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.