what a lazy blogger - but good dieter!

I can't believe I have not updated for so long but trying to get to a computer has been impossible - what with Jessica, Ross & Liam at home all day now!

Should be better now as we have got Ross screen repair back from the shop and Jessica's laptop back from having her dyslexia software being put on - they should not be pinching my laptop now

I have had a very busy few days at work and feel exhausted - but I am on holiday now!!

Big news is that I lost 5 1/2lb at slimming on Monday and was slimmer of the week. I have now lost 1 stone 10lb so got my 1 1/2 stone award! I am obviously pleased with such a big loss but think it was just a balancing out from the previous week when I only lost 1lb - when I had been very good.

Not done much scrapping - but here is my latest creation - halls at Uni - a glimpse of Jessica's accommodation at Uni - its an OK layout

Scrapbook mags inspire me!

Well after quickly reading through some of the Aussie mags that arrived this morning I felt inspired to do another layout and here is a double layout I have done in just a few hours and I am much more pleased with it than the last one which took days  and still was not right!





I am really pleased with the patterened papers used here - they are the free ones from this month's scrapbook inspirations mag. I have never used the free papers before  - but I used these also last week with the sleep over layout. They are from Junkitz called celebration. never used any Junkitz papers before - so will have a look at some of their other papers.

I am also very pleased with the large celebrate! rub on. That is from karen Foster and is just gorgeous to use - unlike some rub ons. I have 2 more of hers in the drawer - princess and fabulous - can't think how I am going to use them yet - but I really will try.

This is the first time I have used the doodling stencil and am pleased with it - but I am not so pleased with the white pen- it is far too pale. it is an American crafts one - I did try a gel pen which goes on clear and dries a brighter white but that this ran & smudged everywhere so I could not use it.

When I was a craft central yesterday (Collecting some page protectors I had ordered - they are like gold dust) saw they had a very good selection of pens so will take some black card next time Igo and try the white ones out.

I am getting a bit fed up with scrapping old photos which I cannot do much with - so want to try and scrap some of Jessica's from Uni and then I can resize them etc. However big disater last night when Jess was out with her friends. She had taken her camera to take some photos but Claire did not like one of her so deleated it and at the same time pressed 'deleate all' so most of Jessica's year at Uni disapered in a flash before they could switch the camera off and save the last few. I had not transferred all her photos on to my laptop yet and her laptop was collected yesterday to have her dyslexia software put on - they could not garuntee that they would not loose any stuff on her laptop. So if those on the laptop are wiped and only a few remain on the camera - I will not have a lot to scrap with and jess will be a very unhappy bunny. I may have to invest in some photo recovery software. 'Don't panic' is sometimes cheap in the QVc shop - will have to try there tomorrow.

Lovely goodies in the post.

Nice parcel arrived in the post today - I know I said I could not buy anything else this month but I really really wanted these fab Aussie mags and they go so quickly that I could not wait till pay day.



I love these Aussie mags - their style is lovely and with large dimensions which allows the layouts to be shown clearly and they are printed on beautiful quality paper. My favourite mag is 'For keeps' with Scrapbook Creations coming a close second.

I also ordered at the same time (to get free postage) this book - Perfectly Clear by Autumn leaves. I have quite a few clear stamps and use them infrequently as I am not sure what to do with them so hope I will get some inspiration here.

At last I get chance to use the computer!

Its ages since I have added anything to the blogg - but it is not for want of trying.

I was away Sunday & Monday collecting Jess from Norwich. When we got back Ross was using my laptop as his is still at the repair shop - 3 months later!!!! Tuesday I was a work and taxi driver all evening. Wednesday Jessica's laptop was collected by courier for her dyslexia software to be added and so she used mine when she was not revising for her OT re-sits in August.

I have done some scrapping while I have been otherwise detained. Despite this layout sitting on my desk for days - I am really not happy with it at all - so in the end just finished it because I was sick of looking and trying to figure out what to do with it.

only 1lb loss this week!

yes only a pound loss yesterday which was a bit disappointing as I did not get to my stone & half loss which I was hoping to get to. I thinks its all down to my bowels which have been very very sluggish all week - in fact are on a go slow & stop despite senakot and lactulose.

My first exercise in ages

Well I don't know whats come over me again today ( I seem to be having a personality change since being on this diet!) but I went swimming this morning. I know we should all exercise more but I never seem to be in the right frame of mind or have enough time to do it but today I did and I actually enjoyed it. I did 20 lengths of the large 33 m pool then I got tired so got out because I did not want to overdo it on my first time. I must try and go again but I often don't have enough cash on me to pay for the car park and the swim but really must try.

Had a red day yesterday and think I ate too much. I made lamb burgers for lunch from the new SW magazine - but could not find any extra lean lamb mince so the burgers were very fatty despite me grilling them and soaking a piece of kitchen paper on them to soak up the excess. I then had a chicken and broccoli bake for tea . I still don't understand red days - thought it was just meat and no potatoes but keep seeing people who do - so must look into that a bit more Had fresh fruit salad for pudding and I had already had a banana and peach earlier on in the day
so I am sure it was too much - going to do a green for a few days now to make up for all that excess.

That's about it for today as I really must go and clean the house as Jess comes home next week!

Another spontaneous layout!

Wow I have no idea what is happening to me but I have done another layout in just a few hours. I had never planned to use these photos as they were very poor quality as they are all blurred, but when rummaging through Jessica's photos looked at them again and could see some possibilities. I think chopping them up just to leave just their painted faces - detracts from the blurriness!

Used just plain black cardstock. The patterned paper is Junkitz - Salsa Celebration - free with this months Scrapbook Inspirations. Making Memories white rub ons and a Doddlebug sticker- so all in all a cheap & quick layout.

Would like to add the girls names to the photos but don't know the name of one girl so will have to ask Jess next week and have run out of a's in the white rub ons - do I chance using a white gel pen?