Come Meet the Family

I love that I have a big family, a big family that all live close together and all see each other almost daily.

We all got together at the weekend for my nephew Jack's birthday.  I did take a few snaps and thought I'd share this one.  It shows:

2 brothers
3 cousins
3 second cousins
1 niece and her uncle

Yes there are only four little people in the picture but that's how they're all related in my crazy, large family!

One day I will get a photo of my mum, 2 brothers, 2 sisters, 6 nephews, 3 nieces,1 great-niece, me and Maddie all together.

Did I mention I love my big family?

Hope you  had a great weekend.
Thanks for stopping by
Jo xx

Makes Me Sad/Makes Me Happy

I was really pleased with the positive messages I had last week when I first mentioned this project. 
It really does brighten your day, after seeing something that makes you sad, to go searching for something that makes you happy.
This week I got up in the morning and realised that I'd forgotten to buy milk so no brew before work, that is sad :(


But on the way to work I saw this smiley face and that made me happy :)


Apart from commissioned work and Banksy pieces I don't really like graffiti, especially when it's just an ugly tag, but this face put a smile on my face just when I needed it!
Any one is welcome to join in with Makes Me Sad/Makes Me Happy on a Thursday and there are only two rules:
1. We all know that there are lots of things in the world that make us sad and downright mad but this really is a lighthearted project so no nasty images.
2. Have fun looking for even the smallest thing that makes you happy.
Let me know if you do join in so that I can come visit to find out the little things that make you happy and sad.
Take care
Jo xx

Week Five

I'm still plodding along with my version of Project Life and I am still loving it.  I love the whole process from taking the photos and making photo collages to print to writing notes for the week.
It's great to look back and see what was happening in my world and here's what we were up to in week five:

 So, since I've lost weight I've become very vain, yes I think that song is about me, and I keep taking selfies! I had lots of cuddles with the dogs, the garden had turned into something resembling Glastonbury. The dogs paws were caked in mud and my heart was almost breaking with the state my new carpet was getting in, I say almost because the dogs are my life and they come first :) I also had a little win at bingo.

It really was a relaxing week for all of us apart from the epic walk we took the dogs on; we recovered far quicker than they did!  I also featured a photo collage of the complete month of pictures I'd taken for Project 365.
More current news is that I actually managed to sit in the garden for an hour after work tonight, the sun was shining, the birds were singing and the dogs were panting after playing football together!
I hope your week is going well, I will be back on Thursday for Makes Me Sad/Makes Me Happy.
Thanks for stopping by
Jo xx

Makes Me Sad, Makes Me Happy!

I've been reading Julie Kirk's Push Up Bra Blogging and yes I do want to blog more regularly and with maybe more format...more format may make me blog more regularly, who knows!

I've also noticed lots of blogs following Helena's example and doing a regular Look Up, Look Down post,something I plan to join in with.

Anyway I saw something yesterday that made me sad, Maddie knows it makes me sad and laughs heartily about it! The sad thing I saw was this:


I hate seeing a lost glove on the floor, I always feel sorry for it (yes I guess Maddie's right to laugh).

I thought I'd look around to see what would cheer me up and make me happy. I wasn't disappointed by these cheerful little faces :)


Who doesn't love a daisy? They really are my favourite happy flower.

So I got to thinking about how I might enjoy a sad/happy post once a week of just silly little things in life. Things that will probably tell lots about the type of person I am :)

Hopefully you'll find these posts funny, interesting and maybe informative…we shall see.

Thanks for the visit
Jo x


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Time To Confess!

I have to confess that I treated myself today, I shouldn't have but I couldn't resist this


Such a cute little notebook, I was helpless to its charms as it called me from the shelf. I had to bring it home, and put it with the others!


Yes it's time for me to confess that I'm addicted to notebooks


In all sizes


And all different covers


I just love them!

Now it's true what they say, if a parent has an addiction it is much more likely that their child will also become an addict


The only difference is Maddie actually uses hers, mine are all pristine!

Got anything you want to fess up? ;)

Thanks for stopping by
Jo xx

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Week four!

Well I've come down to the south coast to spend a lovely, long weekend with Paul.

Yesterday I took little Miss Pippy for a walk to the beach


It was a really gorgeous evening and the surf was up!


Today is a horse of a different colour!


Rain and low cloud that doesn't look like it's going to budge for the rest of the day, I don't care though because look what I brought with me:


All of my bits and pieces for project life :) and here is week 4 done and dusted


It snowed and I had a snowball fight, with the dogs, at midnight, in my PJs! I came home from work to find my neighbour, Drew, had made a lovely snow angel in the front garden. Pippy got a snow beard and wore her bandana on her head...strange puppy :) I tried a new flavour yoghurt. Paul bought me Project Life page protectors for my birthday, I sorted all of my paper scraps and drank too much coffee!


This was a really lucky week for me. I won £179 on the lottery, then £20 on a scratch card, then £10 on the lottery, £5 on a scratch card, £30 at bingo and another £15 at bingo! I haven't had any wins since so think I used all of my luck! Alfie was super cute cuddling Maddie and showing off how handsome he is.

So that was week 4, seems like only yesterday really.

I hope you're having a good weekend whether you have rain or shine.

Thanks for stopping by
Jo xx

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My Precious Boy

All week I've been trying to think of something precious I have for Story Telling Sunday, hosted by Sian over at From High in the Sky.

I've been wondering around my home, looking at things on shelves, searching in drawers and peering in cupboards. All the time being followed, nudged and having a wet nose poked in my ear!

That's when I had a lightbulb moment and realised my precious for this month, it's him:


My boy Alfie!

He is so precious and I can't imagine my life without him, can't remember my life before him either!


Over 3 years ago I walked in to the RSPCA rescue centre at Ashley Heath and found the man of my dreams. Prior to being rescued he'd been locked in a room with no food or water, he was infested with fleas and mites and he had no human contact :(


He came bounding over to me, a bag of bones, and it really was love at first sight! In fact Maddie will often laugh at me because I cried when I saw him, I cried because I knew he was going to be mine.


He loves cuddles more than anything and, although he's a Belgian Shepherd/Collie cross, thinks he's a lap dog!


He gets in weird positions when he's sleeping! He hates being alone in the dark though :(


If you give him a ball it's highly unlikely you'll get it back :)


He loves his cuddly toy "babies" and runs around gathering them all up when I get the vacuum out.


He's turned the garden in to a mud bath.


He owns my heart, loves unconditionally and I am grateful, every moment of every day, that he's mine.

I can't think of anything more precious in my home.

Now it's your turn, head over to From High in the Sky and tell your story.

Hope your weekend is going well.

Thanks for stopping by
Jo xx

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Been Oh So Busy

Well my blog was well and truly neglected in March, this was due to me well and truly getting my scrap on.

I said to a friend that I was going to challenge myself to complete 40 layouts in March and do all of the weekly challenges set on UKScrappers. I'm sure she thought I'd set my target too high but guess what?


I did it!!!


All 4 weekly challenges, 40 layouts in total completed and 57 photos scrapped!


I enjoyed using stencils and masks.


I loved diving into my scrap basket.


I used sketches.


I even dusted off my stamps!

I enjoyed it immensely and never felt I'd put too much pressure on myself. In fact I even had time for afternoon tea:


A few strolls to the beach:


And some hooking!


This month's challenge is to get caught up with Project Life!

I hope you had a great Easter.

Thanks for stopping by
Jo xx


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