Project 365 Photo Challenge (26 January 2013)

 

Another week has passed and I have been busy trying to live life, as much as you can when its cold and snowy and trying to document our lives.  These are some favourite photos this week:

 

 

 

Pop on over to The Boy and Me to link up and take a look at some other photos around blog land this week.

Project 365 Photo Memories (19 January 2013)

I am really enjoying this photo project so far.  To be honest I don't see myself doing much more than what I did last year for Project Life apart from I then scrapped;  I really did take a photo ever day last year apart for a small handful which were missed.

 



 

These are some of my favourites from this week:

 



 

Thanks again to all that visited, your kind comments were very much appreciated.  I nearly got round most people last week but sadly not all.  There are a large number taking part and I don't honestly think I will be able to visit everyone each and every week but I'll try and do as many as I can and mix up who I visit.  It will propbably be made up of a number of short sessions spread thrughout the week, I may see some of you late Friday night.

Again I am linking up with The Boy And Me.

 

Have a great photo happy week x

Project 365 Photo Memories (12 January 2013)

For the past few years I have seen numerous bloggers taking a photo a day.  This year I am joining in and I am hoping to post once a week on a Saturday to share some of our photos.  we are working on this project as a family and I my not necessarily take the photos myself, I want to encourage Liam and Freya to preserve their childhood adventures.

This week Liam and Freya have gone back to school after what seemed like an eternity.  Usually the holidays seem to fly by but the two week Christmas break seemed to go on for ever.  I honestly think all three of us were happy to get back to our day to day schedule.  We have not done anything exciting this week, just trying to get back in to our routines.  This is my favourite photo taken this week.

 

A nice bed time hot chocolate made with frothy milk, chocolate sprinkled on top and a lovely big gulp of Bailies.  Just what a needed on Friday night.

I never joined in last year and I really thought that I would not be able to keep up with this project but I am going to give it a go this year.  To be honest with Project Life I did take photos most days and it wasn't really a chore.  If I miss a day it won't be the end of the world; I just want to preserve our memories and as much as I hate the idea I am going to take at least one photo of me each week preferably with Liam and Freya.  I look at our photos and there are very few photos of me with Liam and Freya; its something I want to do for their memories.

 

I am linking up with The Boy and Me for their 365 photo project.

10 Things On The 10th (January 2013)

I haven't taken part the last few months as the 10th just seems to have come and gone before I realise.  Is it me or does time seem to fly by so much quicker when you get older?  This month I am going to share with you 10 photographs that I am going to scrap this month.

Boxing practice:

  

 

Looking cute in her bear hat with a hot chocolate:

 

German Market fun:

 

 

Me and my girl:

 

 

Liam feeding Cousin Thomas:

 

Looking cute:

 

Christmas cuddles with Aunty Candace

 

Christmas cuddles with Cousin Freya:

 

Bounce time:

 

First time ice skating:

 



 

These photos are some of my favourutes taken over Christmas.  Not professionally posed but every day life.  Pop on over to Shimelle to see other 10 things on the 10th.



This Year.....

This year there will be big changes in our lives.  These past few years have not been kind to us as a family and as a result I have decided we need a fresh start.  We are moving over 100 miles away.  Moving to the sea side.  Moving to this:

 



 

But before the move happens there is lots of work to be done.  I need to finish the renovations on our current home and then sell it.  This scares me.  Scares me alot. 

 

The up heavel for the kids.

 

The time and stress that will come.

 

How long will it take to get everything organised? 

 

Can I raise enough money to buy a suitable property? 

 

Am I doing the right thing for us?

 

Only time will tell if this is the right choice.  However, as a family we need a fresh start. 

 

We need to start anew. 

 

I need to pluck up the courage to face the 39+1 day...just 72 days now. 

 

This year is the year our lives change for the best.

 

I hope you can join us on our adventure to our new life.  Our new life by the sea.



Welcome 2013!

Happy New Year to all my wonderful blog readers. I wish you and your families a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.  May all your dreams materialise and you and those around you are blessed with health and happiness.

Sorry for the lack of posts the past few weeks. I'm having problems with my laptop as Liam has been using it and whilst it has been charging he has been bending the wire in to a very tight loop resulting in the plastic splitting and the he continued to twist until actual sparks were seen!  It wont charge at all now.  I managed to find one reasonably priced online and I am patiently waiting for it to arrive.

I fully intend on coming back as soon as I can to write a 2012 round up and let you in on my plans for this year.  There's some big changes on the horizon for us as a family.

Finally I'd like to thank all my visitors for taking time to come in to my little world these past 12 months.  As corny as it sounds I really do appreciate you visiting my blog and leaving such encouraging and supportive comments.  Thank you for the bottom of my heart.  I just can't express my gratitude enough.

Love and hugs to you all xxx

Its Fast Approaching.......

I've got a big birthday coming up in March, about 3 months to be exact. With one thing and another I just didn't get round to writing a list of things I would like to do on the run up to the big birthday. Well I did do one thing and that's buy a smash book and there it has sat unused for the past 10 months. I'm going to put it to good use this year when I pass that big number.  

Just need to write the big birthday bucket list of things to do during that year.  Got some in my head, some well in to the planning stages but a few gaps remain to be filled.  Any suggestions?

A list of 30 things, you know one for each year ;0)

A Different Christmas

Christmas this is going to be very different from those over the past 10 years.

Different....very very different.

This year, we will not have a visit to Santa, you see, they no longer believe.

I am much more upset about this than they are.

No longer will I see their faces light up when they meet that special man.

No longer will they suddenly turn shy and go very quite, mouths open with an eye popping gaze.

No longer will I creep around on Christmas Eve, collecting all the presents from their hiding places.

To be honest, they didn't really believe last year, but we visited Santa and went through the motions. I think it was more to keep me happy, rather than them.

They are growing up, growing up way too fast.

It honestly scares me.

I Scrapped!!!

I know I can't quite believe it either.  Here is the one and only LO I have made in what seems like ages.  In at least a month to be honest.

Would like to sit down and start organizing my Christmas Album but a) my kit has not arrived yet and b) I don't have time; too much to do and kids under my feet.  No ME time on the horizon until at least next Friday but that's not a certainty as I have some big plans to get going for next year after I had some good news this week.  

The big decision I have been waiting for, the one thing that has kept my whole life in limbo for the last 3 months has finally been made.  Just hate it when plans rely on others and they go out of their way to make things difficult.  Well now its happening and should all be done and completed by Mid January and then the new life can begin!!!  Just so excited but can't exactly say what until I have something in my hand early next year when I know it has all happened. Its then the Big Birthday Bucket List can be made public. 

2013 WILL be good to us.  

Tuesday Tallies (9 October 2012)

The past week has not been too good here.  I was in hospital for a couple of days having some treatment on my elbow and hip and it meant I was not very mobile for a few days.  The hip is not too bad and it was only uncomfortable for a couple of days and pain killers worked well to ease things.  My elbow however is a different story.  It has been very painful and I have not been sleeping.  I don't sleep well at the best of times but the past week I have had a maximum of 2 hours a night and usually not at the same time.  Lets just say I am withered a little and I have to go back to the hospital today for a little bit of the same.  At least I know what to expect this week. 

 

All this has hampered any craty things I wanted to do let alone normal housekeeping, looking after children and pets.  Whilst recouperating on Thursday and having got very bored with the never ending all the same day time tv I set about sorting my yarn stash.  Anything to get me away from this so called entertainment.  I have a large number of projects on the go and not all of them have all of the yarn I will need purchased.  I made a big list of what I need and really want to buy up the yarn as some are discontinued.  One colour for my Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK blanket is discontinued and I need another ball (22 Fuchsia Pink). 

Don't know what I am going to do yet but if any one knows of somewhere that stocks it I will be very grateful and I am open to part balls too!

 

Well this sorting of yarn uncovered some projects that have been unloved for a long time, a very long time.  In January 2010 I purchased 3 packs of 10 balls of some Rowan Cashmerino DK yarn.  Three yummy colours; pink, green and navy.

 

 

I started the granny square blanket in the April and managed to make 8 squares.  I then crocheted a border of teal (Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK, Elkin) and that is how it  has remained. 

At the time I was not happy with the teal but at the same time didn't know what colour to use which is why there has been no progress. Speed forward 2 1/2 years....

 

 

On Thursday night I removed the teal border and began work on a new cream border.  The squares are five rounds each with a border of cream.  I had already made 8 squares which I have edged 5 this week. 

 

 

 

I love this blanket now, the cream is so much better and they are lovely snuggly pieces of yumminess.  Just love, love, love, love, love, love it!  This really has put a smile on my face.  My crochet, well crafting in general was not much fun the past month.  I don't know why but it seemed like a chore, nothing to enjoy but this blanket has changed that.  Can't wait to snuggle under this when it is finished.  I then made a further 6 squares up to the first 5 rounds.

 

  

I am much more happy with the cream, if you didn't  guess.  The cream is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK.  The original 8 squares had been blocked and you can really see the difference.  My aim for this week is to block the new makes and finish the cream on the remaining 9 squares. 

 

Sorting through my stash has shocked me by the number of projects I actually have on the go and the fact most of them have a long way to go to reach completion.  I really don't have much odd stash, by that I mean stash that does not have a project in mind. I suppose that is a good thing as I have only ever brought yarn with a specific project in mind instead of the other way round which can be very dangerous on the purse.  Shame I don't have that feeling for scrapbooking!

 

This year one of my many goals was to make 'one a day'; one crocheted row, stripe or square.  I knew that I would not actually make 1 each and every day of the year but the intention was to make 366 by the time Big Ben starts to strike on the dot of midnight.  I am really happy to say that yesterday, 8 October I reached this goal.  Admitidly some of the items have been 2 round grannies but I reached my goal well ahead of time, something that does not happen too often in my life.  I am still going to keep tally and hope to make a further 100 by the end of the year.  I may get some of these WIPs finished some day and the one a day goal is keeping me on track.  Only thing that is holding me back is the number of projects that I have started.

 

Now you have read all about my one a day project, pop on over to Carole to take a look at some other great yarn projects.

Right Now.....

 

Right now I am constantly going over and over in my head which path to choose.  From here there are a couple of ways I can move my life forward.  I really am being pulled in different directions and I honestly don't know which path to follow.  All I know is that the current direction can't continue.  Why does life throw these dilemmas at us?

 

 

If i choose the wrong path, life for my family could suffer.  We need to be happy and I so need it to be a happier life soon. But how do I bring what I hope for to fruition?  What if i make the wrong choice?

 

Right now the only thing I know for sure is that tonight I will once again go to sleep tonight worrying about what is on the horizon for us....hoping and praying I make the right choice.

This post is inspired by this inspirational blogger.

WOYWW (19 September 2012)

Another week has passed and here we all are showing off our crafting spaces to the world.  After last weeks mega tidy of Studio Calico kits, I rewarded myself with lots of scrapping; I have made 8 LO's over the past week plus got up to date with Shimelle's LSNED album apart from the photos which are somewhere in the post on their way to me.  

And the top of the expedit now all those boxes have gone and have been replaced by cropper hoppers look fantastic.  Just need to order some more so I can then tackle Sarah's Cards and Scrapagogo kits.

Next thought I would tackle my cross stitch stash.  Oh my are there lots of WIPs and plenty of FO waiting to be framed.  Of course you can't sort and not have a play, can you? 

I spent Sunday morning cross stitching and I thoroughly enjoyed it until I ended up in hospital in the afternoon which is where I am still.

Then Monday morning came.  How I forgot what lots of cross stitch does to my carpel tunnel!  When you are in that much pain you can't fasten your trouser button you know you have over done things.  This meant a very painful day but I am happy to say I am on the mend and have learnt my lesson.  Small amounts each day from now on.

This my crafty space today:

Pop on over to Julia to take a look at some other craft workspaces.

10 Things On The 10th (September 2012)

This month my 10 things are a list of very personal things. Things concerning my future and the future of my two beautiful children. Things have not been great the last few years and I have come to some big decisions and there are going to be some very major changes to our lives over the next 12 months.  These changes are based on my health and happiness which i have always put to the back of the queue. Instead i have concentrated on the happiness of others, usually the wrong peoples happiness and usually to my detriment. Something which must change.

I need to take 'little' steps to achieve our goal. There are lots of 'little' steps needed but they will be done over the next 6 months.  This is an additional list of goals to the ones in my 'This Year I Will' post and there are many others to be achieved too.  These are the ones which i will concentrate on this month:

1.  Deal with the issues linked with my employment.  Its not going to be a pleasant experience but I now know the decision is the right one for my future happiness and also my health.  The one thing I have been fighting for over the last 18 months seems so insignificant and now I am letting go the weight on my shoulders seemed to disappear overnight.  Its strange what we think is important. I have come to realise personal health and happiness along with the love of your family is all that really matters.

2.  Deal with all the paperwork needed to achieve financial stability for us.  Only so much of this can be done before point 1 is finalised but i need to get everything in place to make sure things run smoothly.

3.  Downsize craft supplies and reduce my hoarding until stash just fills my expedit unit.

4.  Purchase some more D Ring scrap albums and store my LOs prior to 2008. The later ones are sorted in matching albums but I want the earlier ones transferred from the different post bound albums. They will look so much better and can then all be stored together.

5.  Sort out my clothes.  I have lost just over 2 stone over the past 15 months and i have so many clothes that don't fit it is unbelieveable. Work clothes need to be gone through with a realistic mind, what I don't need must go.  I am also adamant the weight is not going back on therefore the larger clothes can go.

6. Purchase the 3 canvas prints I would like.  We had the photo shoot back in February and I've never got round to ordering them.

7.  Downsize the contents of the kitchen. Way too much stuff and lots of it doesn't get used. I have come to the conclusion I don't need a gadget to dry mushrooms that I inherited from my Mother. There are lots of similar things lurking in the back of the cupboards.

8.  Downsize the kids toys and other contents of their bedrooms and every other room of the house where they have left their belongings. Have some new house rules to impose which I know they are not going to like.

9.  Finish all the scrapping classes I have started.  I am taking Shimelle's LSNED class again this year but can you believe I still have pages left in my album from 2 years ago. I also have gaps in my Journal Your Christmas alums for the past 2 years plus 4 months of Document 2011 not completed.  Lots of unfinished classes that I need to complete.

10. Take time to review and improve my lifestyle choices. Because of health issues there are certain things that will never be perfect but at times there are other choices I could choose. I need to put my health and happiness higher on my agenda and put me first, something which I have always struggled with.

Some of these 10 things are a little vague but until certain things have been finalised I cant reveal the full details of my master plan.  But the one thing I am certain of is I will celebrate that big birthday next year and life will begin at 40 and this will become our daily view:

 

 

Summer 2012 CHA Releases; Being Thrifty & Selective

Lots of new releases from CHA have started to hit stores and I am loving some of them more than I should.  I really do have an overload of supplies and I don't think I will ever scrap at least half of what I have.  Yet as new CHA I buy up loads.  This year like a lot of people the purse strings are getting tight.  I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do the social scene like a lot of other people and alot of other things that so many families do; my kids do not have all the latest gadgets and to ensure they are grounded they never will and then there is the fact that it is only me. 

Well, summing that all up money is limited and like a lot of families purses are being tightened.  This year this is my NEED list:

MME Sweetest Thing - Tangerine, Honey, Bluebell and Lavender*

MME Indie Chic - Citroen, Ginger, Nutmeg* and Saffron*

ECHO PARK Everyday Eclectic

ECHO PARK - For The Record 2 Documented

ECHO PARK - For The Record 2 Tailored

October Afternoon - Woodland Park

Bella Blvd - Birthday Book (Liam's Papers)*

Bella Blvd - Birthday Girl (Freya's Paper)*

Bella Blvd - Thankful

* just the ones with asterisks to buy now and I really think that will be it for this CHA releases.

There are a few other ranges that I have seen but to be honest they are just not jumping out at me.  I blame it on the fact I have so much paper and I really am thinking about costs.  Paper sat on a shelf doing nothing really is of no help to anybody.  It looks pretty but I will never use all of it.

What are you needing from these releases and are you at the point when you know this hobby has taken over your life and you can not buy any more supplies?

As every post needs a photo, here's some of the 1.200 photos I need to go through from our 3 weeks in Wales this Summer.



Thanks for looking.