is in what and do I really need it. Unfortunatly everything is needed and so I couldn't actually part with anything. I checked through all of my papers well ok not every box of papers just some and that was because I was thinking of a LO and not fully conserntrating on tidying up. Then back to the job in hand all ribbons in one box then the lid wouldn't shut, all stamps in another box and still the lid wouldn't shut sway round boxes that's better lid shuts on stamps but still not on ribbons. Then I realised that maybe I just have too many ribbons (LOL) no that couldn't be int just need to find a bigger box with room for more. Buttons and other bits in another box I don't like keeping all my stuff in boxes I dream of having my own scrap room with cream walls and a desk that goes along one whole wall with so much storage that I could store enough products and bits and peices to last a life time. Well anyhow after at least 5 hours of dreaming and slowly putting things away my desk looks like this...

Now a nice spot to sit and create and design and make and the best bit is I am happy in my small space in my little corner I am HAPPY.

Snow Flakes and paper stars

2008-10-10T22:53:00.004+01:00

I am already planning my christmas decs and have decided that because I brought some letters at Ally Pally that spell out Beleive that they now have to match my christmas tree. So Hubby didn't want to spend loads of money on new baubles and tinsel said the things I had would have to do, No they wont is what I thought so set to finding some K and Co paper ornament kits that I liked that I could buy matching paper to cover said word when I came across a star and snowflake template by Hotp that means I can make stars and snowflakes in their hundreds and it saves hubby some money although don't tell him how much the things cost as he would have a fit. So on Thursday I sat down and drew round the template and made all 7 of the snowflakes and stars and hubby said "Oh there quite good aren't they maybe you could decorate the tree with them so they match your letter thingy". Some people have no idea do they?
Heres a picture of the completed bits.

Here is some pictures of my daughters name plate for her door that I made her they are MDF letters and are covered in Basic Grey papers.

One bad day

2008-10-09T20:58:00.001+01:00

The week started off alright well Monday was good but on Tuesday this week I sent Ellie (7) off to school trip with a big kiss and a love you like I always do and then went home. On the local radio from about 10.30 there was a travel report saying that the road between Fontwell and Arundel was shut because of an accident and this went on through out the morning but didn't think anything of it until 1.20pm when I got a phone call from the school. They were phoning to let me know that Ellie had been in an accident and the children had had to return to school. Now knowing that Ellie suffers with motion sickness I thought that she had thrown up everywhere. The school reassured me that the children including Ellie were all fine and that I could go up the school and see for myself. Honestly I still didn't grasp that their coach had crashed until I spoke to Darren(DH) I raced up to the school which luckily for me is about 2 minute away to be greeted by the Headmaster who said the coach had crashed into another veicle and that the police where involved and the children where all alright. One of the year teacher said that Ellie had been very upset and had to see the paramedics and had to have a silver blanket around her as she had been shaking so much. I was also told that she was sitting in the second seat from the front but unharmed. I raced down to her class and couldn't find her in the huge surge of adults who were also worrying and trying to locate their children. Ellie was brought out by her class teacher who explained that Ellie needed lots of reassurance and lots of cuddles and had been looked after by both teachers as she had been very very scared. Sadly I think I added to that by then cuddling her and crying myself with relief such relief that I never knew I could feel. There in front of stood my little girl that I struggled to let go to playschool and who everyday I hugged before school and kissed goodbye and I never ever have let her go without saying that I love her and thankfully I could get up tomorrow and the next day and still be able to do that. I am so grateful to the school that I trusted with my most precious possession and they treated her with the kindness that I had hoped they would the acted as the children's stand in Mummy and Daddy and although I wasn't there they tried their best to be me. Now Ellie is fine and she is running around and has pretty much recovered although yesterday she did have tummy ache and I believe that was due to all her emotions coming out but my hero's of the day are the school teachers and if they ever read this I hope they know how truly gratefully I am.

Ukscrappers

2008-10-06T19:04:00.002+01:00

I am so excited why I hear you ask, well the reason is because I have joined a team on Ukscrappers. At the moment there is only 6 of us but hopefully by the weekend we will be 10. I have never done anything like this before although I have up loaded some of my work and even chatted alittle although I am the shy retiring type person really (yes really I am). We will take part in challenges every month and do weekly challenges as well I can hardly wait for our first challenge.
I haven't been up the allotment in over a week and feel like I should go up there really but find it all a bit depressing really. I know I might have a couple more years up there before the road is built but all the hard work that goes into it for a man in his bulldozer to come along and wreck it all I DON'T WANT TO!.
I am still into pencil lines and am half way through this weeks challenge just need to think of a title then cut it out then I will load it up here so watch this space. I feel that I have been doing alot of scrapping lately and try to challenge myself but seem to be following other peoples sketches more and more and I really want to start going back to whats in my mind.
Only 14 more days and we will be going to Jersey for Ellie's and Lewis's first ever flight we are only going for 2 days but while we are away Ellie will turn 8 and is very excited. Ellie decided this year she wanted a sleepover instead of a party and to take her friends to see High School Musical 3 by train and then visit Mcd's and thats going to cost me the same as her having a disco party for 20 people but there is only going to 4 children and 2 adults who's the mug here?
Hope you all have a lovely week and enjoy.

Fed Up

2008-10-01T13:02:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I attended a meeting at the Local Council about the redevelopment of Littlehampton North only to discover that my allotment will be wiped out and it will either be a main road that links Cross Bush directly to the beach or by a Community/health centre. Now I know that we as a small town have to grow and introduce new housing and facillities to keep up with the demand but why my allotment? Why anyones allotment? We have been told that this is something that will go ahead and we will be relocated but the choice for relocation is a flood plane. Now a flood Plane is so called because it floods what good is that to people who want to grow vegetables I don't want to grow rice I want to grow potatoes and cabbages and squashes. This is all meant to be happening with in the next 5 years but the Community/Health centre will probably seek planning permition as soon as January 2009 with the hope of starting to build in 2010. I am so gutted that I could cry only another year at the allotments with people who are wonderful and behave like a little community and the Council want to relocate it. Some of the people around my little plot are in their 70's and will not want to start again so we lose the knowledge that they have gained. We will be componsated but what price can you put on the work these people have done for the last 30-40 years.

Alley Pally

2008-09-29T10:58:00.005+01:00

Wow what an amazing place. I went to the Big Stamp and Scrapbook show at Alley Pally on Saturday with a group of friends that all go to the same crop. It was like letting children into a sweet shop with £100 and saying don't come back till you have no money left. The fact that there was very few men in the room proved that this is a good place to shop and the few men that where there seemed to be in charge of the bag carrying.
I was determined that I wouldn't spend loads of money(LOL like that was going to happen) and had a mental list in my head that I was going to stick to. I was on the look out for a swirly template, stamps and some bunting also very keen to get some pre cut pretty edged card stock. Now that was my list but as I walked through the door my mental list headed back to the train station and left me in a bit of a panic did I bring enough money no i very much doubt that I did. Was I going to be restrained no i don't think so. Would I ever leave this place alive i very much doubted that at all.
The word of the day seemed to be "ooh" and "I want that" we had no plan of which stalls to go to first but we knew that Capture the Magic and Banana Frog where two that we had to visit. Capture the Magic was lovely but a bit like the January sales , women pushing and shoving and snatching and if you turned right you hit one person and if you turned left you fell on someone so much fun it is hard to explain. Then we heard that Shimmelle from Scrapbook Inspiration was on the Banana Frog stand so we quickly headed over there. Shimmelle was lovely and got involved with trying to convince us that we did really need things and would be upset if we went home with out it what a great sales lady. then it was lunchtime. We all met up and discussed what we had brought and what we were still looking for then off again. Again we went to Banana Frog and again Shimmelle helped us and directed us to another stall that she thought might have the stamp that we were looking for. After spending alot of time and money walking around we went out into the cafe and had a sit down and a coffee then it was time to gather up the group and head home we had decided that we would go back in to find the last few people but we wouldn't spend any more money. Ha ha suddenly we were at another stamp stall and decided to have a look and managed to part with more money and couldn't find the other members of our group, just as we were heading to the door we caught up with everyone and headed for the train. Once on the train on the way home it was time for show and tell and then a nice relaxing smoothie and a chat. Everyone said what a brilliant day we had and how we were looking forward to the next one.
Here is a few pictures of my stash and although I didn't get everything on my list I did get most of it.

Yesterday I wanted to make a picture of my sisters wedding last year and thought of this Idea

Too much time

2008-09-24T18:12:00.004+01:00

Maybe I do have to much time on my hands but I can honestly say my hands never seem to be still. I am always doing something. Yesterday I found in my Scrapbook Inspiration mag a web site called Paper Robots 1999(www.paperrobots1999.com)they have about 10 different robots that you can print out and make so seeing as they had a transformer robot and knowing that Lewis loves the transformers I decided to make it, although some of the instructions were hard to follow (I'm sure it was just me) I managed to finish it today here's the finished results

and he really does turn into a truck much to Lewis's delight.

Also today I went out to Chichester for a look around the shops and had to go into a sewing shop. The material that they had was so lovely they had some that had butterflies on and I could see it becoming cushions for Ellie's bedroom they also had a beautiful checkered print material that I could make into curtains for her room. I really must get my sewing machine serviced but not sure where around here would do it. I feel that I have found more work for these idle hands and need to get creating. Now I wonder if I could find a book called servicing your sewing machine?

Pencil Lines

2008-09-22T19:44:00.005+01:00

Just a quick one tonight as I have a million and one things to do including reading my new book New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. I have spent sometime today looking for inspiration and so decided to go on Pencil lines and try their new sketch here it is let me know what you think?

Pencil Lines

2008-09-22T19:44:00.001+01:00

Happiness is.....

2008-09-16T20:10:00.002+01:00

Today started off really badly Lewis woke up wanting the day off school because he had a cough and then when I said he couldn't he wouldn't do anything that I asked and just spent the time crying or whinging (honest it was only a little cough). Ellie decided that where ever Lewis went she would follow and just keep sing the Ting Tings song "Shut up and Let me go". Which drove him in to a frenzy of shouting and screaming. 10 to 9 and I managed to get them both out the house and round the corner to school and peace was resumed.
It was an autumney kind of day today overcast and chilly but not really cold so Darren told me to go up the allotment and I realised what a perfect restoritive place my allotment is. I hand weeded the cauliflowers, carrots, beetroot, swedes and turnips then mum and dad turned up and I helped get rid of the marrow and courgette plants as they had no fruits left and no flowers either then we took down the runner beans and the canes that they grow up. Jst looking around the allotment and I knew that it was the right place to be today after such a stressy start to the day.
This afternoon I spent a little time reading my book which is fantastic and thanks to a scrapping friend of mine who told me about it I now want the whole series. The book is called Twilight by Stephine Meyer is about VAMPIRES but it truely is amazing so tomorrow I will be rushing back to the bookshop to get the next book.
So happiness is for today my allotment and my book........ oh and I suppose my family.

Pencil Lines

2008-09-10T15:00:00.003+01:00

Just a quick stop by today to load this picture of me and my DH whilst we were on holiday. Its a sketch that I used from Pencil Lines and is my take on their LO I really like it what do you think?

Heated topic of conversation.

2008-09-08T12:23:00.002+01:00

Such a bad start to my week I really should have stayed in bed which is exactly where Lewis (DS) wanted me to leave him. We always seem to have the daily struggle of getting up and going to bed but because of the holidays Lewis who is 6 going on 16 thinks he can go to bed no matter what time it is then me crabby with me in the morning when I ask him to get up, have breakfast and generally do anything, this morning went something like this...
Me"Lewis Get up now Please"
Lewis "no"
me "Lewis Get up now please we need to get moving"
Lewis "NO!"
Me "Lewis what do you want from me"
Lewis "Leave me ALONE!"
Me "Come on honey this isn't helping get up now."
Lewis "NO!!!"
Half an hour later 7.45am
Me "Lewis what do you want for breakfast? Why have you taken off your trousers we are getting ready for school put them back on please"
Lewis "NO NO NO NO!"
Me "lewis do you want toast or chocolate cereal"
Lewis "NONE!"
Me "Can you stop Shouting please. Get dressed and sit up here for your breakfast."
Lewis " Why am I such a bad boy"
Me "Your not a bad boy but we have to listen to each other and do what Mummy says OK"
Lewis " Ellie (DD) keeps kicking me."
And this went on till 9am when I left in the care of the school and walked away breathing a huge sigh of relief I know it will start again when its bed time but how can I explain to him if he went to bed when I said and went to sleep he wouldn't be grumpy in the morning.

We had a good weekend though and the children did lots of running around and I went to my crop that I go to every month although this month things seemed to go a little too well and I left the crop having completed all four pages that I had intended doing but I didn't bring any back up photos to scrap so left early. I normally talk to much and am lucky if I get one page done.
Its been raining to hard lately to go up the allotment but I do need to go and reclaim my land from my dad and get on and cut down the raspberries and sort out the blackberry bush. I also need to empty the compost heap that we left alone for a year. Oh well maybe tomorrow. Now off to clean the oven.

Back to school

2008-09-03T11:38:00.006+01:00

Well we had a fantastic 2 week break and now come home for the mad dash to get everyone back to school. The first week away we stayed in a campsite called Mill Farm in Bridgewater Sommerset it was OK but not as nice as some sites we have been to. To get to the shower block was nearly a bus ride and the slop that we had to pitch the tent on wasn't the best but at least we were away from our normal life. On the Monday we just rested and stayed at the site and played in the pool. On Tuesday we went to Bath as I wanted to see the Roman Baths but we missed our exit on the motorway and DH thought that if we kept going we would be able to turn around at the next junction and find our way back so after a detour to Bristol we found Bath. It only took us 2 hours from our camp site.

It was beautiful and well worth all the swearing but the weather was showery.
We also went to Weston Super mare and saw the poor pier that burnt down after they had revamped it. At last more photo opportunities Well I don't need asking twice really.

Then for our last trip out we went to Cheddar Gorge. WOW how fad was that. Such a stunning place and if you ignore the commercial side of it its stunning. We took the children down the caves and DS decided they were scary and didn't really want to be there. DD who we thought would have a hissy fit loved it and kept saying its really beautiful. We easily spent about 2 hours in the caves then we went on a bus tour up the Gorge and then had to go and have a ploughman's by the river that runs through the village we didn't even go into the museum but that's OK cos the ticket can be used again sometime in the next 10 years.

Then we headed to Dawlish in Devon to a campsite called Golden Sands which we have been to before and was still brilliant this time too. We meet up with some friends there and spent the week having a laugh and eating and drinking. The boys all went fishing in Brixham and the girls went for cream tea which was Delicious yum yum. The boys caught 4 fish and so we went back to the tent and cooked them for our tea

We had a fab time but had to come home on Saturday mores the pity. On Sunday we had to go and get school shoes and trainers which cost a fortune, but the kids are happy and have got the shoes they wanted. Now I am labeling ironing and marking school uniform before the return of normality tomorrow.

Where has summer gone?

2008-08-14T19:02:00.002+01:00

Although I am very happy to have the children home and excited that we can spend this time together the time seems to be whizzing by so fast its only 2 and half weeks left and they go back to school. On Saturday we are going away on holiday camping again. We are going to Bridgwater in Somerset then we are going to move on after a week to Golden Sands Holiday Park in Dawlish. I really haven't had time to do any scrapping as as soon as I start DD comes along asking if she can play with my papers, and as for the allotment you might as well forget it, the kids get bored up there and except for digging holes for me to fall down they have little imagination for anything else. The weather hasn't been that good either we had heavy rain and gale force winds yesterday and the day before perfect kite flying weather but not for anything else.
On Tuesday we went for a walk in the woods with Grandma and Grandad as the children like tree climbing but no sooner had we walked into the woods then the heavens opened and down came the rain. It seemed to be coming from every direction so we hide under trees for protection, DD decided for some strange reason that she was scared so after about 10minutes we went back to the car only then the rain stopped so we had Ice Cream instead.
Today DS was at a friends so DD and myself went out to worthing and spent the day with DD godmother and my sister. We went to The Fish Factory for lunch and shopping it was a lovely day but again it was raining so we all brought umbrellas but then it didn't rain again. Hope our holiday is drier and less windy then this week has been fingers crossed, now back to washing and packing and getting children organised LOL.

Crafting and allotmentering

Sorry Long time.

Sorry Long time.

Arrrrrgh

Oh Joy!!!!

Hectic, hectic

Time Flies

Window Shopping

What to get?

I've been crafty

Snow snow and more snow

New Year

The Last Day

Hello!

Oops

Holiday Time

BOO!!!

Computer Day

And the Winner is

Blog Award

A Great Weekend

Nearly 100

Polling day

Which Colour?

Half Term

Bedtime stories.

Cold wet and windy

Tidying

Sick Children

Oh What a Giveaway

The 15 minute challenge

New Challenge

Scrapping

Busy busy busy

Wow has it really been that long?

Crop day

Ballet

Some Layouts

Out of Control

Busy Busy Busy

Bad Blogger

Spring is in the Air

Busy Busy Busy

Enough is enough

Second time today

Sorry

Funny weekend.

Cat news

Flustered

I am catching up honest.

Its Friday

Happy times

Valentine's weekend

Look what I got.

Me day

Snow snow and more snow.

What do you think.

Tag

Why did no one tell me

Hello

A Little Excited

Cybercrop Time.

CJ and Blog tidying

New Layouts

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Having to leave things for a while

What a day...

Tags

JYC

complete madness

Blue Days

Shhhhh! Don't say a word

Done it!!!

Busy Couple of Days

Crop

Getting Excited

Butterflies

Dec the halls

Scrap attack

Yeah for mojo.