Day 31 - Thursday 31st January

"Me and my shadow, We're closer than pages that stick in a book, We're closer than ripples that play in a brook, Strolling down the avenue, Wherever you find him, you'll find me, just look, Closer than a miser or the bloodhound's to Liza, Me and my shadow"
Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr

Zoë always likes to be where the action is and will always follow you around. It makes me laugh when I do the hovering because as soon as you get the hoover out, off she goes to get her old baby walker and then she follows you around pushing the walker back and forth.

This morning she was definitely my shadow. We were just getting ready to leave the flat and I said to her to hold Mummy’s hand. But no, she has to be so independent and has to do everything herself. She wouldn't hold my hand saying "No Zoe do it" as she was backing into the landing. I have learned, with some things. that it is easier to give into her, rather her throw a strop and then be in a foul mood. So I went down first and was opening the front door and I just heard this thud thud and when I looked round she was at the bottom of the stairs upside down. I think she had fallen down about 8 – 9 stairs.

I quickly picked her up and cuddled her in. I think she frightened herself more than anything else and she was crying for Daddy, who had already left for work. Luckily our stairs have a really soft carpet on them and so she was ok and just had a bit of a carpet burn on her nose.

I have just checked with nursery and they say she is fine. She has been playing all morning and is happy. She just has a sore red nose.

She walks down the stairs by herself quite well so I wasn’t overly worried about letting her come down by herself – I sat at work this morning feeling really guilty!!!

You can just see her sore on her nose.

Day 30 - Wednesday 30th January

"Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism" - Leo Buscaglia

Go hug someone to day!

Well I have had lots of cyber hugs from the ladies on the UK Scrappers website this morning after this prompt was put up. We have really bonded as a group and like one of the other ladies said, I check the 365 threads first now before I check my own team threads. Although I have never met any of the ladies, I feel like I know them. I wonder what it would be like if we ever had the chance to meet up. I quite like the cyber buddy side of it – sort of anonymous but you share some your secrets with them.
I had a lovely hug from Zoë this morning. She is getting quite clingy when I drop her off at nursery in the mornings which is strange as I normally have to bribe her to come home in the evenings! This morning, she didn’t want me to leave and when I picked her up to say goodbye, she gave me a tight squeeze and a kiss. In fact I several kisses. Lovely – just what I need to get my day off to a good start.
In terms of hugging people, I am not a touchy, feely person and am not the type to kiss friends hello or goodbye. I find it quite uncomfortable when people do that – almost a bit fake.
I like to cuddle my husband at night as he is always so lovely and warm and I always seem to be cold when I get into bed at night – he is like my hot water bottle – except he snores and would moan if I threw him out of bed onto the floor like I do with a real hot water bottle!!!

A cuddle a day, keeps the doctor away!

Journal Prompt 2

I want you to really take some time this week, looking over the prompts from the last 28 days, and your journaling. Find a quiet moment to sit and write how you have grown as a person this last month. Think about today’s prompt.

I have really enjoyed taking part in this challenge. I have never kept a diary and did try to keep a bit of journal of Zoë as she reached various milestones but I failed miserably. I think Anna’s prompts are a really good way to make me write something every day. There are quite a few us doing this on UK Scrappers and I catch up on the website every day. The ladies that I have got to know over the last few weeks are really lovely and so kind, caring and encouraging. Reading other peoples journalling, we have all taken different approaches to it. Some people are quite guarded in what they write and others are very open about stuff. I think I fall into this second category. I am quite an open book and am happy to share stuff with people – whether they want to know it or not! Some people write just a few words and some, like me write lots.
So how have I grown in the last month? Well I realise how I lucky I am as when I read about other people’s troubles, I know that my little moans and groans are pretty insignificant really. One thing I have noticed is that I look at things differently – this is down to the photography I think. Since I have got my camera, I am much more aware of my surroundings, certainly the outside world and the beauty of where I live and how it would look if I captured it using my camera.
What is quite strange is how other people view me. I think most people are quite negative about themselves and I know I am definitely guilty of this and I know that I cannot take a compliment and will often make some stupid comment when someone tries to be nice to me. When I read the comments on my blog of the journaling I have done or of the photos that I have posted, I find it incredulous that people can say such lovely things about me and my journal. This makes me sound like I am fishing for more compliments but it really is the complete opposite. I read other people’s journals and I am envious of their imaginative writing style and photographic talents and yet people say such generous things about what I have done.
I am definitely glad I started this challenge and reading back through the last 29 day’s worth of entries, I know I will see this through to the end.
So in summary, not sure that I have grown much but I know I am much more aware of the people around me, how others view me in comparison to how I view myself and that it is cathartic to write things down.

Day 29 - Tuesday 29th January

Always leave enough room in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, or even joyous” - Paul Hawken

Take time today to think of what makes you happy. Yes I know your family do, lets look deeper!

This is quite a difficult one as since I have become a mother, I certainly have less time to myself to do the things that I love to do and strangely I have only got into crafting since Zoë was born – and as everyone knows, you can take a lot of time up doing crafty things and money!!!!
I do like to spend some time alone and am quite happy in my own company – as long as it isn’t for too long! I could never give up work as I need that bit of company – I would go mad if I only had Zoë for company all day.
I quite like to shut myself into the bedroom and lie on the bed, with some music on and read a book. James always thinks that I am avoiding him which is so not the case – I just like to take some time out! So because it causes a problem, I don’t tend to do it – unless I have a bath first and then I can seem to get away with it.
I love doing my crafting but find that as I have to do it in the lounge, it is very difficult to get all my stuff out whilst Zoë is around so I only really tend to do this in the evenings – and then I don’t always feel like doing it. When we move, I hope to be able to have a craft room where I can really spread myself out and leave all my stuff out so I can see what I have and what I want to use – rather than trying to remember what I have and what I want to use.

Day 28 - Monday 28th January

“Here’s looking at you kid” - Casablanca

Who are you?

Firstly I am a mum to the most beautiful little girl in the world, Zoë. She is 2 years old and is the most precious thing to me. She has changed me as a person totally. Things that I used to think were important and really mattered no longer worry me. I hope I am a good mum and that we will always have a really good relationship. I hope will always be the best of friends.

Then I am a wife to possibly the best husband in the world – he is very caring, kind and generous and looks after Zoë and I very well. I am not sure that I am a particularly good wife. I can be short tempered and I know I nag a lot but I do try my best. He is my best friend and I wouldn’t change him in anyway! We have been together 10 years this year.

Then I am a daughter – to my mum, who I am not as close to as I should be. And to my dad who I didn’t see for 30 years but we are catching up slowly.

Then I am a more or less full time manager in my job. I know I am not a particularly good manager – this is because I am a control freak and like to do things myself – that way I know they are done properly. I think I am a fair manager and always like to work in a “give and take” environment. I like to have fun at work.

Then I am a friend. Again probably not the best friend in the world – I am hopeless at keeping in contact with distant friends but I like to think that I will always be there if any of my friends ever need me.

Then I am me!!! Just little old me!

My Mum's Birthday card

Here is a card I made today for my Mum's birthday. It is using a butterfly stamp from a company called Butterfly Kisses. These stamps have a front and a back. I have stamped it onto acetate and then used Pee Wee glitters. When you open the card, you can see the back of the butterfly. The swirls and text came with the butterfly stamp. Then I have added some gems.

Day 27 - Sunday 27th January

"You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?" - Dirty Harry

Are you feeling lucky today?

Today we woke up to blue skies and a lovely frosty ground. This is just the best type of weather – it really cheers me up. We had quite a lot to do today. We are taking some Leylandii trees out on the boundary between us and our neighbours. They were planted more than 20 years ago and are about 8ft high and have just got out of control. James and Will (the neighbour) have been chopping and sawing for most of the day and now they only have about 5 stumps left to get out. The garden looks so much bigger without them. Once they are down we will put a fence up. I think we are lucky to have such good neighbours – to help get the trees out and to share the cost of the fences.
Whilst they were doing this, I managed to get some crafting done and made a card for my Mum’s birthday and glittered a butterfly for an anniversary card. I also did the weekly food shop.
After that we went shopping to Dunelm Mill which is a furnishing shop. I managed to convince James that we needed some new bedding and being the lucky wife that I am, we now have some rather lovely burgundy embroidered silky sheets with matching cushions.
And he decided that he needed a big leather bean bag for the lounge so he can watch football on it with a beer!
He’ll be lucky – Zoë has already decided that it is hers!!!

Day 26 - Saturday 26th January

"You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow" - To have and have not

Let’s see you pucker those lips

Well again, I don’t know what to do for today’s prompt.

James says I can’t whistle – he says I suck in rather than blow out but obviously I disagree with him and at least some sort of noise does come out.

What else would I pucker my lips for? – well the obvious is for kisses but seeing as I have a cold, no one wants to kiss me and so that it is out of the window too!

James has taken Zoë over to his parents so I am sat here on my own trying to dig deep to find some mojo to make an anniversary card for a friend.

I bought a Bind It All yesterday and I want to make a desk calendar for work – don’t really know where to start and the machine is still in it’s box. I will do the calendar dates bit on the computer and then stamp 12 images of one type of stamp – probably Bellas and do one for each page.

The photo will have to be me just trying to do a kiss – don’t come too close in case you catch my cold - this is the most hideous photo - but I am poorly!!!

Christmas Cards in January - are you mad?

On the UK Scrappers website, every 25th of the month, they have a Rudolph day where you make Christmas cards. The idea is that you don't get really behind and then have a mad rush of card making in December. I managed to make 3 today. I am not feeling too great - think I have a cold coming - and my card mojo has wandered off somewhere, so not overly happy with what I made, but they will do for the stock pile. Someone has worked out that if you make 5 a month, you would have 55 cards by December.

Talking of cards, I have joined another card swap hosted by Passionflower, who did such a great job with the Glitzy Christmas one last year. This one is 7 members per group and we all pick a theme (I have got New Baby) and we make 7 cards on that theme. Then we will get 7 cards back - 1 of each theme. Not sure when I will find the time to do the cards, but I loved the last swap so much that I couldn't resist.

To cheer myself up I bought myself a Bind It All and am planning on making some things like calendars, books of Zoe etc. I thought it would be useful to use for making prezzies for family and friends. I haven't even got it out of the box yet - crikey must be ill!!!!

Day 25 - Friday 25th January

"Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get" - Forrest Gump

I so love this movie quote! I will leave you to interpret as you wish!

I was totally stumped as to what to do for the prompt today and then the strangest thing just happened to me – I would say almost spooky if I believed in that sort of thing.

I was just doing the housework and hoovering the stairs, when the postman knocked at the door with a parcel for me. Well I wasn't expecting anything but I signed for it anyway. I was thinking maybe I had won something – not that I had entered any competition that I could think of!!! Anyway, when I looked down at the parcel, it wasn't for me at all but the house across the road, so I gave it back to the postman.

So I carried on with the housework and I had just got to the top of the stairs with the hoover, when there was another knock at the door. I went down to answer it and it was the postman again. He said he knew he had a parcel for us and handed me...

... a box of Thornton’s chocolate reindeers that I had won off their website back in December.

How weird is that!!!!

Trouble is, now Zoë is hanging off my arm whilst I am trying to write this begging for chocolate – I need to photograph them first and then we will tuck into them!!! There are 3 reindeers, so I suppose we ought to save one for Daddy!!!

Day 24 - Thursday 24th January

“Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth” – Pride of the Yankees

We are lucky to be here on our beautiful earth, what makes you feel so lucky today?

Well today, a few things make me feel lucky.
Firstly I have managed to replace my IT Assistant with someone who can start on Monday so there will be a month handover before Matt leaves – which is the best news I have had all week and is such a huge weight off of my mind.
Secondly the sun is shining for the first time in days which makes the world look a different place. Everything looks sparkling and bright instead of damp, dank and miserable. I am sat at my desk at work and all I can see is blue skies – they seem like a miracle after so many wet days.
Thirdly, today is Friday for me at work as tomorrow is my day off.
Fourthly – all the usual things like I have my health, my family around me, a nice home and good friends around me.

These 2 photos make me feel lucky as I know Spring is just around the corner when everything will look beautiful in the garden and all around us.

Day 23 - Wednesday 23rd January

"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup" - Sunset Blvd

I wasn’t really sure what to do for today’s prompt and so went onto UK Scrappers web site for some inspiration but found that most of the other ladies doing this challenge were also struggling. However there was lots of chat about people’s pets and Willow’s new bunny rabbit, so that got me thinking. I have already journalled some stuff about me, my husband, Zoë and even our house so that only leaves the poor old puss cat who hasn’t had a mention. So this journal entry will be about her and if I can coax her in from outside then the photo will be of her.

Molly Moo is a plain and simple long haired moggie cat but she is such beautiful colours. I think she has some Maine Coon in her which is where she gets her colourful coat from. She will be 2 in April. She didn’t have the best of beginnings and almost had to be put down.

We bought her from a pet shop as a total impulse buy – I know this is the worst way to buy an animal as it is a decision which should be very carefully considered, but I just fell in love with her. We had lost our little beautiful dog, Ben, a few months previous to cancer. We bought her home, she was 8 weeks old. I got some quotes to insure her which I did on the Wednesday. On the Sunday she managed to get a coat hanger caught in her mouth. She thought it was fun playing with it and was chewing on it. When we found her she was making the most awful noises and when we picked her up the coat hanger came with her. We took her to the vets and the outcome was that she had torn her oesophagus which they repaired and they put a tube in her tummy to feed her through and to see if the tear would heal. It was all very touch and go for a while but she came home after 3 weeks in the vets and a £3500 vet bill (thank god for the insurance!!!) and now is absolutely fine.

She is a quite long suffering cat as Zoë tends to bash her up a bit, but she seems to take it all in her stride and only occasionally retaliates by scratching – which is enough of warning for Zoë to stay away – until the next time.

B prompt for A-Z Challenge

Well we are now onto the B of the A-Z challenge and here is my layout for B. I have done it as B for Bathtime. Zoe loves her baths.

Day 22 - Tuesday 22nd January

“There’s no place like home” – Wizard of Oz

Where do you live? Let’s see what you call home.

We live in a 2 bedroom flat in Canford Heath, Poole. We have lived here 10 years this year. It is a nice flat, but since the arrival of Zoë, we are definitely out growing it. We really need to move but the house prices are just extortionate around here. We have made a lot of money on the flat but it is all relative so whatever we buy next will swallow up all the profit we have made. It will be a culture shock as our mortgage is so small that we have a pretty comfortable live style but when we buy a house, the mortgage will probably triple or quadruple. I would love a lovely 4-5 bed house, where we can have another baby and then Zoë and her brother or sister can have nice big rooms of their own, I can have a craft room and still have a nice sized guest room. That will be well over £300 K to buy something like that in Dorset. I like living in Canford Heath as we are close to all the amenities but we also back onto the heath land so we are never that far away from lovely walks and nature.

We live about 6 miles away from the Sandbanks, the beautiful seaside resort that was featured on TV last week selling at £5 million an acre. Amazingly, you could buy an acre there in the 1920’s for £5. It is very beautiful round there but I wouldn’t pay that sort of money to live there– it is like a ghost town in the winter and you can’t move for tourists in the summer.

I have lived in Dorset all my life and can’t ever really see myself moving away. I love being near my family and the lovely countryside. We really are very spoilt with some of countryside around us – but of course we don’t appreciate it. Certainly as I have got older, I can see the beauty around me more, and getting into photography makes you see the world in a very different way.

This last photo is our side garden. My husband is an electrician and has put blue neon lights (just visible in the photo) round the path.

Day 21 - Monday 21st January

Food is an important part of a balanced diet" - Fran Lebowitz

I am interpreting this prompt to mean to make sure you make time for food in the busy hectic schedules of life.

Being a Mum and working 4 days a week, means that I do have a pretty hectic life but I am not one to miss out on meals as I know I am pretty hopeless when I am hungry. I lose my concentration and all I can hear is my tummy shouting for food!!.

I enjoy my food, but I probably don’t make enough time to actually enjoy what I am eating or to notice what I am eating. I wolf my breakfast down in the mornings because time is always at a premium, at lunch at work, I tend to munch my sandwiches whilst catching up on my journal or surfing the web and then at teatime, I scoff my dinner quickly so that I can get on with the rest of the evening jobs.

Of course then in the evenings I tend to pick at naughty food to make up for feeling like I haven’t eaten enough all day. My favourites are Rainbow Drops which are sweets that I used to eat as a kid but now they come in big bags – which I will eat the whole bag in an evening. I guess they can't be too bad as they are only bits of puffed rice but then they are coated in a sugary crispy coating, so perhaps not so good either! Mmmmm yummy!!!

Day 20 - Sunday 20th January

"A laugh is a smile that bursts" - Mary H. Waldrip

I am feeling very tired today as Zoë had a really fitful night’s sleep and I had to get up several times in the night to her. We try to use the controlled crying method to get her to go back to sleep and it usually works really well, but last night it took ages.

I have tried to do the photo prompt from Day 15 by putting my camera on to AV and then changing the F Stop values. I don’t think I could get it to work very well.

F3.5

F5.6

F11

James took me for a birthday meal today which we were going to do last weekend but I just didn’t feel like going out for dinner. We went to the New Forest to the White Buck Inn in Burley. We had a lovely lunch and then went a walk. I took my camera and got some good photos of the ponies.

This photo I think sums up the quote perfectly!!! I couldn’t believe I managed to get this shot. I think a tooth pick wouldn't go amiss!!!

Day 19 - Saturday 19th January

“Look closely. The beautiful may be small” - Emmanuel Kant

Get up close and personal with your subject.

I don’t think the prompt is very apt to my entry today as I have been to a big craft fair, bought some lovely big things and spent bug money – so nothing small there. I think the prompt is much more based around the photography and seeing as I have been out all day and got home when it was dark, that will have to wait until tomorrow but I know exactly what I am going to photograph.

The snowdrops are just beginning to flower in the garden so I have used my new camera to take some shots of them. (they haven't come out as well as I had hoped for)

I had a fantastic day today at the craft fair. I set myself a budget of £100 and came home with £4!!! It would have been £8 but I lent Vanessa £4 as she ran out of money. I bought some lovely papers, buttons, lots of flowers, ribbons and some fabby Pearl Pigments, which I can’t wait to play with. I also bought some swirly templates for scrapbooking, a chipboard album just screaming out for some altering. I got some lovely stamps from Butterfly Kisses. These are great as they are the front and a back of stamp, if that makes any sense. You stamp both images and then stick them back to back so the image has a front and a back. I bought a butterfly one and a really cute angel. They look great in aperture cards. Other than that I just bought some card, some clear bags for made cards and some metallic greetings.

I just need to find some time to play with all now!

Today I took some close up of some flowers I bought.

Three cards

Here are 3 cards I made today. The stamped images are Sugar Nellies from http://www.funkykits.co.uk/

This card was made using papers from December's ScrapaGoGo Greetings kit. I watercoloured the image and matted it onto Bazzill Bling card which I cut out using scalloped scissors. I used a Making Memories rub on from the greetings pack and added a couple of brads from Papermania that I tied ribbon onto.

This Sugar Nellie card is made using orange Bazzill Bling card with paper from the DCWV Glitter Stack. Added a few paper flowers with glittered brads. The greeting is a rub on and the orange Hooray embellishment is from Making Memories (I think)

My last card is made from the ScrapaGoGo Greetings kit for December - very quick and simple!

365 Challenge - Week 2 Layout

The prompt for the week two layout is:

Go back to day 12, read the prompt and look back at your notes from that day. Either use the photo from your day 12 or take a new one or two if you wish, and scrap this photo telling the story behind it.

So here is my layout. I have used a slightly different picture to the one I used in my journal. The paper is from a kit I bought at the weekend. I have added a few gems and some metal words from Making Memories.

Day 18 - Friday 18th January

"We all need time to be alone; to think, to dream, to wonder" - Billie Roark

What’s on your mind today?

I have lots to think about today. I am worrying a little about the work situation but am determined to put it to the back of my mind for today and the weekend.

As today is my day off, I have caught up on the housework so the house is looking presentable (for about 5 minutes!!!) and I am trying to have 5 minutes to myself to write up this journal. However as usual, Zoë is glued to my side with a book constantly asking “What’s that Mummy”.

The postman has just been and given me a parcel and inside is a bar of Thorntons chocolate that I won from the Christmas giveaway on their website. I have given the box to Zoë and it has taken her a few minutes to get into it. The things I do to get 5 minutes peace!!! Now I will just need to wrestle the chocolate off of her!

The most exciting thing is that I am going to the Make It show at Farnborough tomorrow. This is my first proper craft fair and am really looking forward to it. I am going with Vanessa who I used to work with. I haven’t seen her since the beginning of December so we will have a good old natter and buy some lovely stash (hopefully!!!). Plus I get whole day to be me and not a wife, or Mummy, but just me.

I am going to make list of all the things I will be looking to buy tomorrow. I hope I can find a big bit of paper!!!!

Day 17 - Thursday 17th January

“Imagination is the highest kite you can fly” - Lauren Bacall

Think about the photography prompt from day 15

I think I have a really good imagination. I have loved reading ever since I was a small child. I would always rather read a book myself than have the book read to me.
I remember at primary school, having the Wind in Willows read to us every afternoon. I loved that book as I could imagine what all the characters looked like and what their homes looked like – especially Toad Hall. It was all in my head and I could picture myself in all the scenes.
Other favourite books as a child were any Enid Blyton book but especially The Wishing Chair. Her books were great for using your imagination. Stig of the Dump and Charlotte’s Web were my other favourites. In fact now I think about it, I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory too.
I would much rather read a book and visualise it all in my head than watch a film and have to watch someone else’s interpretation of it. A great example of this is all the Harry Potter books. I have read most of them and I visualise it all in my old secondary school which was an old converted manor house. Then when I have watched the films, I have been really disappointed because nothing was like it was in my imagination. Quidditch in my head certainly never looked that it does in the film.
In fact I don’t think I have ever enjoyed any film that I have read the book of. And of course, if you watch a film and then read the book, you can’t use your imagination at all!
So I think imagination is great and where many things should stay!! I hope Zoë inherits my imagination and my love of books.

Day 16 - Wednesday 16th January

"You, whose day it is, get out your rainbow colours and make it beautiful” - Traditional Nootka song

Show me colour in your life today

After all the hassles that I am having at work, I am trying to keep upbeat and so wore the brightest of my tops to work today. It is my favourite colours of blue and pink and always cheers me up when I wear it as it is so colourful.
I guess if you are looking at the photo in a few years time, you may be chuckling at the fashions of today.

Well without going into too much detail, my worst fears have come true today and Matt has got the job so will be leaving us shortly. I am gutted about this as I have so much to catch up in a relatively short period of time and will have to go back to work full time until we can replace Matt and get the new person trained up so they can be left to look after everything on my day off.

Apart from the toffee cheesecake which I will be tucking into later to cheer myself up, I am going to get my watercolour pencils out and do some very therapeutic colouring in of my Sugar Nellie stamps

Day 15 - Tuesday 15th January

"Make rest and refreshment a necessity, not a luxury” – Dan Zadra

I like this quote. I nearly always do lots of things at once, rushing and darting around, trying to get everything done – especially the evening routine. When I get in from work I can’t sit down or else I know I won’t get back up again.

I get dinner cooking and then I will start the washing up from during the day, make the sandwiches and lunchboxes for all three of us, wash and sterilise Zoë’s bottles (I know she shouldn’t still be on bottles, but it is one of the last links to her being my little baby – and I can’t give them up!!!!), start any washing going, cook Zoë’s tea and get her eating it (in front of The Night Garden – I know more bad parenting skills). Then I will dish up tea, sit down at the dining room table, wolf my dinner down as I listen to how my husband’s day has gone. Once I have finished eating (and James hasn’t even started his, as he is too busy talking) I will go back to the kitchen and wash up the rest of the tea things and dry them up and tidy the kitchen up.

Then I will try to sit down but more often than not, Zoë will demand some attention – to be played with or be read a book to! So as the good mother I am, I nearly always oblige! James always gets Zoë bathed and ready for bed, so this is the signal that I can have my time. My last job is to give Zoë her milk and I get the last cuddle of the day!!! Pure Bliss!!!

Then I have my “me time” and I switch on the laptop and RELAX until bed time – and woe betide anyone who tries to wrestle the laptop off me!!!!

Although I moan and groan about all this tearing around, I wouldn’t change it for the world! I think I get enough “me time” – although I wouldn’t let my husband know that!!!

Day 14 - Monday 14th January

"Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work” - Bette Davis

I want you to really think about this quote today. What did you attempt today that improved your day?

I can't put today's journal entry on here for personal reasons but here is my photo

A prompt for A-Z challenge

Well despite feeling poorly all day (not according to my husband!!!) I have managed to the first layout of the A-Z challenge. I am doing a A-Z of Zoe as I think it will be nice to chart a year in her life and I will ensure that I use up to date photos for each layout. I haven't really journalled this page but I have included a poem.

I have done A for Angel as Zoe is my little angel. This is only my second layout and I am really pleased with the way it has come out. It is really bright and colourful. I cut the Angel out using my Craft Robo and Hobbycraft's self adhesive glitter card. The photo is mounted on this too but in a turquoise. I have used Bazzill Bling cardstock for the base and some papers from Cup Cake, ric rac ribbon and then some Bazzill flowers and brads.

Day 13 - Sunday 13th January

"When in doubt, take a bath” - Mae West

Don't you just love Mae West! Ok I dont want any nude photos!!!

Well I certainly am not going to inflict any naked photos on anyone!

I don’t take many baths – not because I am stinky but because I find baths such a faff. If you want to wash your hair, you can never get all the shampoo out, let alone the conditioner and I always tend to use the shower afterwards to rinse my hair off so I think it is easier just to take a shower in the first place.
I normally shower in the mornings as I find it is a lovely way to start the day. We have just had a new bathroom suite – it was time to rip out the hideous avocado suite that was there when we moved in (it has only taken 9 years to get round to doing it). We now have a lovely white pristine suite and the shower is a mains fed one and it is just the best thing in the world. The water jets out really strong and hot and I could stand under it all day. Unfortunately I don’t have time to stand under it all day as I have to get myself ready and Zoë ready in the mornings – but I always make sure I get a good 15 minutes under there.

James much prefers a bath and will take his Cycling Weekly magazine in and you won’t see him again for at least an hour. Zoë loves her baths too. She has numerous bath toys and one of her favourites is a Winnie the Pooh jigsaw puzzle.

Day 12 - Saturday 12th January

Savour life's tiny delights - a crackling fire, a glorious sunset, a hug from a child, a walk with a friend, a cup of soup, a kiss behind the ear - John Anthony

What little thing brings comfort to your day?

Mmmmmm... ... for the fear of repeating myself, I think this journal entry has got to be about Zoë. I am sure as any mother would tell you, there are many things that children do or say that bring comfort to you.

Zoë loves to sit and have a book read to her. Her favourite book at the moment is an In The Night Garden Book which involves lots of singing and actions. Sometimes, when she brings the book over, I inwardly groan as we must read this book several times a day, but then when she climbs up on to the sofa next me and cuddles in and says “Mummy please” or “pease” as she pronounces it, I can help but give into her. She gets so excited as we read the book and sing and do all the actions.

The other thing is the kiss I ask for every morning when I drop her off at nursery. We go in and unpack her school bag, take off her coat and shoes and then I ask her for a kiss and she always gives me a lovely kiss goodbye which remains with me for the rest of the day. I nearly always leave the nursery saying “aaahhhhh”. And of course I have a kiss good night every night!!!!
Zoë’s kisses are quite funny and she sort of raspberries in your face as she kisses you. I think she is trying to do the mwahh sound and it comes out as a bit of a raspberry.

A small touch means so much!

80th Birthday card with Magnolia

I have made a card today for my mother in laws next door neighbour who will be 80 in a few days time. The card is A5 sized and covered in DCWV Glitter stack paper and then I cut a 80 in silver self adhesive glitter paper and a pink Bazzill Bling mat. The image is Magnolia Party Tilda which I have coloured in using H2Os. Added a ribbon and a paper flower.

Day 11 - Friday 11th January

Families are like fudge…mostly sweet, with a few nuts - Anonymous

Lets add a few more to the self portrait experience!

Well today is my birthday and I have had some lovely cards from my family and friends so they are in my thoughts today. And I certainly have a few nuts in my family!!! What I find so strange is that we are all so different. My mum has no self confidence and always seems quite angry at the world. My brother is a high flying career type with a fantastic job and earns huge amounts of money which I think can make him selfish sometimes (I hope he never reads this!!) And me, well I think I am just ordinary. I have a good job, money not bad but not fantastic but then I really enjoy it which I think counts for a lot. I think I am well balanced, I don’t let things that are out of my control get me down and I think I am a warm, caring type of person.

After Zoë was born I decided to contact my Dad who I hadn’t had any contact with in almost 30 years. It was the best thing I have done. I have been led to think he was horrible and didn’t want anything to do with us as children, but now I have met him, I just can’t equate him to the man that I have always thought he was. He is a busy farmer but always makes so much effort whenever we see him. He really puts himself out to make us feel welcome and really spoils us. I am very glad that I found him again.

Obviously I have my own family now. My gorgeous husband of 4 years and our beautiful daughter Zoë. These two very special people have made my life complete and have moulded me into a loving wife and mother – a job I wouldn’t swap for anything in the world!

As for one of my goals, I weighed myself this morning and I was 10st 7lb – a loss of 2lbs!!! Only about another stone to go!
I know I will never do it – have been trying for years to be thin but I think I am destined to a bit of a plumpie!

Daddy's Elvis impression!!!