It's working!

We are finally up and running and I'm a happy bunny. After last nights fiasco I got hold of a number to ring (diverted to South Africa) and was immediately told the problem - I needed to add another connector to the cable which comes from the monitor. Sounds pretty simple really but there was nothing about it in the quick step instructions or the manual or their website! Now I know I'm not that ofay with computers but Paul is pretty good and even he couldn't get it working last night. Still, I'm relieved it's working and that it doesn't have to go back. It's super fast and I am pretty amazed. My old one is sitting here looking pretty outdated - and it is! Oh and the email I sent to HP.... well I got a reply 24 hours later and all it told me to do was go to the website and check out their troubleshooting tips. I'd like to say a very rude word to that, as they must think I'm really stupid as that was the first thing I did. I can tell you their survey will get a big fat minus ten for that!

Can't share any pics at the mo as I'm transfering stuff as I write. Hope to give you something tomorrow.

And finally, if you would like to help an adorable little girl, check this out, and read all about it here . It will bring a tear to your eye.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC4LSmJE9S8

Forget the previous post.

It doesn't work. I'm so disappointed. We plugged everthing in and waited for it to happen....and nothing. At least nothings happening on the screen. We've tried the monitor & cable with my old 'puter which works fine, so it appears to be the box itself. What really annoys me is that everything these days has to be done by email. You never get a phone number to ring and if you do it's charged at £1.50 a minute! So I've sent an email and hope to get a reply tomorrow. Not very good really and I can see this going back. Can't even do any scrapping to cheer me up cos with two puters on the desk I've no room to swing a cat. Boo hoo!

It's arrived!!!

I'm even more excited now!! :)

And to celebrate here's a page I finished last night. Love Techno Pop.

It should be here soon!

The new 'puter that is. I'm very excited and hope to have it working later today. Unfortunately I'm not much good with setting these things up, so I have to wait for Paul to sort it. He said he will do it after Holby... HOLBY!?!?!? I can't wait that long!

I'm clearing the office desk now so it can take it's place as soon as it arrives - plugged in or not I don't care. It's amazing how much space these old one's take up. The monitor is deeper than it is width and height and I bash my leg on the box under the desk every time at the moment. Soon I will be up-do-date and faster than I've ever been before. Yippee!

I had ten minutes on the trampette this morning. Wow I am soooo unfit. My legs were killing but I'm determined to keep it up each day. I was going to go for a bike ride first but I don't know when the 'puter is arriving so it was just the trampette. The only thing is I'm not sure what I am supposed to be doing on it, I'll have to check that out. And as I said yesterday, Jake loves it, Scott's had a go too and even Paul reckons he's going to have a go later. Now that will be rare occasion - Paul exercising?!?! I may even have to sneek a photo, he he!

Up for a Challenge?

This is my LO for this weeks challenge on UKS set by the Chipboard Chicks (aka Katy, Sandie & I amongst others). So if you fancy a bit of a challenge, then pop on over and link in the thread. There's been some excellent pages already - I'm well impressed!

The faces of the children have been blanked out for obvious reasons - it's not my awful photography although I have to take the blame for the wonkyness! :)

Did you know it's dark at 4.45am?

Well I didn't till this morning! I wanted to try the Studio Calico kit from the US but they've become very popular and I didn't want to miss out. They go on sale at 12 midnight EST which is 5am here and I was determined to get it. And I so did!! I know you're all thinking I'm absolutely bonkers to get up at that time (especially as I'm not exactly and early riser - ahem), but I really, REALLY wanted it this month. And thanks to Kirsty I got a $10 off coupon which made it even more worth while. Thanks Kirsty!!!

Other news.... well not much really. My BF Karen's sister Lou - hi girls! - gave me her trampette which is fantastic. Jake has taken quite a shine to it, so I won't get chance to have a go till the morning now, when he's at school.

Hope to do a CJ later as an idea has popped into my head and I want to get it done for the all day crop next week. I know I've got loads of time left but I don't want to do my usual and leave it till the last minute and then panic.

Oh and lastly.... the lashes are still on! Well most of them anyway. A few have dropped off but it doesn't notice unless you get within 6 inches of my nose. I've become quite attached to them really.......

Luscious Lashes....

..or NOT as the case may be! On my beautifying trip the other day I thought I'd have a go at some false eyelashes. Never tried them before and have always longed for some fluttery ones as mine are very short and insignificant really, so it's only with lashings of mascara that they actually look something. Anyway, I had a go tonight at putting these little wisps on - by the way they're individual little things that you are supposed to super glue to your own eyelashes. Well it took me and hour! And then when I stood back and looked at myself I looked like a china doll, except my skin isn't quite as smooth! So I put my glasses back on and guess what...... they're that long they're cleaning the inside of my glasses with every blink!! They're ment to stay on for up to 4 weeks.....probably be worn out and full of fluff by then.

I've been productive

So last night it was crop night and I amazingly did 2 pages! This one I did on Tuesday of my lovely hubbie. Bless!



Been busy at home again today, cleaning the car and tidying the front garden of leaves. A job I don't particularly enjoy especially as the black spores in the leaves makes me cough like I'm on 60 tabs a day. I still haven't shifted the cough I've had since September, I'm having to learn to live with it. Just hope it doesn't come back with avengance.

Popped into Hobbycraft this aftie to see if I could get a 2.5" square punch. Didn't get one as I thought £12 was quite expensive but I did get some bits in the sale. Bought a 12x12 canvas for £3 which I thought would make a great LO to hang on the wall of my office. Might even have a go at it later.

Oh so much to do and so little time.....

Nothing much to report

It's all been pretty quiet here for the last couple of days. I've been catching up on the housework and have now got the garage back in order after last weeks flooding. I felt pretty low yesterday as I weighed myself after almost 3 weeks of dieting to find I haven't lost anything over the last week :( I was feeling very old and frumpy so I went out and bought some bits to beautify myself. Well it was worth a try. Paul put a hair dye on me last night which I'm pretty pleased with. It's red by the way, but as I'm naturally dark brown it doesn't look odd. I also bought one of those self tanning sprays for my face. I woke up this morning and Paul thought I'd been tango'd! he he! I've obviously sprayed too much on. Luckily I haven't been anywhere today for people to stare, but it doesn't look that bad - honest. So I feel much better today and alot less ugly.

It's the Scrapping Frenzy crop tomorrow night, I'm off now to sort some bits out. Lets hope I can get some pages done.

Mark Brown ft. Sarah Cracknell

Love this! It's sooo catchy. :)

I've blown away the cobwebs

I've had a lovely relaxing day today, infact I haven't done much at all. As the weather was fine we went to the beach for a walk.
If anyone has been watching 'Sandbanks' on the telly this week with Piers Morgan, then this is where we went. Shore Road infact which is right at the start of the pennisular. Anyway, we took the inlaws and leisurely plodded along with Jake on his bike. It was a bit blowie down there though but I now feel all refreshed and all the better for going.
I took this shot of the family even if it is from behind. What you see in the distance is Bournemouth - looks quite good from afar! :)

Oh and I've bought a new computer!!! Yipppeeeee!!!! It's an all singing, all dancing one and I just can't wait! This old things got a b****y wind up handle on the back - that's how old it is! I just won't know myself when it arrives. I'll be able to wizz through the applications and do all the things I dread doing at the moment. Paint could dry quicker than getting this one to do more than three applications at a time. It should be here in about two weeks. Hope I can cope with vista............

I hate Peel-offs but....

Yesterday I saw some really gorgeous b&w cards. and on closer inspection I realised they were peel-offs.... so I bought some! ha ha! They are definately not something I would usually buy (although I have a million from my early days of cardmaking) but I thought I'd have a go. So, here's what I made last night - not bad I think. I've layered the flowers and stuck onto some acetate which makes it real easy for cutting round, then 3D them on the card. I also tried my cuttlebug embossing folders for the first time and they're brill! Not bad for a hater of those yukky peelie things.

The bottom card was just a quickie I made with some padded flower embellies I bought. And I love this cardstock - DCWV Nanna's Kids - yum!

And apologise for the really terrible photography. :)

Spend, spend, spend!

I've spent too much again! ha! But I enjoyed every minute.

So I'm back from the 'You Can Make It' show at Farnborough and I've had a lovely time. Mainly because it was a 'me' day and I've not had to think about cleaning, washing, ironing, cooking and looking after everybody else. It was just me with a few notes to spend on crafty bits.

This year it seemed to be more of a cardmakers show really and I have actually bought some bits to do a few. Purely because I'm full of inspiration after seeing such gorgeous cards on the stands. There really is some very talented ladies out there. One of my favourite places to shop for cardie bits is Craftwork Cards. Julie Hickey is so clever and the quality of the products is the best.


I also, had a chat with Vikki at CTM and at last can put a face to an email. A really lovely lady and of course I bought a few bits there.

My most expensive single purchase of the day was this stamp from Penny Black. Isn't it so cute!



Off now to have a go at some cards. Watch this space......

No More Rain

It was a better day today and no more rain has bucketed from the sky - phew! No more water in the garden or garage, the boiler is working and we have hot water and heating - hooray! We're forecast more rain for the next four days but Paul has hopefully come up with a solution in the guise of a water pump. Apparently it could pump our oil tank dry in an hour and that's going some, so fingers crossed it will work for the flooding too. He's put it at the lowest point in the garden so we won't have to watch the grass disappear underwater before it starts to escape out of the back gate. And it has a float (which means absolutely nothing to me!) but supposedly it will switch itself on automatically. So a good nights sleep will entail should the heavens open while I'm snoring.

If you're wondering why we get this flooding, it's partly to do with climate change and the fact we live in the country surrounded by fields. Plus we live half way down a hill, not massive, infact it's hardly noticable but enough that we can't cope with the amount of surface water when it does rains. We don't have curbs and proper road drainage, instead we have muddy banks and ditches. The ditches are full to the brim and overflow into our neighbours property and in turn into ours. As we have a walled garden, we're basically like a sink and our back gate is the only point of escape, a.k.a. the plughole, and it comes into the garden alot quicker than we can get it out.

It's not a new thing this flooding it's just something that's getting worse each year. Last year was the first time it arrived in the garage just a little bit but, this year it's been twice and both times it's been several inches. All part of living in the country - as my neighbour put it and they've been here over ten years!

On a brighter note.... I'm off to the 'You Can Make It' Show at Farnborough on Friday. This will be my third year and ooo how I love going there. A pure self indulgent day stroking and buying yummy stash - can't wait!!! I'm not after anything imparticular, although I said that last year and came home with a Cricut, but I mustn't spend too much. I've got way too much already.

Nothing to share on the scrapping front today as I've been doing some commission work. I should be back to normal next week and hope to share a little project I've got in mind using some acetate.

Sleep well.

Anyone for a swim??

What an horrendous night! We woke at 6am this morning to find the garden flooded! The level gradually rose and unfortunately, it eventually made it's way into the garage. The boiler has tripped so we've been without heating and hot water and I can't do without hot water - grrrr. Thankfully it did stop raining which has at least allowed the water to subside. It's gone done quite a bit now (phew!) and this is what the garden looked like at about 3pm this aftie. This is managable, but earlier it was at least another 6inches above that. Please don't rain again tonight!

Here's another

A page from the crop on Saturday. The papers were scraps from other projects and the bracket, hearts and 'You' are the scrummy Fancy Pants 12 x 12 felt packs. I so 'neeeeed' more!

Oh so Pink!

Well it's not often you will see me using Pink but here it is! The gorgeous 'Smitten'. I have to say that I loved using it and with loads left over, I just need to find some girlies to scrap!

Crop Day

I've had a fabulous day today! I went to the all day crop with Sandie, Anita & Sue and we had such a laugh. I managed to do 2 1/2 pages which isn't bad for me, and I'm pretty chuffed with them too. Usual story tho - can't post them as the light is pants and probably not tomorrow either, as the weather forecast looks horrendous! All I can tempt you with is these fabulously gorgeous papers and embellishments from K&Co which is what I used today. The new range is 'Smitten'. David & Brenda at Craft Expressions have them.

Sugar Almond

Have you seen Scrapping Frenzy today? I have to say that I personally think Emma Trout's work is superb. Go check it out, and her Gallery on UKS too. Awwwwwsome!! (as our US friends like to say).

This is my fave by the way....

I Love You Grandad

I received my copy of ScrapbookInpsirations yesterday and I was chuffed to see one of my LO's in the readers gallery. Why don't you have a go - you never know! :)

And if you get the chance, have a go at the January Challenge on Scrapping Frenzy. There's a great prize up for grabs!

Having a clear out

I love hiding in my office/craft room but it's got to the stage where I can't find room for nymore stash. I had it decorated and office furniture fitted last Feb and for a while it was quite tidy, but all of a sudden I've got so much stuff on my workspace that I'm struggling to find and inch to work in! Eeek! Trouble is I don't like putting stash away in case I forget I've got it and besides... we all like to ooo0 & aaaar over our stash don't we? Well I do. lol So I'm going to have to be ruthless and sell/donate some of the cardmaking stuff I bought ages ago that's just sitting in the cupboards not doing anything. Oh well... on with my the dusting *sigh, sigh*.

Hooray for Monday!

I love Monday's! Although it's my cleaning day it's real nice to have no-one around so I can get things done. Paul at work, Jake with his Nanna and Scott at school. Bliss!

Not much to report from the weekend really. We went for a couple of walks to blow away the cobwebs, met up with some friends for a few drinks and that was about it. I did do some scrapping, which I can't share for awhile, but I'm really pleased with it and I've finally got my inspiration back - yippe!

And finally I weighed this morning..... booo hoooo! It's worse than I thought - sob, sob. By this time next week I hope to be a few pounds lighter.

I hope one day soon..

..we will actually get some sun. Hasn't it been miserable today? Decided it was too wet and cold to go anywhere so I lit the fire and we stayed home and pottered. Paul was home at 2pm so he just relaxed and amused Jake - well sort of. He didn't get much choice really as he's become a Daddies boy lately. Does them both good even though Paul makes out it's a chore - I had to remind him that Jake is his son!



This morning I'd cooked a goulash for our tea, we had lots of fresh veg with it - yum. It was a WW one and only 5points for a huge portion. I was stuffed after! Day 3 and I'm still determined. Weigh day on Monday. Something I haven't yet done but has to be soon so I know which way I'm heading. I've become quite a chubby cheeks and really don't like looking in the mirror. I will get this weight off if it kills me!



Anway, I was going to take some pics today as I haven't posted any lately and my blog is looking decidedly boring. I did take one of my teapot but it really was pants and me being a bit of an anal person, wouldn't dare put a crappy piccie on tut t'internet! Can't even take a photo of a recent lo. So I had a dig round and found a cj entry I did for one I'm in on UKS. The CJ hasn't 'gone home' yet but I'm pretty certain the person doesn't read my blog, so I'll post it anyway. I was inspired by a Doodlebug advert for the sugar coated cardstock. Well it's pretty similar really and I love it!

A fab day!

Oh yes!!

After yesterdays grumpiness I thought I'd sod the housework and go shopping. Jake came with me and even though he's three, we've not taken the pushchair in a year. I once lost him in Hobbycraft and although I knew where he was, he couldn't see me. Cried his eyes out, bless him, but in the long run it did him good because he now never lets me out of his sight. I'm fairly safe that he won't get lost. Anway, back to the shopping...

Well the initial plan was to take something back to Laura Ashley but decided to go to Castlepoint (a large shopping centre in Bournemouth) first instead. Jake needed some more clothes so we went to Next (of course!). He does make me laugh. He told me what he liked and I just had to buy it. He did quite well out of me today as we got 3 long sleeved t-shirts, a pair of jeans, a grey hoody (which he loves and had to wear it straight away) and a Fireman Sam/Bob Builder reversable dressing up outfit from M&S. The only thing he didn't choose was the jeans! I didn't buy anything for myself as nothing fitted -boo hoo. In M&S I tried a top on which looked hideous on me and Jake said "it looks alright mummy". Bless he is such a little darling. In my moment of misery I said i just wanted to be a slimmer and beautiful mummy. You can guess what he said next...."You already are beautiful mummy" - blimey did I well up then. And on that happy note we went and had a drink in the Cafe. We then did a bit more shopping in British Homestores. I bought a new teapot which I've wanted for ages, a birthday pressie for my FIL (which is in June), some delicious pot pourri, a table decoration and some bedding, which was all in the sale and a bargain! Dead chuffed with the teapot - I'll take a piccie tomorrow - altho I wished I'd bought the matching milk jug and sugar bowl now. May have to pop back tomorrow - eeek!

So that was the end of a very nice day. Not stressed - not aggressive - quite calm and very enjoyable. Let's hope tomorrow will be the same.

Jo x

p.s. Found nothing for the CJ entry on 1998. If anyone's got any ideas, please, please let me know. I'm getting desperate!

Grumpy Mummy

I've been really grumpy today. Guess it must be the Christmas blues. Even Jake said to me this morning "you're being very aggressive and naughty mummy and I'm going to put you in the incident book" Huh!!! From a three year old! He's right though. I was a bit rude to my FIL tonight too, but to be honest he does talk such shite and I just couldn't help myself. Will apologise tomorrow after a good nights sleep.

So the christmas decs have come down today and doesn't everywhere look bare? Have started my diet and that's been fine. Mind you I've eaten enough over the last 2 weeks to keep me going till Easter so it shouldn't be too difficult for a while. Come the weekend though I bet I'm craving some chippies - yum!

I've got a couple of CJ' entries to do for next week and haven't a clue what I'm going to do. One of them is 1998. Now I haven't the foggiest what happened in 1998 and on searching through t'internet I've come up with zilch. Paul mentioned something about football but do I really want to do an entry about football?? No I don't! ( See here I go again being grumpy - tut tut.) Maybe I'll go for a music theme or fashion..... hmmm. Will report back tomorrow.

Over and out! x

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's here.... 2008..... phew!

I had an wonderful Christmas with my family, despite the fact that leading up to it, I was really not in the mood and wanted to cancel, but I really did enjoy myself. Anyway it went really well with 7 of us for Christmas day and Paul cooked an amazing dinner. Jake had a everything he'd wished for and Santa came out tops and managed to find a Golden Coin Maker, which is all he really wanted. I bought Paul an electric guitar and he's chuffed to bits with it - can't play a thing and he had to rush out to Argos on Boxing day to buy a digital tuner, but he's happy and it will keep him off the t'internet which is the main thing.

So now we're in the New Year and I have to say I'm pretty relieved. What with a miserable summer in 2007 and the last three months being absolutely terrible, I'm determined to jump into this year with a lot more enthusiasm. We're thinking of moving in the spring but it means the house needs redecorating to bring it up to scratch. Paul hates decorating so muggins here will have to just get on with it.

We had the neighbours round yesterday for our annual get together. Being in the country we're a bit spread out and can go months without seeing them. It's nice to catch up the gossip of what's going on in the road tho - all be it the usual flooding and what we can do to alieviate it. After 20 years is seems there is nothing we can do but the men like to have indepth convo's about it. Anyway the neighbours had said how lovely we had furnished the house and how much better it was than with the previous owners. Got me thinking... do I really want to move? Not sure now but I'm still going to go ahead with the decorating. With a resession coming it would be stupid to move if the price isn't right. Plus Paul wants to get something we can do up and extend - that would be lots of mess and more decorating..... don't know if I could live like that again. Done that before. Oh well, just have to wait and see.

So my New Year Resolutions. I don't usually bother as I know they will fall by the wayside before the end of January, but I really must stick to something this year. Weight Watchers has called me to return and I have to go, for myself and Paul. Paul has expanded dramatically in the last month and looks like a little budha, and my muffing top just won't tuck into my jeans anymore! We have given ourselves till Easter to loose about 1 1/2 stone each - wish us luck! Being on WW will force me to eat properly and in turn will benefit my health - I so want to be healthy again (I'm still coughing like I'm on 60 fags a day). I'm also going to go for a bike ride twice a week. My BF has very kindly given me her old bike but I'd like a new one with better suspension. Paul won't let me have one till I use the one I have more often, so I'm going to prove to him that it's not a one hit wonder and I'm going to have a new one! Jake is back to school next week so the first trip is planned for Tues morning.

Scrapping wise I'm going to stop spending so much on stash and use up as much as I can. I had lots of wonderful crafty bits for Christmas and don't want to just put them in a box and get them out to stroke - I need to use them. And on that note, I'm off to do a few 12 x 6 lo's in a book for my MIL.

Happy New Year to you all! Promise to be more active on the bloggin.

Jo x