WHY do I do it to myself?

Mark says I'm just a glutton for punishment. lol. This year I got christmas done very early so as the big day approaches we have some pennies and some spare time. So what do I do, decide to redecorate half the house! lol. I've finished Caitlins room and made a good start on the loft, pretty much finished the kitchen and now moving onto the hall. lol. To be honest it's not really cost too much. I'm quite good at getting stuff from freecycle or using paint I've already got to make things cheaper. The pain for the kitchen for example I got for free months ago. I bought the pink paint for Caitlins room (for when I got around to it) and it was buy one get one free. So I just picked a pale green I liked but had no idea where to go. lol. Now its in the kitchen. :) The tiles we're going to do the hall in we got from freecycle a while back, another 'I like it but not sure what ill do with it, well its bound to come in usefull' thing. Its dreadfull as our garage is always stuffed with bits and bobs waiting to be used. But means the house is done nicely and cheaply! lol.
Well I've managed to do a few layout challenges and phtograph them in time to enter, lol. This one is from uks. Rules were:
One photo - Done
One word title - Done
Circle shape base - Done
Ripping - Done, circle was made by putting a pate on the paper and ripping around it. :)
Title has two meanings, its my son in the sun. lol

Another challenge, rules were:
Out and about photo(s): done
Sketch: done
Bling: done (top right hand corner
Non scrapping item: didnt manage this one. lol
Love these photos, a bit bittersweet really as was taken a while back when mark could run around with the kids. Cant really do that anymore. :(

Didnt go see peppa pig today. Took the kids messy play instead which they enjoyed. :) Then home to do the dreaded housework. lol. Not going out tomorrow, going to make some jam tarts I think. Caitlin loves helping with those. lol

Where has this month gone!

I really should know what date it is as I look at my calender every day, but I still cant belive how quick this month has gone! I think its because a lots gone on so times flown really. It always made me laugh when I was younger and my mum and other adults would say 'Christmas has snuck up on me this year' thinking 'well how can it its the same time every year!' But now I'm the one organising it all I get it! lolMore layouts. lol, these were for challenges but took me so long to photograph was a bit late!
Kids at cheeky monkeys. lol, hense the title.

The challenge for this was what would you do with an extra hour, my jurnalling reads how I'd spend it with my kids. :)

One of my two with my neice Evie. :)

Snow allowing I'm taking the kids out to see peppa pig tomorrow. Will either go down really well or really badly! lol

WOYWW

Mess. thats whats on it. I did tidy it up on Sunday so really I should be pleased it's lasted so long! Also the best mug EVER! Our cat always bloody trys to drink my tea so a mug with a lid is ace. :)

We took Caitlin to get her photo taken for her passport today. Personally I think it's a bit daft that kids ones last 5 years. I get its just too expencive and a logistical nightmare to do it too often but Camerons photo was taken when he was 6 months and it now looks nothing like him. I think its some kind of unwritten law though that your passport photo must be dreadful. Marks honestly looks like one of those terrorist mugshots. With his long hair and glaring at the camera. Cameron looks daft as he had a cold so had to breathe through his mouth so his tongue is sticking out, and I look like the walking dead as I was 6 months prengnant and dealing with a sick Cameron at the time! Caitlins is no different. lol. she was NOT happy about getting her picture taken and the photo certainly shows that. The phrase 'if looks could kill' come to mind.
More layouts. :)
Cameron getting his cake for his birthday. Thomas, big surprise. lol



Love this photo. Think the flash went off the red or something but makes it look really evil. lol

Have dancing tomorrow with Caitlin, then really should sort out the wardrobe a bit. The christmas gifts are taking over! lol

Christmas list!

As I said yesterday the kids are really excited about christmas this year. I've shot myself in the foot a little as I told them when they open the last door on their advent calenders santa will come. So now they think its some kind of magic box and want me to open it all now! lol. My own fault really.
Well today hubby accidently left the wardrobe open with Cameron in the room and he spotted one of his gifts. Woops. I told him it was for his equally Thomas mad cousin Evie which calmed him down because he adores her. But to cheer him up I suggested we make christmas lists to send to santa so he knew what to bring. This worked and cheered him right up. lol. Obviouslt he cant write very well so he had to tell me what he wanted while I wrote it down. Wasn't surprised at most of them, 'Misty island lego, thomas nightlight (got them both wrapped already. :) ) But he also asked for a peppa pig dvd for Caitlin (so cute!) and a blue jacket, (his is green, obviously not thomas like enough. lol)
In my Diy maddness I forgot to share the bonfire night photos. :) We went to our local council display which wasn't too bad considering the problems they've had latly. I got a quite nice photo of me and Caitlin.

Can you tell it was raining. lol Kids enjoyed splashing in muddy puddles though. peppa pig has a lot to answer for!

Also forgot about this. Bargain! We went to the argos warehouse the other day to try and find curtain poles. We went when the kids were at nursery so we didn't end up buying stuff for them. Well we ended up buying stuff for them. lol. Wasnt toys though was more practical! Got a couple of bits for Caitlins room and this cute little table. Its got a bit in the middle cut out where you can store pencils and the like. £15 down from £60. :)

Some more layouts. This was was scraplifted from scrapbook magazine (i think it was)

An olllld photo with some more new dies. :)

Got to love it. they LOVE dressing in hats and scarfs in summer, see when I try and get them to wear them now, no chance!!!

Nursery tomorrow and hopefully finishing off the kitchen!

Just ironing tomorrow! lol

Its a bad sign when I'm looking forward to just doing ironing. lol. Seems like its been non stop from the word go lately! Been doing lots of little crafty projects, diy, housework, but really pleased as seeing the results. :)
Well as the kids have been such stars recently in letting me get on I promised I'd do something special with them. My original plan was to take them out on their bikes but its been SO windy and foggy here that went out the window! So made a gingerbread house with them instead. :)
They really enjoyed it and are getting so excited about Christmas which I love. They're old enough now to understand the whole santa thing so are much more involved. They were really good with the house too, being really gentle putting the sweets on. lol

This is the finished result. The kids were more than happy to eat the leftover sweets. lol.

As well as the DIY I've been doing some layouts. I'll stagger them though as done about 9 at my crop. lol.
This is Caitlin in her dads cap, such a girly girl she is. lol

This really went wrong, lol. I wanted to cut the circle into a quarter and use it in the corner. Don't know what happened when I cut it but didn't work out that way so just adapted it as best I could. Quite like it though. Used one of my new tim holtz dies too.

Ok I admit I got bored with this one. lol. Did the bottom then planned to decorate the top under the tile. Didn't though and just shoved it on. :)

Planning a nice night for me and hubby tomorrow as not spent much nice time together lately. Fingers crossed it goes well. lol. Things tend to go wrong when we plan nice things!

nearly done. :)

Yey! I've been working in Caitlins room, repainting it and getting it ready for her new carpet yesterday. Well that's all done and we put all her furniture back and she LOVES it! We also bought her a toy storage unit from our local Argos warehouse. Bargain for £10!
I love how proud she looks here. :)

she had these butterfly stickers in her room before, but silly mummy I am put them in arms reach so most got ripped! Lol learned this time!

Just need to pick up a curtain pole from argos tomorrow and I'm done! Then onto the loft, lol

Christmas is officially coming!

I love how everyone has their own idea of what symbolises the start of Christmas. For some it's getting the tree out, or lights going on in your town; for a lot of my friends it's the red cups in Starbucks, for me, it's the cola advert! As soon as I hear the 'holidays are coming, holidays are coming,' I know christmas is on the way!!!!
I saw the ad for the first time this year last night and have been feeling all Christmasy since. :)
And I know I can't be the only mad one who feels like this as there's a facebook group dedicated to it. :)
Though there is also a group for people who talk to toilets :s decipher that how you will! Lol

Blogging from iPhone!

Well since I got my iPhone I don't go on my pc as much. Before I'd go on to check my emails and end up doing 8 other things, now I just check from my phone. Lol. However I've never blogged from here before, so here's my first try! Can't figure out how to do photos, so that's a first for another day :)
Since I last blogged I've been busy, I had my crop Saturday which was great fun as usual :) our last until January which is sad but we're all so busy with Christmas and other things there's just not the time. Speaking of which I've also gone into the big Christmas diy maddness! I know lots of people that pretty much re-do their houses and buy new couches and everything but I've never bothered. This year though I've got the home improvement bug! So far I've repainted Caitlins room and have ordered a new carpet, and plan to board the loft, paint the kitchen and attempt to put new Lino down. Lol. Key word there being attempt! I've never done that before but the Lino cost £50, to get it fitted was am extra £110!!!! So no thanks! Even if I mess it up twice and get it right third time I've still saved £10!
Right I'm off to watch I'm a celeb. And continue to wonder why on earth Gillian mckeith is there. Lol

WOYWW

A broken camrea charger! Had my camera on charge and the kids got a hold of it and managed to put off the plug part. :( So waiting for a new one in the post. Using hubbys at the moment but don't like it. lol.
But in the meantime heres a few more layouts I've managed. :)
Cameron on his birthday, getting the obvious!

This was for a challenge on uks but didnt upload in time. This is a photo catilin took of herself when she was using my camera one time. Love how proud she looks.

Caitlin dancing in Butlins

Love, love, LOVE this cardstock. Got it from the range on sale, keep meaning to go see if theres more but not had a chance yet.

Ok so short and sweet! lol. Been volunteering at a homestart fundrasier today so tired!

The weekend

Well Saturday we went shopping in Northampton. See every year I buy the kids something special for them to keep untill they're older. Caitlin has had a Tinkerbel trinket box, and a sleeping beauty jewlery box, while Cameron gets the disney store limited editino winnie the pooh. Really long term I think Cameron has the best deal but thats just because I cant find anything he's likly to keep when hes older! Boys are so difficuilt. lol. See each year the disney store brings out a Winnie the pooh chrismtas bear. Its a numbered bear so he'll get 108 out of 5000 kind of thing. I bought him it for his first christmas as something different then just kept doing it. lol.
Anyway, went over and got a few bits including this decoration from birthdays. how cute is this!!!

No idea where I'm going to put it as it's got to be out of reach of little hand but I just HAD to have it. lol
Another thing I just HAD to have. lol. My contract was up and was looking and a new phone, so everyone was telling me its got to be the iphone. Im not much for touch screens and still getting used to it but like it so far. :) Hoping to get some music on it soon then might like it a bit more. lol

Well did some layouts ages ago but with the weather getting dark so early havent had much of a chance to photograph them. Did this one for a challenge in the twilight group. Denise set the following rules:
Halloween
Favourite thing (one of them, lol, Caitlin)
Use a circle. - Used cirlce edger at the bottom. :)

This was for another challenge, the Sarahs cards skecth challenge. Don't know if I can still enter as deadline is today but will give it a shot!

NEC!!!

OMG I cant belive it's been so long since my last post!! Don't know where the times gone. Not even done that much! lol. Well gutted the kitchen, which took two days, but thats about it.
Anyway, on to important things, STASH!!!! Thursday was my trip the the NEC, which I'd gone to hell and back to manage to get to but won't get into that now. lol. Was so worth it. Wasn;t as good as previous years for papers and little bits but there were loads of tools, dies and punches. Was dissapointed with the lack of pretty things to browse through but managed to get everything on my shopping list so was pleased with that. :)
So heres what I bought!! First stall I went to was a £1 stall. Some brill bargains on it! They did have these big chipboard clocks to alter. I'd never use them as clocks but the chipboard bits would make great templates I thought. Also stocked up on bling and DST. Managed to find the Martha stuwart punch I was after too. There were SO many stalls that had these and the prices varied widly! I got this pack for £19 but saw them as much as £24! Also got some pins which Im really into atm for £1 for 2 packs. :) Also got some alpha stickers, some little templates and chipbaord flowers. :) Oh, and a little leaf punch I've been after for a while. My TA friend Karen uses hers a lot and looks great so wanted one. :)

Black magic cardstock. Wanted some of this to try with my embossing. :) Its black but with colour underneath which shows if sanded. Will probably never use it now I've got it granted but there you go. lol.
Also got some glimmer mists, always wanted to try these but never have. Also a glue pen from the £1 stall, a bit acrilic block for stamps and some elastic for my braclet. My friend who recently died gave me a braclet for my birthday which Caitlin broke. :( Was gutted but Mark asked a guy at the show who said this is easy to use to fix it. :)

My dies!!!! Since I got my cuttlebug been really into die cutting and embossing. These were at the top of my shopping list and was happy to find a stall selling 3 for £30. so got 6. lol. Also got some pretty embossing folders, a tree, butterflies, vines and script writting I've been after for a while. :) Also found some little disney dies and a leaf and star. :) Now need to find a place to store all these!!

Finally magazines. :) Bought 4 for £5 from one stall then took out a sub for crafts beautiful. Wasn't too fussed about the sub but hubbys wanted a HUGE tote for a while for his warhammer armies. Saw one he liked which was £70! But if you took out a sub for £44 got the same one for free! lol. No brainer really.

So thats my stash for now! off chirstmas shopping tomorrow (the LAST of it) so bound to have a bit more by then. lol

Jamies dinners

I've been meaning to post about this for a week but kept forgetting. As part of my zero willpower I gave Mark one of his christmas gifts a while back, a copy of Jamies 30 minute meals. He hasnt been cooking much latly as his memorys getting worse but really wanted to get back into it. So we agreed he'd do one meal a week and I'd supervise. :)
Week one - Jules pregnant pasta. Um, might be good in the original recipe but Mark made a little addition. lol. I was distracted at the end and didnt notice him grating orange peel over the pasta rather than cheese. Woops!
Week two - Califlower and macaroni cheese - YUM! Loved this one, will def ask him to make again!
Week 3 - chicken and mushroom pie - Was amazed how quick this one was done (though I did help. lol) Think he's getting in his stride a bit again.
Love the small amount of independance it gives him. Really need to write and thank jamie one day. Think his books are the only thing keep mark sane sometimes. lol.

So tired!

I use that as a title a lot don't I. lol. Well been busy past few days. doing housework, ebaying, parceling and sending bits. boring but there u go. lol.
A hile ago we heard abouteplace a few towns away who recived donations of craft items, toys and other bits. It then costs £10 to join, then everytime you go you pay £15 but can fill a trolly with whatever you want!
Some of it is tat but today we got books for the kids, backpacks, books for me, loads of ribbon, paper, card. :) Well worth the money. Its a heck of a drive though so wont be going too often.
Right off for an early night. No plans for tomorrow except catching up on jobs not yet done. Rock and roll! lol

Wooden spoon dolls

On Sundays Mark takes the kids to a dads group at our local sure start center. They love it here as they get to run about like butters and Mark has help on hand if he finds it a bit too much. Each week they do different activities. This week they were making wooden spoon dolls. I knew Caitlin would love it as shes the creative tyoe. But I had no idea how much! lol. When they came out Cameron handed me his doll as a gift, Caitlin glared at me as though I'd just tried to take away her firstborn child. lol!
Since then shes had it with her constantly, except bedtime which I said no to as it has buttons glued onto it. Shes not the type to swallow random things but better safe than sorry! I tried to get a picture of her with it but she wouldnt look at me long enough. lol
Love how happy she looks. :)

Picture of the doll Caitlin took.

Last night I managed to do a lo with this months Sarahs cards kit. Love this kit but don't have many pictures that go with it unfortunatly.
This one is called 'Why mummy cry?' Its not actually a sad layout as journalling tells about how yesterday me and Caitlin were sitting together when she suddenly turned around and poked me right in the eye! She then looked all concered and gave me a big cuddle asking why I was crying! I swear she's got multiple personalities at times. pmsl.

I inked the journaling tag to tie it in and punched some butterflies. :)

Going cinima with Cameron, Mum and Mollie tomorrow to see 'Dispicable me!' So hopefully that will be good!

Weeks over!

Well the week is OVER! Its been a long week but not all bad really. :) Put a load of stuff on ebay which seems to be going well so hopefully make some pennies there. Going to asda with my mum in the morning to do the weekly shop and hopefully get Cameron an outfit for Halloween. Gonna be a difficult one I think as hes not one for dressing up.
Have a nice week planned next week, going to the cinima Tuesday with cameron mum and Mollie to see Despicable me. Cameron saw the ad an cracked up so think he'll like it. Going to see my gran thursday and hopefully coffee with friends at some point!
have Robin Hood on dvd tonight so short blog. Heres some funny pictures from today.
How cute is this! Caitlin sitting in her baby annabel cot and playing a harmonica. She loves the bloody thing for some reason. Our house always sounds like some old fashioned jail program. lol. Will give her a little tin cup to rattle on the bars of the cot next time.

As part of the clearout Marks sorting some of his starwars stuff. Which includes this darthvader money box. If you press the button he starts breathing and the music starts, then he suddenly raises the light saber which lights up. As you can see this took caitlin by surprise a little!

Hopefully back tomorrow with a halloween outfit!

You just got to laugh.

Well as you proably read, Tuesday wasn't the best day for me. lol. Yesterday wasn't the best either but at least it had a funny ending!
Yesterday while searching, (and finding I might add!) the registration form proving my car was uk, I found that my MOT had expired in September! Cue more crying, angry cursing at myself and frantic phonecalls to local MOT centers. Managed to get an appointment for today at 1.
So this morning got the bus to nursery with Cam, which he was thrilled about, lol, then came home and did housework. I was putting clothes in the wardrobe and knokced over the folder I keep all our papers in. Well it must have been a divine hand that made me do it as I foud another MOT form which expired April 2011! pmsl. I couldnt belive it. I thought the car had had a full MOT when I bought it but obviously when I found the other one thought I was wrong.
You have to laugh dont you.
Well today I had the fun of playing on this

Hubby bought it after a LOT of saving last week. However I'm not too fond of touch screens and I tend to break things so I've kept my distance. lol. But today I had a go on it and I was really surprised how easy it was. I've not really looked too much into apps or anything yet but Marks thrilled with it so I'm pleased. :) He has trouble reading as his eyesight isn't too good so he's been missing his books and graphic novels (not allowed to call them comics. lol) so now he can magnify them and see them properly. :) He's also been doing brain training and note taking on it so hopeing will help with his memory too.
Now if there was only an app to help with his joints life would be good! lol

WTF have I upset someone or something?!

Seriously I must have annoyed the powers that be or something because its just been a joke latly. After a bad week already I got a letter this morning from tax credits. Who have apprently over paid me by £750 which they want bck. Joy. THEN! and this is a cracker, I phoned the DVLA to find out why I havent got a tax renwal letter yet, to be told my car isnt registered in this country!!!!
I was very calm and collected, pointing out it was registered in my name, at my adress and had a uk tax disc, how the **** is it not in this country. No, apprently someone sent a letter saying it had been exported, I'd been driving it illegally and couldnt legally drive it for another month or so untill this is investigated! Lost it at that point, crying, begging the guy, hearing none of it. Couldnt even tell me if it was my signiture on the form!? Which obviously it flamming well wasn't going to be. Ended up hanging up as wasnt getting anywhere. Hubby then rang back, spoke to a woman who said no problem, heres this email, tell them its in the uk, job done, you can drive! God bless that woman!!
Ok rant over, seriously couldnt belive it though, ;yes it has a uk tax disc and is registered to a uk address but its not in the uk!' begs belief.
To top the day off Cameron decided to go through our wardrobe where we were storing his xmas gifts, and now has an ear infection so is very poorly. :( Dont think the two are connected. lol.
Managed to find the time to finish a few layouts I started at my crop. This is Caitlin putting her doll to bed, doll is under the pile of toys in the cot. Title makes sense now doesnt it. lol

few more random ones. too tired after today to explain. lol.





Hopefully, (poorly cameron depending) going for a coffee with mum tomorrow. Nice to get out without the kids every now and again. :)

Distracting myself

Well whenever something bad happens I do what my family does best. Focus on everything else except the bad thing! So The freezer is full of food, garage been gutted andlots of bits put on ebay.
Also managed to clear out some of my craft stuff so have a few bits to sell/swap.

Sizzlet stuffed lion £3

Sizzlet stuffed bear £3

Stuffed lamb £3

Stuffed bunny £3

Cuttlebug tag die £3

Cuttlebug frames bow embossing folder £3

Dear elsie cody range. all new including fabic and embossed papers. £5
Also up for swaps for other dies/folders, masks, glimmer mists, or anything else. :)