Lets review my new years resolutions

Well its now 4 weeks into the New Year and I thought I would look back on my resolutions and see if I have kept to any of them!

1) Continue with Slimming World - Yes, but the path is very slippery - must make more of an effort

2) Go to the gym - NO I HAVE NOT BEEN ONCE IN JANUARY - this is really bad and I am very ashamed. Must try harder!

3) Improve teeth - fair - I have been using my sonic tooth brush regularly twice a day. Its great and my teeth feel much cleaner. However only flossing every now and then, so my gums still look a bit inflamed. But on the whole I am pleased with this - hopefully will be able to start my treatment in March.

4) Scrapbook more - Yes - I am really pleased to have my scrap stash all back together in my craft room - but as this is Ross's bedroom and he does not get up until 1 or 2 o'clock - most of the day has gone by the time I can get in there and the it gets dark so quickly after that - that really I am counting down the days (13th Feb) when he goes back to PGL and I can get in there all day.

I signed up for a few challenges but not doing well at these.

Scrapping targets - excellent - to do 1 a week and I have done 8 so far.

But the A-Z have not really started it - though did only just buy a journal in paperchase in London at the weekend - so still hope there.

365 days - gave that up straight away - as it is too much.

Found another one that I like - have not started it but keeping the details for when I can scrap more. Its called the things we overlook challenge- to add to your BOM album. first one was your favourite coffee mug and how you like to drink your coffee etc. - well I don't drink tea or coffee so don't have a fave mug or coffee shop. Second one is your collection - of anything - well I don't collect anything either !! so not really a promising start - but you can adapt it - so do a layout about not drinking coffee and what I do drink and perhaps use my collection of scrap booking magazine! we shall see.

Liam's year album - I made a start on this, but I can't get the layout right so am a bit stumped on that one at the moment - again need to have full reign of my large work area in the craft room for this - so this should come on.

5) read more - no not doing well here. After that first book, have not read any more - was very conscious of my bad performance that I went and bought 3 books yesterday - despite having a library at home - to inspire me. I made a start on this one last night.


The reason why I have not read much is because I have been watching the fab DVD.






6) take vitamins - nope - will try harder - again

7) Blog more - trying - but without my laptop its hard.

8) become better with PS elements - I did spend the day doing this last week and made some good progress - but as its only on my laptop, I am scuppered again. I did try and put it on the family computer but it is so old that it could not manage it.

So all in all - a bit of a poor show. I think I will do much better when Ross goes back in 2 weeks, because as soon as he is up, I am having to take him out for driving practice and the nag him to practice his theory - he has his theory test next week - but he is not doing enough to pass it - which is very frustrating, as he just sits and watches American soaps all day !!!!!! it make me want to scream at him to turn the telly off and just read the book for heavens sake!!!

a good and a really bad week!

Good news - I lost 2 1/2 lb at slimming Monday night. How this happened after all I ate in London I don't know, but I am not complaining. I now weigh 11 stone 11lb and everyone says I look quite slim and should not loose any more. But there are people joining Slimming World now and I know because I weigh them, that weigh a lot less than me, yet are the same height - 5'6"- and are clearly unhappy with their weight - so why should I stop?

That question is rhetorical because I think my body wants to call it a day, as I cannot stop eating!! I was so chuffed after Monday night's weigh in, that I was determined to keep to it - but come Tuesday I raided Jessica's chocolate tin - there is nothing left now. Bought a crunchie bar from the shops - ate a huge lunch - bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes and 2 eggs followed by a yogurt but was still hungry so ate a huge bowl of cereal. I then baked chocolate fingers and nearly devoured them all - what is happening to me?

I think 2 things are to blame - firstly I think My stomach which has got used to smaller amounts of food got stretched by the massive meal at the Chinese restaurant on Saturday and now wants that full up feeling again.

Secondly I am very down in the dumps because my computer has broken again. Actually not down in the dumps but downright furious. Spent most of yesterday on the phone trying to get some one from Fujitsu Siemens to agree to replace this dam laptop as it is the same fault each time - I have to wait 4-5 weeks for a new graphics cards to arrive, then I have it home for 1-2 weeks and it breaks again. In the last 3 months I think I have actually had it at home for 3 weeks - this is clearly not good enough. In the end the help desk put me through to someone senior who said he will look into it - so it will be back to occasional blogging whenever I can get on a PC.

Wicked was just wicked!

We are back from London now having had a fab weekend.

We spent far too long in here


Its the huge Apple shop, set over 2 floors and just full of lovely things. Even Steven who has never shown any interest in mac things now wants a 24" imac!



The main reason for going was to see Wicked. I love the music and Steven got me tickets to see the show for my birthday. He is not so keen on the music so it was very good of him - but in fact he actually enjoyed it. It was fantastic and the girl who played Elphaba, Kerry Ellis had the most fantastic voice. I saw her before playing Ellen in Miss Siagon in Oxford and thought then how good she was.



The theatre and set were amazing. The foyer had been painted green & black and this dragon was gorgeous, as were all the costumes.




The theatre looked great when we came out because it was dark and it was all lit up in green lights.





Afterwards we met Janet & Michael in Leicester square for a drink, the went to china Town and had a meal in a restaurant there.

When I say meal I mean banquet as we had 3 huge courses and all were delicious. Mind you the bill was a bit steep - good job we don't eat out in London very often.

google reader

Well I discovered this a few months ago due to a link on UKS andI love it but unfortunately I have become addicted to it.

Its brilliant how it knows when each blogg has been updated - which saves me from logging into each different one. Trouble is though I just keep adding more and more blogs to it and I have tons on there now that it takes me all day to keep up to date with them all.

In fact there are 70 blogs that I follow. Sometimes its hard to remember who is who, but I pick up lots of useful information such as an online photography course from 2 peas - which I would not have otherwise known about.

On a scrapping roll and still resisting chocolate

I finished 2 layouts yesterday and started a 3rd which I want to finish this evening. Can only post one as I added to the Halloween layout after I snapped it yesterday so will photograph that tomorrow.



This layout - ooh la la is the one I have been waiting for the Basic Grey  scarlets letters papers for -but in fact they were not a great match when they arrived but I used them anyway, as I was so keen to scrap this gorgeous cheeky photo of Jess. I used one of my new etsy shop scrolls on it and love it - 
I can see all of my layouts now are going to feature scrolls and swirls of some description.
The word ooh la la etc I had in the drawer but again were not really the right colour, but I must start to use some of my stash up and I can't see me using it on anything else so hence the pale pink flowers with brown trims which don't match anything except the title!

One of the challenges I started on UKS  in January was to complete 1 layout a week making a total of 52 in the year - I am doing very well but have lost track of how many I have done already - Think this is no.6 so going to devise myself a tally - so I know how behind or in front I am!

Chocolate temptation is still there but I was very good when I went to buy my lottery ticket this afternoon and resisted - it took all my will power though. We are going to London 
for the weekend to see Wicked 
and I know the diet will go out of the window there so I might as well go for broke now - right?

My order from Papermaze has arrived

That was quick - so I want to get on with my next layout now - but Ross is asleep in my craft room so I am having to do the ironing instead!

I also bought this book (there was 20% off it!)


This is the style of scrapping that I really like but have never been adventurous enough to try it - perhaps I will after reading this.

Feeling a little demoralised after my weight gain on Monday - feel like I want to go out and buy a huge bar of chocolate and scoff the lot. However at the moment I am resiting temptation - just eaten an apple instead!

Scrapbooking and 2nd Etsy order

 Did another layout last night and I am really pleased with it. It is of Jess and her friends on the Wild West night out at Uni - I really like this layout out.



The patterned paper is actually one of the Reminisce winter papers that I ordered for the ice skating layout I did last week, but in fact it went well with this photo and once I had inked the edges with some brown ink - I think it makes the layout look quite country.

I printed out the journalling on the computer and for the first time coloured the paper in Word rather than colouring it with ink as I usually do. I like the effect but do wonder how much printer ink I have used up by doing this.

I have a few more layouts in mind - but have had to order some more stuff for one layout. I am pretty sure that I did have Basic Grey Scarlett's letter collection - but I have not been able to find it anywhere since moving back into my scrap room - but need that colour palette for Jessica's next layout so have had to order another set - bet the old one will turn up now!

My second order from Etsy arrived and it is so much better than my first one - in fact it is just gorgeous and I will be ordering more from here I am sure. The designer is Nicole Lombardo and her shop is niklindesigns1225.etsy.com.



I have added her blog to my ever growing list of Google reader blog and am very impressed with her work.

just look at these intricate scrolls








and these much more usable sized journalling tags

slimmimg disaster!

I put on 1.5lb last night!!!!!!!

How on earth did this happen? I have been very good this week and back on track 100% so I just can't understand it. I am really disappointed as I expected to put on at Christmas having been so naughty but not now, especially after such an excellent loss last week.

Everyone says - perhaps its because my body has reached its optimum weight - but I don't really want to be stuck at 12 stone for the rest of my life.

I wonder if it is because I have not made it back to the gym yet since Christmas - better get back there pretty quick. I am finding it hard to make the time though as I am taking Ross out driving everyday and this is more important, as it is not long till he goes back to PGL and we won't be able to do daily practice. He has his theory test booked for 7th Feb - I really hope he passes so that we can concentrate on the practical test - and Jess wants the CD rom so that she can get her theory under her belt before she comes home in the summer.

My first Etsy order has arrived

..all the way from the USA. This order of paper tags is from Elles and they are much smaller than I imagined. Not sure how much journalling I will be able to get on these. They are only about  the size of a £2 coin! I have already placed another order for some 2007 calendar tags for Liam's album and some more recipe cards for my A-Z but glad I did not order much more.



Still waiting for my second order placed last week - fancy scrolls etc - hope they will be big enough not to get lost on a 12 x 12 layout.

Talking of small things - I bought this last week from Amazon.



It is a Mobile Mate SD memory card reader. It just fits into a usb port on my laptop and reads the memory card directly - which is great because it stops me having to hunt around for the camera cables etc.



It was only about £5 - so a handy and cheap little gadget. I am an Amazon Prime member - so don't have to pay postage now.

Another parcel came today from Amazon for me - (I must stop spending like this when I have not got any money!) This was a book about the Nikon D40 camera. It was recommended on-photography forum) UKS and I am hoping that it will help me use the camera more. The picture quality is much better, but I do tend to just grab the compact camera daily for pics like this.



Spent yesterday evening sewing the 12 monthly pages for Liams year album on to black cardstock and have spent the morning tidying up all the loose ends - its 11.30 and I still have not finished this thankless task.

From this...



to this .....

Another layout!

I am on a roll - here is the heros & villains Double layout I started yesterday.  
These are layout 3 & 4 out of my target of 52,
for the scrapping2008  challenge running by UKS. I quite like it, but becasue it is so full of photos there was no where to put any journalling and 
my layouts feel bare without any.

I like the effect of the self adhesive felt flowers (bought last week from Angel Crafts) but it was a pain to remove all the backing first!

update from saturdays crop

I have been scrapping again - 2 1/2 layouts completed. Its nice to get be crafting again and start my quota target of 1 layout a week - I am up to date now.

I really enjoyed the crop on Saturday. Had not been to this one run by Caroline & Anne before so there were lots of new faces and a couple of girls I knew. In the morning we did a technique class using Bazzill instiches template - not really sure about them- hence my half layout. Will get it out later and see what I can make of it. I can't really see me using it a lot on my layouts - but will give it a go again just to see - as we are getting a template in this months Scrapagogo kit - which should arrive tomorrow.

In the afternoon I did this layout of Liam, which I am quite pleased with.



I started this layout of Jessica skating and finished it yesterday. I really love her face in the large photo, as she looks so happy. I like this layout as it is so different from the ice skating layout I did of last years skating session.



The papers are by Reminisce and came last week as part of my mammoth new year shopping spree.


I have set out all the pages for Liam's year in the life album - just waiting for a few more photos to arrive from photobox and some calendar tags from Etsy - then I am ready to go on this one. I am also waiting for some recipe cards from Etsy to make a start on my A-Z of recipes- its nearly time for the B prompt and I have not even made a start into A yet!  I have set out all the stuff ready for another double layout of Jess and her friends dressed as hero's & villains, but Ross is asleep in my craft room so I can't get in there!

5 stones lost!

Yes I have done it - 2 weeks later that I had hoped but I am here at my second target - phew!



I actually lost 3 1/2 lb last night - this is what happens when I don't eat all the Christmas goodies! So have lost 5 stone 1lb now. I now weigh 11 stone 12oz. Everyone tells me to stop now, but I am actually 2 stone away from the weight I want to be = 10 stone, but I can see that my face is a bit haggard - but my lower half is not - this whole extra 2 stone is hanging around my tummy, bum and thighs - must go back to the gym to tone up here. I think I will carry on till I get to 11 stone and then reassess as actually my BMI still puts me in the overweight category!

Must have my photo taken to record this milestone - would like to get outside but we have had rain, rain and more rain for days now - will add one when the weather gets better.

My laptop has returned!!

A knock came at the door, bright and early this morning (8.30 in fact) and my laptop was handed back to me - what a relief and surprise. Its so lovely to have it back and hopefully will be able to keep my blog up to date now.

First of all here are some photos of my mamoth shopping spree on UKS last week. I had put some of it away, so not all of it is photographed. The boxes itself are a sight!

Oh no - I have just discovered etsy!

After my marathon spending spree at the UKS sponsor sites I thought I would not have to buy any more stuff for ages - how wrong could I be! After reading through someones blog she mentioned some journalling spots she had bought from etsy - they looked nice so I popped over to have a look.

What a glorious site - that's the trouble. Anyway I ended up buying the journalling spots - 4 different lots and then found another seller who had intricate scrolls etc and I ordered 10 items from her. These orders are coming from the States so will see how long they take to get here. They are so lovely I can't wait to use them.

Just going to start getting ready for my crop on Saturday. This is my first one since September and I am excited and nervous at the same time. I shall be out all day as it is split into 2 halves. The morning is a technique class and we are using Bazzill instiches template- and luckily one of those is included in this months Scrapagogo kit - so at least I will know how to use it when it arrives. Then in the afternoon is the crop. I had an order from Photobox yesterday with some photos that I want to use as my printer is still not working - just need to go and organise some papers etc.

I have also been uploading more photos to Photobox for Liam's year in the life album - so need to go and order those now.

Computer woes.

I love & hate computers.

My laptop is still at the menders - they are waiting for a new graphics card again. I had to wait 4 weeks last time for one of these to arrive. I am getting a bit fed up with this now - if it breaks again I am going to ask for a new laptop.

Ross laptop is broken - the keys have been going for a while - but you can hardly use it now. As I bought him a car for Christmas - I cannot afford to buy him a new laptop now - his is about 5 years old now though. So he is lost without it and hogging this main computer.

Liam's new laptop arrived just after Christmas - a macbook which he loves - but once he had it all set up and working - we took hundreds of programmes of this main computer - which he had put on and which had slowed this down to  such a snail pace it had become unusable. It is quicker now but we have lost the ability to print, make CD's and connect to AOL and the man can't come till Friday to fix it!!

It is so frustrating - I need to print out new address things for my mum - but can't . If I had my laptop back at least I could access a printer!!!

my first gain!

Yes I gained 1/2lb last night. Its my first gain so I am sad about that - but in fact considering what I ate and that I was expecting at least a 3 or 4 lb gain, I am very pleased.

Last week was in fact a nightmare eating wise - Once I had the taste of chocolate I could not stop so had a Lindt chocolate bunny, loads of Quality street, loads of Special toffee and when I drove Jess back to Norwich - we stopped at Cambridge Services to get some fresh fruit as we were both hungry - but there was not a single piece of fruit  in the whole place  - so we had to have a large baguette each - it did fill me up - but I knew I would pay the price for all that bread. Will not be calling at Cambridge Services again! - Will have to be more prepared next time or find a different place to stop at that does sell fruit. On the way back I called in at Sainsburys and stocked up on grapes, apples and pineapple - in preparation - but also picked up some toffee tiffins and ate 2 of those of the way back - I was so weak last week.

Well I have chucked out all the rubbish food from the house now and feel focused and ready to start back on track now - have had my blip - Mandy said it was good to see that in fact I am human and can weaken, like everyone else! So back on the straight and narrow now.

Today I ate-
breakfast - all bran with linseed's and skimmed milk. one whole grapefruit.
mid morning - apple & banana
Lunch - chicken kebabs with red onions, peppers and cherry tomatoes - this is my fave.
Yogurt for pudding.
Mid afternoon - apple
Evening meal - beef stir fry with noodles and veg. Yogurt for pudding.
Evening treat - glass of pomegranate juice.


I was helping do the weigh ins last night and everyone - apart from 2 women put on - which made me feel a lot better. The average gain was 3lb but some put on quite a lot. But everyone was resigned to it as they had eaten and drunk loads - one women had drunk  whole crate of beer herself! But everyone was determined to get back on track so hopefully there will be lots of losses next week. We also had loads of new people - about 30 - so they should do well - so there should be lots of happy people next week.

Another busy day

Well busy night really as I could not sleep - new year really mucked up my sleeping pattern.

My mother moves out soon so I am excited about getting my craft room back and doing some scrapping - so with that in mind spent all night doing on-line scrapping shopping. Won't say how much I spent but more than I should have.

Ordered some Aussie scrapping mags, Creating Keepsakes, simple scrapbooks mags and took out a subscrption to scrapbooks etc. - direct from Artbase. Ordered some iceicles - glitterpaint in 4 different colours , some halloween papers, 
snow papers for some layouts have had ideas for in my head (Jess at Uni again). A large punch and lots of other things - Can't wait till they come.

New years day activites

Had a nice relaxing day today - because we stayed up till 2 am last night! - that's not like us at all.

Went to Attingham Park today but only Jess came with us as the boys were sleeping off last night and Eleanor was busy sorting out all her stuff to take to Liverpool on Thursday.
God I look knackered - no more late nights for me!

Does my bum look big in these? ( my new walking trousers) well actually no! Never been able to say that before.

I then made a lovely tea for us all. Cottage pie and veg followed by the deadly apple crumble!

Look at my huge portion of cottage pie at the bottom of pic - I ate all that, plus pudding!!

New years day

Its the start of a new year and I have continued on my slippery slope of dieting destruction!

Why when I am only 1 1/2 lb away from my 5 stone loss? This stupid behaviour is what got me in my fat mess in the first place, but I don't seem to be able to stop. I seem to think I have ruined this week so why not carry on being bad - so bad I have been - sneaking loads of special Brazil nut toffee this afternoon and have just sat down to a healthy cottage pie topped with Swede but followed with a huge portion of apple crumble & custard! I am just useless.

Anyway - thought I would put down my new years resolutions here - so that I can look back in 6 months and see how many I have kept or not!

1) continue with the Slimming World diet to reach my target of a 7 stone loss to get me to 9 stone 13.5oz.

2) Make exercise feature in my life more prominently - aim for at least 3 gym sessions a week and walk or cycle instead of taking the car. Went for a walk to Attingham Park today - but only went at an easy pace was not even puffed out so I don't really think that counts!

3) Teeth - really make an effort to get on top of this. Clean & FLOSS twice a day without fail and use mouth wash in between. I have to do this as I am going to have a lot of dental treatment this year - new crowns (8) in the front so have to be in tip top condition.

In an effort to achieve this - bought this sonic toothbrush yesterday. It should have been £90 - but was in the sale for £48.00 - a ridiculous amount for a toothbrush - but my other electric one had died and I had been keen to try a sonic one. Seems very gentle when I used it today - hope its worth it.

4) scrapbook - continue this lovely hobby - for 2008 have a few things planned like art journal, Liam's year of 2007, some more pages for Liam's album and lots more pages for Jessica uni album ( she has come home with some great photos from this term - 420 in fact!)

4a) to help me reach no4 resolution I have signed up for a few challenges on UKS.
One is the A-Z challenge and I have decided to do an A-Z of recipes / baking.
I have also signed up for the 365 challenge - you have to take a photo everyday and journal everyday - not sure if I can keep this one up.
I have also signed up for 52 layouts this year challenge - which equals one a week. Now I hope I can keep this up and better it some weeks. I will be a bit late starting because my craft room will not be back in action until mid January - but as long as I have done 4 by the end of Jan - that's fine.

5) read more - I used to be a prolific reader but lately I just look at slimming or scrapbook magazines - so I must get back into proper reading. I have a book list about 70 books long and as there are only 52 weeks a year - that should be at least one book a week.

Managed this one already - have read this book over the last 3 days. It was great and even made me a bit teary.

6) take my vitamins regularly. I take multi vits, omega 3 and probiotics.

7) Update my blog regularly. I do try to do this as often as I can - its just that without my laptop - I struggle to get on the main computer - I hope it is returned soon.

8) really get to grips with Photoshop Elements. I have 2 instructional books and a Creating Keepsakes book - computer tricks for scrapbookers - which uses PSE - but I have not got past the first few pages in any of them. 
I need my laptop returned first 
as the old computer cannot cope with such a powerful programme. then some time to learn it all!