What a sweetie

My husband maybe a pain in the 'A' hole alot of the time but he always seems to get the timing right when I'm feeling down. I haven't been the happiest person to live with over the last few days, a few insecurities have been getting me down, but he came home lunchtime with these beautiful flowers to cheer me up. Aren't the colours gorgeous? Of course they brought a little tear to my eye - sniff, sniff - bless him.

A little Sneak

I'm off to Stratford Upon Avon with Sandie and Anita in a few weeks for the Scrapajacks Retreat. We're going to have such a great time scrapping, eating, drinking and having quite a few laughs knowing those two. To get us in the mood there's a few pre-retreat challenges and one of them is to alter an item. I don't usually do that sort of thing but I thought I'd give it a go and now it's finished I want to share! I can't yet though - you're just going to have to wait and see the full monty after the retreat. Here's a few sneaks to wet your appetite for now ....

Stampin 'n Stuff

Last night I did a Stampin' Up! workshop at Sandie's. I had a really lovely time and the turnout was fantastic - thanks everyone who came along and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did! It's surprising how quickly the evening goes - I didn't get home till 12.30am. If you want to have a look at what Stampin' Up! is all about, pop over to my other blog Stampin 'n stuff and have a look. If you fancy a workshop, would like to ask me a question or just like to purchase a few items, feel free to contact me at the email address which can be found on the left of the blog.

Have a great day!

Improving

Charley is on the mend - thank goodness! He's firming up nicely now that he's on a Chicken and brown rice diet. It's much nicer than Beta puppy biscuit. He gobbles the new stuff down as quick as you like. Paul didn't manage to get through to the vets yesterday but he felt he was in control. He's had dogs for many years and although I haven't a clue, he knows what to look for and tries not to panic me into thinking something is wrong. That's quite odd really as he's usually the one running round like a headless chicken yelling at me to call the docs when Jake is poorly! lol The main thing is he's not poo'ing everywhere (Charley that is, not Paul) and he says I don't need to worry.

We took him down the Rec last night for a little walk. He's very good on a lead but why is it he won't wee when we're out? He waited till we got home and then rushed into the garden and wee'd for every. Bless! lol

Studio Calico

My replacement Studio Calico kit turned up at the weekend. All in perfect condition unlike the first one. I really liked the photo I took of me last week after having my hair done so of course I did a LO with it. My photography is rubbish again but I always use my little camera for my pages. It's quicker than the DSLR and I'm supposed to be cleaning - yuuk!!

Garden flooded again this morning - pump didn't work. :( Not sure why as it's submersed and the water level is too high to see in. We thought the float had got stuck so I released it and now it just keeps tripping. At least the rain has stopped. Charley is quite liking the water though!

Charley's first walk

We took Charley to the seaside for his first walk today and he loved it! There were lots of people and doggie friends to talk to and he took full advantage. Got some great shots too - this one of him on the rocks.... sounds like a good title I reckon. He's growing soo quickly now - I was looking at some photos that Sandie & Joe took two weeks ago and he seems huge in comparison. That little snout is getting longer too.

We're a bit concerned for him a the moment and taking him back to the vets tomorrow. Since he had his second jab on Tues, he's got a bit of splatter bottom - eeeew! We've cut his food down, put him on just biscuit but it's just not getting any better. After 6 days now whatever he may have eaten would of come out but this has just gone on too long. He was fine before this and we've no reason as to what it may be. He's full of beans and a really happy pup, but the poo is driving me mad! Can you get incontinance pants for dogs???

This is ME

Not that good a photo but it was a self-portrait taken in the mirror this aftie. Chopped the top of my head off and looking a bit pasty but you get the gist.

Thankfully I had a good day at the hairdressers and as you can see I'm not actually that different. Shame she couldn't iron out the wrinkles while I was there. I do feel so much better now it's done - being a brunette is really not me and I've tried and tried to stick with my natural colour but it just drains the life out of me. My hair does have a will of it's own and it isn't the easiest to manage or cut. It's VERY thick and since I had Jake it's now curly - yes, curly! Something to do with hormones - the little blighters. Thank god for GHD's is all I can say. I think Laura has managed to get to grips with my hair at long last, even though she mentions those dreaded thinning scissors to me everytime - I don't know why she always ask me, they are evil things, next time I'll probably stab her with them!! Anyway, all round I'm pleased with the cut and as long as you tell her what she needs to do she'll do it. The fringe is nicely done - not like the disaster of last time and she's chopped into the ends of the bob so it's not so blunt. So YIPPEE I'm blonde again and the scowl has disappeard behind the fringe! I'm sure you've also noticed I don't have my glasses on which is very rare these days. I have to wear contacts for hair cutting as the glasses get in the way and I can't see a damn thing without them. Of course I NEED to see what Laura is doing as being at the hairdressers is a white knuckle ride for me, and also becuase I look stupid sitting there with a magazine 3inches away from the end of my nose - I really am that blind! Contacts aren't good for me these days, my eyes dry up real quick especially on windy days and I feel like I want to gauge (mmm..not sure on the spelling of that one) them out. I long for laser eye surgery but never seem to have the money to do it. Anyway I've got used to hiding behind my specs - I sometimes feel a little vulnerable without them.

Off to find a 'new' me

Haircut for me today and a change of colour. Even though I'm a brunette, I was a blonde for a few years and have now gone back to my natural colour. Well after a year I've decided I really hate my hair and you know how us girlies are with our hair - if it's not right Paul will suffer! he he! So wish me luck and if it turns out ok I'll post a photo of my new look - if there's no photo then don't ask! ok?!?!? :)



Here's a page I did at the crop last night. It's a page kit from the Scrap-room using Scenic Route, plus a few other bits... as you do.

'Sore Bones'

We've been to the vets today a.k.a 'Sore Bones', for Charley to have his second jab. While we were there we had him micro chipped and also got his mucky ears sorted out. Having the chip put in was the worst thing ever - boy did he yelp! I had to look away 'cos I'm not good with things like that. He's now having a quite day sunbathing and feeling a little sorry for himself.....

Well it worked

The chocolate that is. My inspiration decided to return for the all day crop. I finished two and started another but when I got home I decided I didn't like it so I've binned the third.

I've used last months Studio Calico (at long last) plus some other bits for this one....

and a K&Co Wild Saffron kit for this. I'm not sure on the butterfly as it was an acrylic one which I painted and then put a rub-on over the top. I was aiming for more of a mustard colour and wasn't really trying for bright orange!!

Chocolate is my inspiration

Well at least I'm hoping. I've just scoffed a WHOLE easter egg!! I've now finished all my DT stuff for the new Creativity Life! mag and I'm in the process of collating all my stash that has been sitting looking at me for ages, for the all day crop tomorrow. Yippeee! I do hope I can actually get something finished tomorrow. I feel like I'm drowning in stash!! lol The Studio Calico kit from last month is already packed - although I haven't even used it yet so that wasn't too difficult. I'm doing Anita's CJ entry as I write and I reckon I've got to print off a few photos and I'm done. I'm going to try and not take too much tomorrow as I don't even look at most of it when I get there. You know what it's like though - I'm bound to forget the one thing I really NEEDED.

The classes for the Scrapajack Retreat next month went live tonight so Sandie, Anita and I have booked all that we needed. We conversed via MSN and I got totally left behind. lol! Sandie and Anita were in control though and they just told me what I needed to book and I got there eventually. Mind you I had Jake hollering in my ear for the whole time as apparentley I'd starved him and he couldn't wait any longer for his tea. Still it's done and all we need to do now is cram everything in the car and get ourselves there. I'm really looking forward to it and can't believe how close it's getting. Yippeee!

Right so off to get myself sorted and hopefully you will see some pages in the next few days.

Have a great weekend! :)

Still no sign

It's not come back. It's well and truly gone. Vamooshed!!!

What an earth has happened to me??? :(

It's gone...

My inspiration has upped and gone! :( I guess there's too much going on in my head and it's a bit jumbled up in there - or am I just going mad? Still, I did this quick card last night. Nothing exciting but it's a start I suppose. The flowers were die cut from one I bought in the Ellison Sale - a bargain at a quid! The papers are DCWV spring glitter - yum.

The NEW Papermania is fab!!!

Last week I had to pop over to Design Objectives and while I was there I saw Emma who is the new Brand Manager for Papermania. Anyway, you wouldn't believe all the yummy scrum stuff that is coming out in July - it blinkin amazing!!! Emma sent me some pics of the new stuff today but they seemed to have gone missing from my inbox...hmmmm. But if you pop on over to Emma's blog here you will see what I mean - they look good enough to eat. There's lots more things coming out in July that I can't wait to get my hands on too but I'm sworn to secracy - my lips are sealed. The Papermania logo has been changed too and it looks fantastic!

There's also a new range coming out called 'For Him'. I've seen and used these new product and can give it the thumbs up. With all boys in the family I'm loving this new range - the little robots are so 'in'.

Easter Holidays

The Easter hols are almost over and Jake will be back to school next week. Aaaaaaah (that's a big sigh of relief irl). It's not been easy over the last couple of weeks coping with a new puppy and a three year old that's feeling a bit left out and wants ALL my attention. They both are VERY demanding.

Yesterday afternoon the light was pretty good in the garden and I took some photo's of Charley. I caught him eating the soil in the planters AND my daffs! At one point he was actually sitting in the planter digging a hole! What a cheeky little boy he is. He also escaped twice into our neighbours garden under the fence. My heart was in my mouth the first time as I didn't have a clue where he was. The second time we saw how he got there and rescued him safely. Still he's met the neighbours and the dogs and he can't wait to play with them when he's a big boy. We've had to block up the holes temporarily until we get them filled properly in a few weeks.

Today we had our first trip out in the car and went to see Sandie and Joe. We had a fab time! Jake played football with Joe and ate them out of house and home as usual. Charley had sooo much fun exploring and playing with Martha and Lola's soft toys and he was a very lucky boy with treats and toys. Thanks Sandie for a great afternoon! We love going to Sandie and Joe's. :)

Got to get up early tomorrow to drop the kids off (ahem! 'scuse the term) as there's a berth holders AGM to attend and my husband supposedly wants me to pipe up about a few issues. He's nick named me the Rotweiller...... I'm not really, honest. Just can't stand incompetence in my old age.

Have a great weekend!

Jo :)