It's Here...........2011

Happy New Year, I hope it's a good one for everyone.

This time last year my aim was to get a job, I ticked that off the list 4 weeks into the New Year.....a target reached quickly.  Eight months after starting my job I was voted Employee of the Quarter by my colleagues so a good year on the work front

This year I've decided on the things I want to do:

1. Blog more - I know I've been slacking recently and that is going to change.
2. Scrap more - I spend more time thinking about scrapping than actually scrapping so that will change too.
3. Take more pictures - I really need to get out with my camera more.
4. Finish at least one quilt - I managed it last year and I'm hoping to manage it again this year.
5. Walk the dog more - I work longer hours so this has slipped a bit but I will change it this year.
6. Read more - I have a mountain of books to get through so less TV and more reading this year.
7. Crochet - I have been wanted and trying to do this for years, hopefully I will conquer it this year.

The most important thing I'm going to do this year is lose weight.  I have a year and 13 days until I'm the big 40 and I'm determined not to be fat at forty!  I'm going to have a Wednesday Weigh In every week and I'm hoping that by blogging my progress I'll stay on track.  More dog walking and more time on the Wii fit is bound to help.  First weight loss check on 5th January.

The things I would like to do this year are:

1. Stop smoking - will be tough but I would have so much more money to spend on stash.
2. Get fitter - no more couch potato.
3. Get out more with Maddie - this will be tough because she hates going out.

I did Journal Your Christmas again this year and by doing 19 layouts in the last 2 days I have managed to complete it on New Year's Day for the second year running, very proud of myself.

I hope everyone is happy, health and content in 2011 - I hate odd numbers though so entering the year with trepidation!

Jo xx

How fast........

.....did this weekend go?!?!? I had another lazy weekend but can't believe it's nearly over.  I say lazy but I did have to do the housework, washing, ironing, dog walking........wow when I list it like that I can see that I haven't been lazy at all.

I did some scrapping, stayed up late to watch Children In Need (for which I had embarrassed myself all of Friday by wearing my pyjamas to work!) caught up with I'm a Celebrity (I really hope Stacey or Shaun win) and spent the rest of my time sleeping or vegging on the sofa......good times.

Here are some layouts to share:

We'd been out for the day and popped into Sainsbury's on our way home, mainly because there is a Starbucks there, and Maddie decided to wrap one of the scarfs round her head!

I just could not resist this title because I can just imagine her saying it!

This was a crop kit from Gottacraft.  As soon as I saw the bright yellow I knew exactly what photos I wanted to scrap.  When me and Maddie went on the elephant hunt in London one of the elephants we really wanted to find was Daisy A) because it's one of Maddie's middle names and B) it's my favourite flower.

I decided a few months ago that I was going to do a Book of Me.  After a visit to the loft to find the photo box and then a couple of hours sorting through the box, remembering stories and laughing at dress sense, I found a healthy number of pictures to scrap.  This one of me was taken 20 years ago, I look deep in thought but in reality I think I was just watching ducks and swans on a lake!

I just love the decorative brad I used in the centre of this flower, like the papers it came from one of the Sarah's Cards kits.

Apart from cooking dinner I have no other jobs lined up today other than to finish another BOM layout I started yesterday. 

Jo x

It's Freeeeeeeeeezing!

I was up early scraping the car this morning after a visit from Jack Frost.  Everywhere was white and the only sound to be heard was the other early risers removing ice from their cars, probably thinking the same as me....."I need to get some de-icer"!

I had a fantastic, relaxing weekend.  I stayed in the warm, in my PJs and scrapped, knitted and read.  Here's a couple of layouts to show you:

This is one of my nieces, her sister tends to feature in more of my layouts but that's because her sister can sense a camera from 100 yards away and always rises to a photo opportunity!  I love making these rosettes, I got the tutorial from MaryAnne over at UKScrappers. 

Another simple LO for Maddie's 16th Birthday, still got loads of photos to plough through from that day!

Just looked out of the window and the fog is descending, I've got a long drive today but would much rather be sitting in the warm getting my album ready for Journal Your Christmas.  At least I'll be with my sister, Jess, for the long drive.  She is always happy and bubbly and I'm sure we'll have a laugh which is what I need right now.

Stay warm

Jo x

Happy Birthday!

My blog is a year old today!

In the year since my blog started I have:

Got a job I love.

Learnt to knit socks.

Learnt to ring bells.

Baked more.

Scrapped more.

Actually started and FINISHED one of Shimelle's classes!

Made new friends and remembered the old.

Been to 2 craft shows, 1 christening and a wedding.

Completed a whole wedding album......I will get round to blogging it.

 

This year of blogging has been a happy one and I am going to blog more regularly from now on.

 

The only sad thing to happen this year was my nan dying last week.  She'd just had her 86th birthday and her life was amazing.  She was a lumberjill in the Land Army, a nurse for Bernardo's looking after 10 babies at a time, she travelled the world, had an amazing sense of humour, limitless energy and patience and I shall miss her terribly.

 

Thanks for stopping by, I have some lovely layouts to share soon

 

Jo xx

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At Last

The finished socks have now been given to their intended owner and here's his lordship modelling them:



He says they're comfy and keep his tootsies nice and warm I however think he looks a bit camp in this picture:



It's a bit blurred because I was laughing so much!

This afternoon I'm scrapping and watching Michael Myers to get me in the mood for Halloween :0) xx



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Sunny, Lazy Sunday

I was up with the lark this morning so that I could ring the bells at church and I finally think I'm getting the hang of it.  I'm not scared that I'll miss the Sally or break the Stay anymore, just need to work out call changes.......all a foreign language if you don't ring bells!

I finished the socks at last yesterday but forgot to take a picture, I will though.

Today I've actually been scrapping.  I love Crate Restoration papers so it was no hardship at all when both of the kits I subscribe to used it this month.  I got stuck right into the one from Gottacraft, I know it's naughty to start on a new kit when I have so many older one stacking up but what the heck, I love this range :)

Maddie and her godmother Clare being stupid with a tomato shaped bottle of ketchup when we went out to dinner recently!

It was a great evening at a lovely restaurant we've been going to for many, many years, the butterscotch tart and custard they do is to die for!

I can't decide what to do this afternoon, attack the Sarah's Cards kit or start knitting my hat......maybe I'll surprise myself and do both.

Hope everyone has had a fun and relaxing weekend.

Jo x

I'm Back

Life has been racing past, even payday seems to be arriving quicker than ever which can only be a good thing!

I've done a few layouts but I've been mostly knitting, racing to get a pair of socks finished for Paul's poor, cold feet!

Here is a layout I did using a kit from Gottacraft:

My beautiful niece looking a bit like a rag-a-muffin!

I have got a wedding album to share but it's taking me ages to re size and edit the appalling photos I took of it.

Off to watch Shutter Island and knit some socks.  I won't leave it so long before posting next time.

Jo x